About us
Although the Department of History of Art offers both the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees, the MA is awarded in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD. The department does not admit students who wish to work solely toward the master's degree.
The PhD program is designed to be completed in six years. The first two years are devoted to intensive coursework and to the fulfillment of the writing requirements for the MA degree (either a thesis or two qualifying papers). Years three and four are devoted to additional coursework, to studying for and taking the candidacy exams, and to preparing the dissertation prospectus. The fifth and sixth years are devoted to researching and writing the dissertation.
In addition to the areas of specialization offered within the History of Art Department, students may also take advantage of interdisciplinary programs offered at the university, including those through:
as well as programs in:
Launched in 2025, the Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice is new opportunity for PhD students to complete a certificate alongside their graduate degree. The 14-16 credit hour certificate trains graduate students in the theory and practice of curatorial work and exhibitions in art museums, galleries, and other contemporary art exhibition spaces.