Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Art History
College of Arts and Sciences
Visit our website: arthistory.indiana.edu
Contact us via email by writing to: arthist@indiana.edu
(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)
Curriculum
Degrees Offered
Master of Arts ( History of Art ), Dual Master of Arts (History of Art) and Master of Library Science, and Doctor of Philosophy (History of Art )
Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Master’s Degrees
Master of Arts Degree (Art History)
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s degree with a major in the history of art. Students with majors in other disciplines with a demonstrable background in art history are also welcome to apply. GPA of 3.5 expected. Appropriate level of achievement on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (verbal,160). Statement of Purpose, C.V., writing sample, three letters of recommendation.
Grades
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Only those art history courses completed with a grade of B or higher will count towards the degree. A student with a G.P.A. of less than 3.5 may be placed on probation.
Course Requirements
A minimum of 36 credit hours. No fewer than four seminars (600-level) in three areas, two lecture courses (500-level) in two areas. ARTH-A500: Historiography of the History of Art and ARTH-A510: Theory and Methods of the History of Art. ARTH-A595: master’s essay seminar.
Foreign Language Requirement
Reading proficiency in one language. Usually German or French is selected; however, students may choose another language with the approval of the faculty. Proficiency must be demonstrated by the end of the second semester of study.
Essay
Required. Students must apply to work with an individual faculty member on the essay no later than the end of the first semester of their second year.
Dual Master of Arts and Master of Library Science Degrees
This program permits the student to coordinate a Master of Arts degree in the history of art with a Master of Library Science degree. The dual program requires the completion of 60 credit hours as opposed to the 70 credit hours that would have to be taken if the degrees were pursued independently.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply for admission to both the School of Fine Arts and the Department of Information and Library Science and meet the admissions requirements established by each.
Requirements
A minimum of 36 credit hours. No fewer than four seminars (600-level) in three areas, two lecture courses (500-level) in two areas. ARTH-A500: Historiography of the History of Art and ARTH-A510: Theory and Methods of the History of Art. ARTH-A595: master’s essay seminar taken in the fourth semester. Thirty (30) credit hours are required in the Department of Information and Library Science, including 18 credit hours of M.L.S. Foundation courses, 9 credit hours of Z521, Z605, and 3 credit hours of Information and Library Science (ILS) electives selected with the ILS advisor.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Course Requirements
A total of 90 credit hours including a core of four lecture courses and three seminars (28 credit hours) in the major field, 16 credit hours in an inside minor, 12 credit hours in a second minor. An additional 18 credit hours of art history courses and seminars, or in some cases courses from other departments, will be chosen in consultation with the student’s major field advisor. Up to 16 credits may be taken as dissertation credit hours. The major fields are Ancient Greek and Roman, Medieval (East and West), Asian, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern (European and American, 19th century through present-day), Islamic, and African/Oceanic/Pre-Columbian American. A minimum of three seminars in the major field is required. The 16 credit hours for the inside minor must include a minimum of two seminars (600 level); reading courses and studio courses do not satisfy the inside minor requirement. The second minor may be taken in another department, which defines its own requirements (usually 9-12 credit hours), or in Art History (12 credit hours).
Areas
Ancient Greek and Roman, Medieval (East and West), Asian, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern (European and American, 19th century thorugh present-day), Art Theory, Islamic, and African/Oceanic/Pre-Columbian American.
Grades
A minimum grade point average of 3.5 is required in the major field and the departmental minor(s). Only those art history courses in which a B or higher has been earned will count towards the degree. A student who has a GPA of less than 3.5 may be placed on probation.
Foreign Language Requirement
Reading proficiency in two languages (usually French and German). Additional foreign languages may be required by the major field advisor.
Qualifying Examination
Three written examinations in the major field; oral examination at discretion of department.
Final Examination
Oral defense covering the dissertation.
Ph.D. Minor in Art History
A Ph.D. minor in art history is available to students outside the department. Normally, it includes at least one seminar (12 credit hours). All programs must be determined in consultation with the art history graduate advisor. A grade point average of 3.5 is required.