Art History, MA

Location(s): Main Campus

The art history MA program aims to foster innovative teaching and research and to develop scholars, teachers, museum curators, and heritage and planning professionals capable of interpreting the role of art, architecture, visual culture, and cultural production in both the historical past and our shared present. Because of its programmatic links with other research centers and graduate programs within the university, the program offers a unique opportunity to graduate students wishing to undertake innovative studies of a cross-disciplinary nature, with a stress on the development of critical theoretical and historical perspectives in relation to the visual arts, media, architecture, planning, and the wider built environment, in local, national, and global contexts.

Core to the program is the close working relationship between faculty and students. Students engage in advanced studies and research in fields including theory and criticism, the social history of art, feminist interpretations of art, architectural history, the study of museums and art world institutions, and media studies, from the early modern period to today.

Admission Requirements

We invite applications from students trained in disciplines broadly concerned with the history and theory of art, architecture and the built environment, and visual cultural production. Applicants for admission to graduate work in art history are required to submit college transcripts, an example of original written work (e.g., a paper submitted in an advanced undergraduate or graduate course), three letters of reference, and a statement of research interests.

Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States must also submit proof of English proficiency (such as TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores). International students who have received a college or university degree from an institution in the United States, the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or certain Canadian provinces are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores. All international students must provide immigration forms guaranteeing financial support.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in art history must take a minimum of 33 graduate credits. The course of study must include:

Seven graduate courses including at least six art history seminars, the latter taken with at least four different faculty members in the Art History Department
ARTH 500 : Theories and Methods (4 credits; required in the first year; ordinarily taught in the spring semester)
ARTH 501 : Professionalization (1 credit; required in the first year; ordinarily taught in the spring semester)

In addition to the work completed for their courses, students are expected to pursue a coherent program of readings in preparation for their comprehensive examinations.

Comprehensive Examination and Qualifying Paper

Students in the MA program may take one of two examination and assessment paths.

Path A:

Students following Path A take a written examination and submit a professional portfolio.

The comprehensive examination is a three-hour, in-person written exam in the student’s field of specialization administered by a committee of two faculty members (advisor and second reader) in the Art History Department, selected by the student. Examinations are offered once each semester and should be taken during the semester in which the student completes all other degree requirements. The committee assesses the exam on a pass/fail basis. In the case of a failed exam, a student may retake the exam once.

The portfolio comprises two components: a writing sample and a professional curriculum vitae. For the writing sample, students revise and (if needed) expand one of their own term papers to the length of a typical journal article (c. 25 pages), in consultation with the advisor. If the faculty member to whom the paper was initially submitted is not a member of the committee (i.e., advisor or second reader), that faculty member may collaborate with the committee in assessing the revision. The original paper (with original instructor feedback, if available) should be submitted to the committee along with the revised version. The format of the professional curriculum vitae should align with disciplinary expectations, and should be submitted for assessment alongside the writing sample. The committee assesses both components on a pass/fail basis.

Unless exceptional circumstances arise, the comprehensive examination and portfolio submission should both be completed within four semesters of commencing the program. Students must arrange with their advisor the semester before anticipated completion to create a timeline for completion, taking into account Graduate School and Harpur College deadlines for degree petitioning and graduation. This timeline should be submitted in writing to the director of graduate studies no later than the last day of the third semester of the program.

Path B:

Students following Path B take a written examination and complete a thesis.

The thesis should be approximately 30 pages in length and finished to a professional academic standard. The thesis will be supervised by an advisor in the Art History Department, selected by the student. Once the advisor has approved a finished draft, the thesis should then be submitted to and refereed by the second reader. Once the advisor and second reader agree that the thesis meets departmental standards, the student should submit the thesis to the Graduate School and apply for the degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students will demonstrate facility with at least one foreign language through the citation of relevant texts in that language in the MA thesis, in consultation with the thesis advisor.

Degree Completion

In all but exceptional cases, MA students should plan to complete the graduate program in four semesters. All MA students must submit the Graduate Application for Degree (GAFD) during the semester in which they intend to complete the MA program. In addition, students should notify the director of graduate studies of their intention to graduate. Students should review their record of matriculation and DegreeWorks. If they discover any discrepancies, they should contact the director of graduate studies and Harpur Academic Advising to resolve them. A departmental file should contain all records indicating that the student has passed all required courses and examinations. A completed signature page is required to show that the thesis has been approved by both readers. The director of graduate studies has the responsibility of attesting that all requirements have been met before a degree can be awarded.

Additional Information About the Program

Courses for the program must be taken for a regular letter grade, not Pass/Fail. A student must receive a grade of B- or better for an ARTH course to count toward the degree. For courses outside the department and all independent studies, students submit a petition to the director of graduate studies, who then brings the petition to the full faculty for consideration. Students are expected to maintain a B average or better.

For more information on the Art History, MA program, please refer to the Art History Department website. To apply to the Art History, MA program, please visit the Admissions website.