Art History, MA

Requirements for Students Matriculating in or before Academic Year 2026-2027. Learn more about Graduate College Academic Regulation 7.0.

Thesis Option

Total Hours: 30

Graduate-level seminars
ART 5920Art History Graduate Seminar3
Hours Subtotal3
Other Requirements
ART 5013Theory and Methods in Art History3
Select 12 hours in ART related to the student's curricular track or geographic areas.12
Select 6 hours outside of the art history program but related to the student's area of study and pre-approved by the advisory committee.6
Hours Subtotal21
Thesis
ART 5000 (Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.)6
Hours Subtotal6
Total Hours30

Other Thesis Requirements

  • Completed master's thesis and oral defense.
    • Thesis and defense will be supervised and evaluated as to its success or failure by a committee of 3 full-time faculty members with graduate college standing.
    • At least 2 members of the committee must be drawn from the art history faculty, with one of those being the committee chair.

Non-Thesis Option

Total Hours: 36

Graduate-level seminars
ART 5920Art History Graduate Seminar3
Other Requirements
ART 5013Theory and Methods in Art History3
Select 15 hours in ART related to the student's curricular track or geographic areas, or or those pre-approved by the advisory committee.15
Select 15 hours outside of the art history program but related to the student's area of study and preapproved by the advisory committee15
Total Hours36

Other Non-Thesis Requirements

  • Submission of qualifying paper (after the completion of 27 hours) judged satisfactory by a committee of 3 full-time faculty members with graduate college standing. The qualifying paper must be between 15-20 pages in length. It may take one of the following forms: 1) A research paper on a focused topic (a traditional seminar paper); or 2) A scholarly catalog essay. The public presentation may take place in the department as part of the art history roundtable series of talks or at an academic conference.

Graduate College Master's Program Requirements

Learn more about Graduate College 2026-2027 Master’s Degree Program Requirements. Check the General Graduate College academic regulations for minimal GPA, language proficiency and other general requirements.