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

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts (Art History), Dual Master of Arts (Art History) and Master of Library Science, and Doctor of Philosophy (Art History)

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 Art History. 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

• 6 courses at the 500 or 600 level in three areas, no more than two of which may be 500-level lectures: 18CH
• A500: historiography: 3CH
• A510: theory and methods: 3CH
• One of the following:
  • A595 (essay seminar) with A775 (reading): 6CH
  • A775 (reading): 6CH

TOTAL:  30 CH (UGS minimum)

• Language study represents additional course work

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 Director of Graduate Studies. Proficiency must be demonstrated by the end of the second semester of study.

Essay and Presentation

The Master’s Essay is a 25- to 30-page research paper, notes and bibliography included. Often a Master’s Essay will be a continuation of research begun as a seminar project. It is prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor. A second reader of your paper also must be selected. Both the faculty advisor and second reader for the paper must be selected by October 15^th of the second year.

In the second semester of the second year, students will register for ARTH-A595 and/or ARTH-A575. In this course students will be guided towards the timely completion of their essay. As part of this course students will present their work in a public lecture.

Upon completion of the essay and presentation, the student’s work must be approved by the faculty advisor and second reader.

Dual Master of Arts and Master of Library Science Degrees

This program permits the student to coordinate a Master of Arts degree in art history with a Master of Library Science degree. The dual program requires the comple­tion of 60 credit hours, 30 credit hours in Art History and 30 in Library Science. Students complete all course and language requirements for each of the degrees, but write a single MA essay in either Art History or Library Science.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply for admission to both the Department of Art History and the Department of Information and Library Science and meet the admissions requirements established by each.

Requirements

Students must complete all course requirements for the Master’s Degree in Art History as listed above and those of the Master’s of Library Science program. Please consult their bulletin for more information.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Course Requirements

63 credit hours distributed between major and minor fields

• 30 credit hours maximum may be carried over from MA
  • 6 courses at the 500 or 600 level in two areas, no more than two of which may be 500-level lectures: 18 CH
• Minor course requirement: 12 CH
• A 775 (advanced readings – qualifying exam prep): 3 CH 

TOTAL: 33 CH above MA

• Language study represents additional course work unless part of a minor

At completion of major and minor requirements students arrive at 63 credit hours. Students must also complete language requirements by this time. After completing 63 credit hours and two languages, students may proceed to Qualifying Exams. After exams students may register for a further set of A775 for up to 16 CH, A779 for up to 16 CH and A879 for up to 16 CH. At 90 CH the PhD residency requirement is met.  Subsequently, students may register for G-901 for as many as 6 semesters to maintain continuing enrollment.  

Minor: Students are to complete 12 credit hours of coursework as well as satisfy any other requirements for a minor in a department or program distinct and separate from Art History.

Areas

Ancient Greek and Roman, Medieval (East and West), Asian, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern (European and American, 19^th century through 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. 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. Students must complete 12 credit hours of Art History coursework. They must take 2 lecture courses and two seminars. A seminar may always be used to fulfill a lecture requirement. All programs must be determined in consultation with the art history graduate advisor. A grade point average of 3.5 is required.