Graduate Programs

PhD in Art History
MA in Art History
MA in Studio Art
MA in Critical & Curatorial Studies
MAT in Art Education

The Graduate Handbook [pdf]
Graduate Admissions


The Department of Fine Arts offers a Ph.D. in Art History and Master's degrees in Art History, Studio Art or Critical & Curatorial studies. Specific courses also serve the needs of advanced undergraduate and graduate students in other fields who are qualified for the specific study. • Students who have a bachelor's degree with a "B" average or better from a duly accredited school are eligible for admission to the Graduate School of the University. They will be admitted as full-time students to the departmental Master's program upon demonstration of qualifications appropriate to each program. • The Master's degree requires 30 semester hours.


Ph.D. in Art History
Major: ARTH
Degree: PHD
Unit: GA
Coursework required for the Ph.D. Degree in Art History includes completion of the M.A. plus 15 hours ARTH 500-level electives, 15 hours ARTH 600-level electives, 6 hours ARTH 745, Dissertation Research, and 6 hours of graduate courses outside the department for a total of 72 hours. Additional 600-level courses may be substituted for 500-level. • Up to a total of 15 hours of 500 or 600 level electives outside Art History may be substituted for Art History electives of similar level provided they are appropriate and are approved in advance by the student's advisor. • Each student must complete at least one graduate-level course in each of the following areas: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern. Students who have not completed that distribution as part of the M.A. will have to do so before completing the Ph.D. • Two languages, either French or German and one additional language appropriate to the student's course of study, are required. This requirement may be fulfilled by demonstrating reading competence at the intermediate level in one of three ways: placement exam; completion of undergraduate coursework at the intermediate level with a grade of B or better; or passing a departmentally-administered language exam. The requirement in one language must be fulfilled in the first year. • Through course work and independent study, each student must prepare her/himself to pass a comprehensive exam in two areas before admission to candidacy. Language requirements must have been met and most coursework completed before a student may take these exams. • After being admitted to candidacy, the student must write a dissertation and defend it in a final oral examination.


Master of Arts in Art History
Major: ARTH
Degree: MA
Unit: GA
Applicants for admission to the Master's program in art history are expected to demonstrate competence in the history of art equivalent to an undergraduate major. • A language requirement must be satisfied during the first year in the art history program. • The Language requirement may be fulfilled by completing the intermediate level (usually 12 hours) of a language with a grade of B or better or by taking a departmentally administered language exam. Language exams are scheduled for the first Friday in October and March. • Candidates for the degree are required to complete 30 hours of academic work at the graduate level including Modern Perspectives in the Visual Arts (ARTH 541) and one course in each of the following areas: ancient, medieval, renaissance, baroque, and modern and write a thesis. Up to 6 hours may be for thesis guidance (ARTH 645-646). Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 12 hours (exclusive of thesis guidance) on the 600 level, of which at least 9 hours must be in art history. • The thesis consists of a research paper demonstrating critical knowledge of relevant sources, skill in analysis and interpretation, and ability to present the results in a well-organized and intelligent manner. The thesis must be defended in an oral examination administered by the Graduate School. A reading knowledge of one European language is required (see above).


Master of Arts in Studio Art
Major: ART
Degree: MA
Unit: GA
Applicants for admission to the Master's program in the Studio Art track are expected to have completed training equivalent to an undergraduate major. Coursework toward the degree includes a core curriculum (16 hours) consisting of Art History 541-Modern Perspectives in the Visual Arts, six (6) hours of 500 or 600-level electives in the Department of Fine Arts, three (3) hours of 500 or 600-level electives outside the Department, three (3) hours of thesis guidance, and a one (1) hour graduate seminar. • The concentration in Studio Arts will consist of fifteen (15) hours of 500 or 600-level courses taken in 2-D Studios, and/or 3-D Studios concluding with a thesis exhibition. The thesis exhibiion, which must be authorized by the Department, should take place during the candidate's last semester of study. To accompany this exhibtion, the candidate must submit a catalog containing a prefatory statement written by the candidate, a properly documented list of works in the exhibiton, photographic reproductions of the work in one of the following forms: black and white photographs, color photographs, or slides placed in plastic sleeves to be bound into the thesis. The catalog will be submitted in conformity with the regulations governing the form and presentation of the written master's thesis.


Master of Arts in Critical & Curatorial Studies
Major: ART
Degree: MA
Unit: GA
Applicants for admission to the Master's program in the Critical & Curatorial Studies track are expected to demonstrate competence in the history of art, studio art, or arts management equivalent to an undergraduate major. • Each student must complete a core curriculum (16 hours) consisting of Art History 541-Modern Perspectives in the Visual Arts, six (6) hours of 500 or 600-level electives in the Department of Fine Arts, three (3) hours of 500 or 600-level electives outside the Department, three (3) hours of thesis guidance, and a one (1) hour graduate seminar. • The concentration in Critical and Curatorial Studies will require fifteen (15) hours of coursework consisting of Approaches to Critical Inquiry, Museum Methods I and II, Arts Management, and Internship, concluding with a written thesis, exhibition, or curatorial project. The exhibition or curatorial project may be produced in cooperation with the University's Galleries, the J. B. Speed Art Museum or in another museum or gallery authorized by the Department, and should take place during the candidate's last year of study. To fulfill this requirement through an exhibiton or project, the candidate must submit a prefatory statement written by the candidate, and documentation of the exhibit or project. This documentation may include an exhibiton catalog and/or photographic reproductions of the exhibition or project in one of the following forms: black and white photographs, color photographs, or slides placed in plastic sleeves to be bound into the thesis. The statement will be submitted in conformity with the regulations governing the form and presentation of the written Master's thesis.


Application to Graduate Programs

MA brochure and Application [pdf]
PhD in Art History brochure [pdf]
MAT in Art Education
Graduate School Application

Departmental Admission Requirements for MA Students
Applicants to the MA program must fulfill the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. To meet the Graduate School requirements a students must:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Have, in most cases, completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in the intended field of study.
• Submit a formal application, application fee, at least two letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all college work, and official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the Graduate School.

• A completed Master of Arts in Fine Arts Application Form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
• Samples of a coherent body of work represented in 15 - 20 35mm slides placed in a slide sheet, accompanied by a typed slide list listing artist's name, title of work, size, medium and year.
• A typed artist's statement relevant to the submitted artwork of no more than 500 words.
• A typed statement of no more than 500 word detailing the applicant's educational and professional goals in the field of Fine Arts.

• A completed Master of Arts in Fine Arts Application form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
• A typed statement of about 500 words detailing the applicant's educational and professional goals in Art History.
• A writing sample (normally an advanced-level Art History paper).

• A completed Master of Arts in Fine Arts Application form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
• A typed statement of about 500 words detailing the applicant's educational and professional goals in the field of Fine Arts.
• A writing sample (normally an advanced-level Art History paper)

All application materials required by the Department for all of the above Tracks must be submitted to the Graduate Program Secretary, no later than October 15 for spring semester admission and January 15 for fall semester admission. All requests for scholarship aid must be submitted by January 15.

For additional information, or information regarding application to the PhD program, please download the above brochures in pdf format or contact the department at (502.852.6794).


Faculty
Faculty of the Department of Fine Arts


Links
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Resources and Enhancements
Aegis, the graduate student organization
University of Louisville Graduate School