Master of Arts in Art History
The Master of Arts in Art History prepares students with the course work, language skills, and research experience needed for further graduate study or work in a museum or educational setting. The curriculum is structured to provide both breadth and depth of inquiry through a variety of approaches to art history. We recommend that courses be broadly selected to take full advantage of the multiple approaches, expertise, and insights of the Art History faculty.
Degree Requirements
Plan A – Thesis Option
The thesis option emphasizes art historical research, problem solving, and communication skills. Candidates who plan to continue study at the doctoral level should select Plan A.
Requirements:
- 1. minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate course work*
- 2. foreign language reading competency in German and one other language (French often recommended). **
- 3. satisfactory completion and oral defense of a thesis
* Six of the minimum 24 required credit hours may be taken in related areas such as anthropology, historic preservation, history, literature, philosophy, studio art, or women’s studies.
** The foreign language competency requirement may be satisfied by any of the means established by The Graduate School.
Plan B – Non-thesis Option
The non-thesis option emphasizes course work to deepen the candidate’s foundation in the knowledge, theory, and methods of art history. Candidates who plan careers in a visual arts related fields that do not require a Ph.D. – professional placements in galleries, museums, art organizations, arts administration, etc. -- may want to select this option.
Requirements:
- 1. minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate course work*
- 2. foreign language reading competency in German and one other language**
- 3. satisfactory completion of final comprehensive exam
*Nine of the minimum 30 required credit hours may be taken in related areas such as anthropology, historic preservation, history, literature, philosophy, studio art, or women’s studies.
** The foreign language competency requirement may be satisfied by any of the means established by the Graduate School.
Foreign Language Requirement
Master’s candidates in Art History must offer course work or substantial proof of ability to use more than one foreign language. This may be done in several ways.
- 1. By completing an accelerated graduate level (“xx for Reading Knowledge”) foreign language reading course with a “B” or better grade.
- 2. By completing the Graduate School Foreign Language Test offered by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) with a minimum score of 450 (check with Graduate School for dates and times of offerings).
- 3. By completing the fourth semester of a foreign language with a grade of “B” or better as an undergraduate at an accredited college or university.
- 4. By completing with a grade of “B” or better, special examinations given for the accelerated graduate level foreign language reading courses. Obtain forms for this from the Registrar’s Office in the Gillis Building. Other types of special examinations are scheduled in the Graduate School Records Office.
- 5. By transferring a language taken to satisfy the requirements for a Master’s degree at another university (NOTE: This information must appear on the student’s transcript where the Master’s degree was awarded; or the Graduate School must receive a letter from that Graduate Dean confirming when and how the foreign language requirement was satisfied.
- 6. With the approval of their program to use their native language, international students who are non-native speakers of English may satisfy the foreign language requirement by presenting a TOEFL score of 550 or higher.
Establishing a Graduate Committee
Students who have completed one or two semesters of course work should consult with an advisor and DGS to establish a Graduate (or Advisory) Committee.
This committee must consist of three or more qualified members, of which at least one must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty and at least one other an associate member. Faculty who are not members of the Graduate Faculty may not chair your committee but may serve on it; normally, your advisor chairs the Graduate Committee.
This committee advises on the preparation, research, research, and writing of Master’s theses and conducts an oral or written exam on the thesis or a review of the exhibition.
Applications
Apply for admission by completing the application online provided by The Graduate School.
Contacts
For more information about the graduate program in Art History, please contact the current Art History Graduate Advisor, Dr. Jane Peters (859.257.1716).
For more information about Art History at UK, visit the Art History Events & Activities UK website.