Art, Art History, M.A.

Not accepting students for the academic year 2017-2018.

Degrees and Concentrations

The School of Art, Design and Art History offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in studio art and the Master of Arts in art history, art education and studio art.

Mission

The Master of Arts in art history is designed for those who wish to prepare for a doctoral program of study or seek entry level positions in museums, galleries, arts organizations, art-related government agencies and businesses. It also provides advanced art historical study for Virginia teachers, or those who are intending to teach in public schools or other educational institutions.

Goals

• To provide training in critical thinking and methodologies.
• To encourage in-depth study of a particular cultural/historical area.
• To provide students with research and writing skills for advanced graduate study.
• To promote general scholarly inquiry in art history and an appreciation of the interaction of culture and art.

Application Requirements

In addition to the requirements of The Graduate School, applicants must meet additional qualifications established by the School of Art, Design and Art History.

The candidate must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum of 12 hours of art history, including the six hours of the survey of Western art. To apply for admission, candidates must submit:

• Brief statement of purpose
• Formal writing sample of approximately 10 to 20 pages that demonstrates the applicant’s analytical abilities and writing skills
• Three letters of recommendation
• Any additional materials that demonstrate the applicant’s preparation and potential for graduate study
• Applicants who have been out of school for some time should contact the Graduate Director for advice on identifying appropriate recommenders and on selecting a suitable writing sample.

Program Requirements

The program includes 18 hours of art history, three hours of electives and nine hours of internships or directed study. At least half of these credits must be in courses designated exclusively for graduate students. Students must also successfully complete a language exam demonstrating reading proficiency in either German or French. Students may petition to be examined in another language if it is directly relevant to their course of study.