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Program Details

Graduate Program: Art History (MA)

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Art History (MA)  
Program Description

The Master of Arts degree in Art History provides a broad based and methodologically critical foundation essential to pursuing a career in Art History, whether in a university or museum setting. The Art History faculty offers an extensive range of specialties, theoretical approaches, and methodologies. Students are encouraged to develop diverse critical methods and originality of thought as well as a thorough knowledge of the history of art. Graduate students may take advantage of course offerings in related departments such as Architectural History, History, Classics, Anthropology, Media Arts, Women’s Studies, Religious Studies, and English, among others. In addition, they may participate in the activities of the African-American Studies Program, the American Indian Studies Program, the Southwest Institute for Research on Women, the Latin American Area Center, the University of Arizona Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation Committee, and the Group for Early Modern Studies Graduate Certificate Program.

Please see our website: http://art.arizona.edu/

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Division of Art History

Passion is the spark that ignites the fire of creativity, and it is the foundation of a pursuit to study the visual arts. If you are considering a major in Art and Visual Culture Education, Art History or Studio Art, you know that passion first hand. Why not join a community of like-minded individuals who share that commitment to creativity?

Ranked among the top art schools in the nation and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the School of Art offers its students a dynamic arrangement of in-depth programs of study. You will find the faculty supportive, the curriculum provocative, and the community among your classmates both challenging and inspiring.

Studying at a research-focused university, with over 200 degrees such as the University of Arizona gives you the unique opportunity to be surrounded by, and to engage with, faculty and peers of cross-disciplinary expertise, providing a depth and breadth of experience that is limited only by how far you want to go.

 
College

College of Fine Arts

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Megan Bartel
520-621-8518
Graduate Program Coordinator
Megan Bartel
520-621-8518
Director of Graduate Studies
Karen M Zimmermann
520-621-1265
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Hayley Jean Kral
520-621-3484
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

APPLICATION PREREQUISITES

Applicants must have a recognized bachelor degree, and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. In addition, applicants should have taken at least four upper division Art History courses (12 units). While students may be admitted without these courses, they will be required to complete any deficiencies before graduate courses count toward the Master Degree.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Through the Graduate Admissions Application you will have the ability to upload various requirements for consideration by the admission committee. For this application you will be asked to submit the following:

  • Please provide a Statement of Purpose
  • Please combine the following items into a single document (maximum file size: 5 MB) in the order shown below:
    • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
    • Writing or Research Sample. Maximum of 10 pages.
  • Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended. For initial evaluation purposes, you may attach scans of official or unofficial transcripts.
  • The names and contact information for 3 referees who will be submitting Letters of Recommendation on your behalf. All letters of recommendation must be received by the application deadline and must be from faculty members that can speak about your academic and research ability and potential for graduate studies. The preferred method to receive letters of recommendation is through the web-based Graduate Admissions Application. If, however, this is not possible, letters can be sent to:
    • Graduate Program
      School of Art
      University of Arizona
      P.O. Box 210002
      Tucson, AZ 85721
  • GRE scores – Please request that ETS send official notification of your GRE scores to the Graduate College. The institutional code for the University of Arizona is 4832. The Art History division only looks at Verbal and Analytical scores.

The Graduate College requires additional materials for International Applicants (Proof of Financial Resources, Health Insurance, and proof of English proficiency for students whose native language is not English). Please refer to the Graduate College website for details

 
Standardized Tests

Required test(s): All students must submit GRE scores

International Students Only: English Proficiency Requirement.

 
Funding Opportunities

The School of Art offers fee waivers, scholarships, fellowships and graduate assistantships for graduate students in good standing. These awards are competitive and assigned during both fall and spring semesters.
Please refer to the department website for more information: http://art.arizona.edu/

 
Admissions Deadlines
  • Spring – September 15
     
  • Fall – Priority Deadline: January 10
    Fall – Final Deadline: March 15

Students who submit their applications by the priority deadline will have priority consideration for financial assistance from the School of Art.

Applications received on or before each deadline will constitute a competitive pool, and will be reviewed by faculty shortly after the deadline has passed.

All submitted applications will be considered after the application deadline has passed. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will be automatically denied. Paper applications will not be accepted, please submit all materials via the Graduate Admissions Application.

