The Department of Art History offers programs leading to the master of arts and the doctor of philosophy. Students enjoy close interaction with their mentors and benefit from superb resources for interdisciplinary research. Faculty members have international reputations in their specialties, regularly receive prestigious awards, lecture widely, and serve on major professional boards. Graduates of the department teach at the post-secondary level or pursue careers in museum and curatorial professions, private galleries and auction houses, library or archival work, architecture and historical preservation, and conservation. The Department encourages diverse approaches to the study of art, architecture, the built environment, visual and material culture, and curation. Our faculty includes specialists in a wide range of critical areas of research and teaching expertise that can be explored on our website. The department is housed in the Conrad A. Elvehjem Building with the Chazen Museum of Art, which has a broad historical collection with several areas of particular strength, an active acquisitions program, and facilities to host major traveling exhibitions and exhibition courses. Graduate students use these collections for research and publishing projects. They may also have the opportunity to work on exhibitions in special classes or as project assistants. Our building is also home to the Kohler Art Library, which contains an excellent collection of published materials and full range of periodicals.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 15 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
While applicants may pursue a stand-alone MA, those who wish to pursue a PhD should apply directly to that program. Admission to either program is offered to applicants with an outstanding undergraduate record of academic achievement. A successful applicant typically presents a compelling statement of purpose for graduate studies and an advanced research paper. To be competitive in some subfields, applicants should have training in at least one foreign language. Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective faculty advisors for more details. Non-native English speakers must present English language proficiency scores.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Funding information can be found on the program website.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 21 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | No other grade requirements. |
| Assessments and Examinations | A first-year portfolio review and an MA thesis are required. |
| Language Requirements | Reading competency in one language. Minimum of reading competence in a second language.” The second language requirement may be fulfilled by transfer credit, examination, or course work at a minimum of a semester course for “Graduate Reading Knowledge.” With program approval, undergraduate and MA degree holders in the study of a second language and students for whom English is a second language may be exempt. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART HIST Courses | 21 | |
| All students must take ART HIST 701. In addition, they take at least 9 credits that fulfill the temporal/chronological breadth (i.e., 3 credits each in at least three of four temporal areas) and 9 credits that fulfill geographic breadth requirements (i.e., 3 credits each in at least three of five geographic areas). | ||
| Practicum in Art History: Bibliography, Historiography, Methods | ||
| Geographic Breadth (9 credits) | ||
At least one course in three of the five following areas: | ||
Cross-Cultural/Diaspora | ||
Africa/Middle East | ||
Asia | ||
Europe | ||
The Americas | ||
| Temporal/Chronological Breadth (9 credits) | ||
At least one course in three of the four following periods: | ||
Ancient to Medieval | ||
Early Modern (Circa 1400–Circa 1800) | ||
Modern (Circa 1800–Circa 1945) | ||
Contemporary (Post 1945) | ||
| Seminar Requirement | ||
A minimum of 9 of the 21 credits above must be seminars (i.e., three courses typically numbered 800 or above but this includes ART HIST 701 and ART HIST/ASIAN 621) | ||
| Additional Coursework | 9 | |
| Students typically take at least one elective course (3 credits) and two sections (6 credits) of an independent study (ART HIST 799) to prepare the required MA thesis. | ||
Elective(s) | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students may be allowed transfer up to 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions toward fulfillment of minimum degree and graduate coursework credit requirements. Such coursework from other institutions will not be applied towards the graduate career GPA. The Graduate School’s minimum graduate residence credit requirement can be satisfied only with courses taken as a graduate student at UW–Madison. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
With program approval, students may transfer up to 7 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above of required or elective courses from the undergraduate work completed at UW–Madison towards fulfillment of minimum degree requirements. These credits will not be applied towards the graduate career GPA. The Graduate School’s minimum residence credit requirement can be satisfied only with courses taken as a graduate student at UW–Madison. Credits earned at other institutions do not transfer.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, students are generally allowed to transfer up to 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW-Madison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
All students are required to update their primary advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies annually on their progress.
Credits Per Term Allowed
Maximum 15 credits.
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Mastery of techniques for visual analysis (examining features such as materials, proportion, light, color, form and narrative structure) of single images and for comparative analysis of multiple images and objects.
- Advanced proficiency in interpreting images/objects in ways that take into account the historical contexts in which they were produced and received.
- In-depth knowledge across a range of time and geography to reach an understanding of the ways in which art and its meaning are rooted in culture.
- Advanced ability to locate and enlist research resources in both print and digital form and assess the strengths and weaknesses of various types of resources.
- Advanced knowledge and skills necessary to interpret images/objects in ways that consider a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- Ability to assess and critique complex scholarly arguments and evaluate the strength of the visual and textual evidence presented.
- Advanced skills in effective and impactful communication in both written and oral form in ways that acknowledge diverse audiences in an increasingly global society.
- Skills in public engagement such that our students are able to effectively communicate complex ideas to a lay public in written, oral, and digital form in keeping with the Wisconsin Idea.