Overview

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art History is a two-year, 30 credit program of study that allows students to pursue in-depth knowledge and research in the following areas:  

• Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture
• Visual culture in Age of Enlightenment Europe
• Modern art in East Asia
• Twentieth-century American art
• Contemporary German art and culture
• Film and media studies
• American architecture and preservation
• African American art
• Museum management and curatorial practice

Students can take courses in American, European, African diaspora, and Asian art and architecture across all chronological periods. At least one course must be taken in three or the four core areas: Renaissance, Baroque, and 18th Century Art and Architecture; Modern and Contemporary European Art and Architecture; American Art and Architecture; Asian Art and Architecture.  Upon entering the program, students take a proficiency exam to establish their knowledge of art history. Before completing the program, students complete a foreign language examination and write and defend a master's thesis or project. 

Students complete 18 credit hours in art history, 6 hours of electives, and 6 hours of thesis preparation.

Admissions Guidelines

Deadlines

December 1:  First round of selections and full consideration for financial assistance

March 1: Final deadline

Applications must be submitted in full by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application Documents

• Graduate School application
• Official Transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Cover Letter
• Writing Sample
• Personal Statement
• 2 or more letters of Recommendation (at least one must be from a professor)
• For international applicants whose native language is not English: submission of a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam; or Pearson Test of English (Academic). The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 80 (computer-based) or 550 (paper-based); the minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5; and the minimum Pearson Score is 59.

Note: Successful applicants to the graduate program in Art History typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale. This is provided as a guideline; meeting the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission. All parts of an application are carefully considered in admissions decisions.