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

30 

Core Coursework Requirements

3 units of Methods:
ARH 511A: Theory and Methods in Art History: Renaissance to 1960 (3 units)
ARH 511B: New Theory and Methods in Art History: 1960-Present (3 units)

3 units ARH 909: Master's Report (1-5 units) or ARH 910: Thesis (1-6 units)

 
Elective Coursework

12 units of Major Area, chosen from the following coursework:
ARH 500: Topics in Museum Studies, 3 units
ARH 512: Rome and its Reception, 3 units
ARH 517: 19th Century European Art, 3 units
ARH 530: Queer Cinema, 3 units
ARH 536: Topics in American Indian Art, 3 units
ARH 552: Etruscan Art + Archaeology, 3 units
ARH 554: Greek and Roman Sculpture, 3 units
ARH 562: Classical and Controversial, 3 units
ARH 565: Greek Pottery: Craft & Society, 3 units
ARH 577: Greek Architecture, 3 units
ARH 580: Topics in Art History, 3 units
ARH 584: Roman Art + Architecture, 3 units
ARH 599: Independent Study, 1-5 units
ARH 501A: Art As Plunder: The Spoils of War, the Formation of Collections, & Trade in Stolen Art, 3 units
ARH 511A: Theory and Methods in Art History: Renaissance to 1960, 3 units
ARH 512D: Mdv Art: Romanesqu+Gothic, 3 units
ARH 513B: Renaissance Art in Italy: 15th Century, 3 units
ARH 514A: Northern Renaissance Art, 3 units
ARH 514C: 16th-Century Art of Northern Europe, 3 units
ARH 515A: Southern Baroque Art, 3 units
ARH 523A: The Art of Mexico, 3 units
ARH 523B: The Art of Mexico, 3 units
ARH 524A: History of Photography, 3 units
ARH 524C: History of Photography: Contemporary Trends, 3 units
ARH 526A: European Art Since 1945, 3 units
ARH 529B: American Art: 19th Century Art, 3 units
ARH 529D: American Art: 20th Century, 3 units
ARH 596B: Problems in Renaissance-Baroque, 3 units
ARH 596F: History of Photography, 3 units
ARH 596I: Isus Cntmp Theory + Crit, 3 units
ARH 596M: Issues in Mexican Art, 3 units
ARH 596N: American Art, 3 units
ARH 596O: Issues in Art History, 3 units
ARH 596V: Issues in Native American Art, 3 units
ARH 699: Independent Study, 1-5 units
One of these courses may be taken outside the department with the approval of the major advisor. Substitutions for coursework can be made with the approval of the faculty advisor.

12 units of Breadth, chosen from the following coursework:
ARH 500: Topics in Museum Studies, 3 units
ARH 512: Rome and its Reception, 3 units
ARH 517: 19th Century European Art, 3 units
ARH 530: Queer Cinema, 3 units
ARH 536: Topics in American Indian Art, 3 units
ARH 552: Etruscan Art + Archaeology, 3 units
ARH 554: Greek and Roman Sculpture, 3 units
ARH 562: Classical and Controversial, 3 units
ARH 565: Greek Pottery: Craft & Society, 3 units
ARH 577: Greek Architecture, 3 units
ARH 580: Topics in Art History, 3 units
ARH 584: Roman Art + Architecture, 3 units
ARH 599: Independent Study, 1-5 units
ARH 501A: Art As Plunder: The Spoils of War, the Formation of Collections, & Trade in Stolen Art, 3 units
ARH 511A: Theory and Methods in Art History: Renaissance to 1960, 3 units
ARH 512D: Mdv Art: Romanesqu+Gothic, 3 units
ARH 513B: Renaissance Art in Italy: 15th Century, 3 units
ARH 514A: Northern Renaissance Art, 3 units
ARH 514C: 16th-Century Art of Northern Europe, 3 units
ARH 515A: Southern Baroque Art, 3 units
ARH 523A: The Art of Mexico, 3 units
ARH 523B: The Art of Mexico, 3 units
ARH 524A: History of Photography, 3 units
ARH 524C: History of Photography: Contemporary Trends, 3 units
ARH 526A: European Art Since 1945, 3 units
ARH 529B: American Art: 19th Century Art, 3 units
ARH 529D: American Art: 20th Century, 3 units
ARH 596B: Problems in Renaissance-Baroque, 3 units
ARH 596F: History of Photography, 3 units
ARH 596I: Isus Cntmp Theory + Crit, 3 units
ARH 596M: Issues in Mexican Art, 3 units
ARH 596N: American Art, 3 units
ARH 596O: Issues in Art History, 3 units
ARH 596V: Issues in Native American Art, 3 units
ARH 699: Independent Study, 1-5 units

Substitutions for coursework can be made with the approval of the faculty advisor.

Within the 24 units of Major Area coursework and Breadth coursework, 9 units must be seminar courses (courses beginning with ARH 596_). Substitutions for seminar courses can be made with the approval of the faculty advisor.

 
Additional Requirements

Language requirements: A reading knowledge of French, Spanish, Itailian, German or other approved language must be demonstrated.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 80%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) 2.06
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 25.81%
Enrollment Percent Female 74.19%
Enrollment Percent International 16.13%
Enrollment Percent URM 19.35%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/ARHMA
Last revised 07 Nov 2022
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