Master of Arts

Program Description

The MA program is a course-based degree designed to prepare art history students for doctoral research, curatorial work, art consultation, heritage programs, cultural journalism, and secondary school teaching.

MA students do not complete a thesis and are not assigned a supervisor. The MA program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Art History's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Strong overall grade average in art history and closely related subjects and at least a B+ average in recent senior art history courses. Outstanding applicants with other backgrounds may be considered.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 graduate full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • Coursework must be chosen from at least three of four fields: 1) Ancient, 2) Medieval, 3) Early Modern, 4) Modern and Contemporary. No more than 2.0 FCEs may be taken in any one of the four fields.

  • Coursework must also be taken in at least two geographic zones. Courses without a specific regional focus may count toward the geographical distribution requirement if the student's final paper is on an appropriate topic.

  • The equivalent of 1.0 FCE may be taken in another graduate department (for example, Medieval Studies, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations), subject to approval of the Department of Art History and the other department concerned.

• Reading knowledge of a language other than English (normally French, German, Italian, Arabic, or Chinese); tested in the first session.

• A research methods workshop.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S);
6 sessions part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time