Master of Arts in Art History

Art history in its essence is interdisciplinary and we welcome applicants from across disciplines.

The MA program in Art History prepares students both for doctoral study in the field and for entry-level positions in art-related professions, including work in museums, galleries, and publishing houses. We provide robust financial support to our students, including departmental funding for travel to present research at conferences and funding for summer research, wherever that may take you. Additionally, we offer scholarships specifically for students studying the Renaissance and MA students researching architecture and art historical works in Germany and Poland.

Students take courses, gain teaching experience, and master at least one research language before completing a Qualifying Paper. This paper builds on coursework and is developed into an enhanced version of a term paper by working closely with a faculty mentor. The skills thus built provide a strong foundation for future success, both in the field of art history and beyond.

Minimum requirements include:

A U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the Office of Admissions.
A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00, or the foreign equivalent as determined by the Office of Admissions.

Applicants whose first or official language is not English and whose previous academic degrees were not earned at an English-language institution must score as follows on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): for studio art applicants, at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 81 (Internet-based); for art history applicants, at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based). All applicants must have a minimum iBT speaking score of 26* and a listening score of 25. Your application will not be reviewed if scores are lower than requirements.