M.A. – Art History
The Master of Arts 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.
THE MASTERS OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY CONSISTS OF TWO OPTIONS:
Option A
The thesis track is typically taken by those who are interested in continuing for a PhD or pursuing an advanced teaching career in Art History through stressing scholarly research skills.
Option B
The non-thesis with comprehensive oral examination track emphasizes breadth of knowledge and practical training for teaching at the community college level, and is typically for students interested in working in art museum education, galleries and other commercial visual arts enterprises.
SUBJECT AREAS
The course requirements are designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop a depth of knowledge in a major field, while also acquiring a breadth of knowledge about the history of art in general. MA students are strongly encouraged to take a range of courses from several different professors. The major field should be chosen with the assistance of the major advisor. Some of the criteria for limiting the major area might include geographic, chronological, medium, or methodological considerations. Courses are available in the Art History Division, as well as in other departments on campus.
Subject Areas within Art History:
- American
- Architectural History
- Baroque/Rococo
- Contemporary Art and Theory
- Greek and Roman
- Latin American
- Modern
- Museum Studies (Certificate Program)
- Photography
- Renaissance
- 17th Century
- 18th Century
- 19th Century
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
30 units are required to complete the Master of Arts in Art History degree.
Please see the Graduate Advising page, and the Art History Graduate Handbook for specific program requirements.
| Program Requirement | Description | Required Number of Units |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | ARH 511A or ARH 511B | 3 units |
| Major Field | 4 ARH courses in major field. One of these courses may be taken in a substantially different discipline, outside the School of Art | 12 units |
| Electives | 4 electives in art history to provide breadth | 12 units |
| Thesis or Oral Exam | ARH 909 or ARH 910 | 3 units |
| Seminars | At least 3 seminars in the coursework in addition to Methods are required. |
Please see the Graduate Advising page, and the Studio Art Graduate Handbook for specific program requirements.
ACCELERATED MASTER’S DEGREE (UA uNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY)
The Accelerated Master of Arts in Art History provides an opportunity for high-achieving University of Arizona undergraduate students in the a BA in Art History or a BA in Studio Art to use 12 units of graduate coursework towards both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, giving students the possibility to receive both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in 5 years. This program is intended both for students interested in enhancing their qualifications for careers in galleries, libraries, archives and museums, as well as for students interested in admission to other graduate programs (such as Library and Information Science, Conservation, and Arts Administration). Accelerated Master of Arts students must have an excellent academic record and the ability to balance their coursework in a face-paced program. Students will typically be invited by their art history professor to apply to the program.