Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants should hold a bachelor of arts degree from an accredited college or university. Students whose records indicate a strong aptitude for graduate study, but whose undergraduate major was not in art history, will be required to complete at least 24 credit hours of art history before being considered for admission to the graduate program. Admission is based on academic record, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and two letters of recommendation (if the undergraduate degree was not earned in the department).  

At the department’s discretion, students who have completed at least 18 credit hours of art history may be considered for admission and, if admitted, may complete the 6 credit hour deficiency during the course of their M.A. program. 

Part-time students are advised that an M.A., which takes at least three semesters of full-time study, cannot be completed at night or in summer only. 

Special Opportunities

Individually structured programs in museum training and internships in local museums, galleries, agencies, or libraries are available for qualified students with departmental approval. 

Curriculum Models

Curriculum Model I: General History of Western Art. A discipline-oriented approach for students who intend to continue for a Ph.D. elsewhere or to teach at the high school or junior college level. The program emphasizes a range of art history courses with a conventional period specialization. 

Curriculum Model II: Applied Research in Art History. A practical-applications approach with intensive training in research and writing for students who seek special training for museum work, architectural survey, historic preservation research, etc. The program may include related course work in history, culture, American studies, etc., as well as internships and field experience.  

Curriculum Model III: Concepts of Art and Art History. A problem-oriented approach aimed at depth of understanding of art and methods of art history, for students interested in connoisseurship and critical analysis, generally with an emphasis in painting. The program may include related courses such as ARTS-700 Criticism of Painting, as well as independent reading courses in criticism, theory, or historiography. 

Degree Requirements

• 30 credit hours of approved graduate work
  A 36-credit hour program with a structured museum internship option is available to qualified students. 
• Tool of research: intermediate-level French, German, or Italian, or reading knowledge of one of these languages demonstrated through examination 
• Advancement to candidacy after completion of 18 credit hours with a grade point average of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) and satisfactory completion of the tool requirement 
• Two written examinations: 

History of Western Art (Greek to Modern) 

One in the student’s field of specialization: medieval art, Renaissance art, baroque and rococo art, nineteenth and twentieth century art, or art in the United States 

• Two substantial research papers in lieu of a thesis; at least one paper must originate in a graduate seminar and one must be in the student’s field of specialization. 

Course Requirements

• ARTH-500 Approaches to Art History (3) 
• ARTH-792 Research Seminar in Art History (3) 
• ARTH-793 Directed Research in Art History (3) or  

ARTH-690 Independent Study (3) 

• 9 credit hours in the field of specialization 
• Remaining 12 credit hours as approved 

Note: 6 additional credit hours of course work are required if museum training or more than one internship is selected.