The MA degree in Art History is offered jointly with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This program prepares students for study at the doctoral level or to have a career in a museum or gallery, among other fields. The MA degree in Art History at The University of Alabama currently offers two plans for completion: thesis and museum studies. Plan 1 culminates with a written thesis and defense, and Plan 2 culminates with a major paper and capstone presentation based upon coursework experiences and a museum internship.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- A writing sample.
It is also highly recommended that applicants submit a CV or resumé.
Applicants to the Plan 2 non-thesis degree program must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the MA program in Art History, as well as those for the Museum Studies Certificate Program.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
Students enrolled in the MA art history program may choose one of two study plans.
Art History with Thesis - Plan 1
Plan 1 students must initially take 24-hours of graduate-level coursework that includes 3-hours of ARH 550 Literature of Art, 3-hours of ARH 552 Advanced Research Seminar, and 18-hours (this may include 6 hours in a related field) of graduate-level ARH electives. All students must take 6-hours (elective or required) on the UAB campus.
All students must take at least one course in Western art history and one in non-Western art history, and courses in time periods both before and after 1700 CE. Classes are offered in the following areas: Medieval, Early Modern (Renaissance and Baroque), Nineteenth-Century, Modern and Contemporary, American (including African American), and Asian (China, Japan, and Korea) art history.
During the first 24-hours of study, all Plan 1 students must pass a reading proficiency test in a foreign language (preferably French or German) administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics.
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARH 550 | Literature Of Art | 3 |
| ARH 552 | Advanced Research Seminar | 3 |
| ARH 599 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| Elective Courses (selected based upon required ARH course distribution) | 18 | |
| *6 credit hours (elective or required) must be taken on the UAB campus | ||
| Asian Seminar | ||
| Medieval Seminar | ||
| Topics in Renaissance Art | ||
| Baroque & Rococo Seminar | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Seminar | ||
| American Art Seminar | ||
| Twentieth-Century Seminar | ||
| Topics in African American Art | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Art History with Museum Studies - Plan 2
Plan 2 students must initially take 24-hours of coursework that includes 3-hours of ARH 550 Literature of Art, 3-hours of ARH 552 Advanced Research Seminar, 3-hours of MUSM 501 Museum Administration, 3-hours of MUSM 502 Museum Collections Management or MUSM 503 Museum Education & Exhibition and 12-hours of graduate-level ARH electives. All students must take 6-hours (elective or required) on the UAB campus.
All students must take at least one course in Western art history and one in non-Western art history, and courses in time periods both before and after 1700 CE. Classes are offered in the following areas: Medieval, Early Modern (Renaissance and Baroque), Nineteenth-Century, Modern and Contemporary, American (including African American), and Asian (China, Japan, and Korea) art history.
During the first 24-hours of study, all Plan 2 students must pass a reading proficiency test in a foreign language (preferably French or German) administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics.
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARH 550 | Literature Of Art | 3 |
| ARH 552 | Advanced Research Seminar | 3 |
| MUSM 501 | Museum Administration | 3 |
| MUSM 502 or | Museum Collections Management | 3 |
| MUSM 503 | Museum Education & Exhibition | |
| MUSM 500 | Museum Internship | 3 |
| Elective Courses (selected based upon required ARH course distribution) | 15 | |
| *6 credit hours (elective or required) must be taken on the UAB campus | ||
| Asian Seminar | ||
| Medieval Seminar | ||
| Topics in Renaissance Art | ||
| Baroque & Rococo Seminar | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Seminar | ||
| American Art Seminar | ||
| Twentieth-Century Seminar | ||
MUSM 502 or | Museum Collections Management | |
| Museum Education & Exhibition | ||
| *Students who take MUSM 502 may opt to take MUSM 503 as an elective or vice versa. | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Whether Plan 1 or Plan 2, all MA students must take at least 18 hours of graduate-level ARH credit (including ARH 550 Literature Of Art and ARH 552 Advanced Research Seminar).
Transfer Credit
Master's students are allowed the greater of 12 hours (or 25 percent of the required coursework for a master's degree) to be transferred from another institution. As a joint degree program (with UAB), the Art History MA program allows for six additional outside hours to be transferred in as required. Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Accelerated Master's Program
The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in art history is intended for gifted and highly motivated candidates for bachelor’s degrees whose objectives include degrees at the master's or doctoral level. Qualified students apply to begin graduate study in their senior year. Undergraduates taking graduate level courses are expected to meet the same academic standards as the graduate students in the course. Although AMP students will typically complete the requirements for the bachelor’s degree prior to the graduate degree, such a program may lead to simultaneous completion of requirements for both graduate and bachelor's degrees.
Students enrolled in the AMP in art history can double count up to 15 hours of study. The minimum overall GPA for admission is 3.3.
Graduate School information on the Accelerated Master's Program.
Comprehensive Examination/Capstone Project
In addition to the regular course assessments, a final comprehensive examination representing a culminating experience is required of all candidates for the master's degree in art history. Plan 1 students produce a written thesis and pass a final oral defense. Plan 2 students make a capstone project presentation (based upon a capstone paper) and pass a final oral defense.
Internship Requirements
Students enrolled in Plan 2 are required to complete MUSM 500 Museum Internship.
Plan 1: Art History with Thesis Process
After 24-hours of coursework, Plan 1 students submit a thesis proposal. This proposal will be written in consultation with the student’s primary/subject-area advisor and will include a description of the topic and principal sources to be used. The proposal will be distributed to and evaluated by a committee of at least three members (including the advisor and usually one faculty member from UAB). Successful students will then complete 6-hours of ARH 599 Thesis Research. The length of the thesis should be approximately fifty pages of narrative content (not including notes, works cited/bibliography, and illustrations)
Upon producing a written thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to define an art history problem/context and mastery of the literature relevant to the subject chosen, students will be examined by their committee. This culminating assessment will consist of the written thesis and an oral exam. The exam will take place approximately two- or three- weeks after the submission of the written material (the MA thesis) to the committee. It will last approximately one hour and will consist of questions devised jointly by the committee that reflect the student's thesis research. The exam will be graded pass/fail.
In addition following Chicago formatting guidelines for the Department of Art and Art History, the final thesis document must also conform to the Graduate School's formatting requirements.
Plan 2: Art History with Museum Studies Process
After completing 24-hours of coursework, Plan 2 students complete MUSM 500 Museum Internship and an additional 3-hours of graduate-level electives. In consultation with the graduate director and relevant faculty, Plan 2 students will write a paper synthesizing their coursework and internship experience in their final semester of study.
Approximately two weeks after submission of the paper to the graduate program director, the student will undergo examination by at least three members of the graduate art history faculty. The examination consists of a 25- to 30- minute oral capstone presentation (based on the paper) and an oral defense following the presentation. The exam will be graded pass/fail.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
All requirements for the master's degree must be completed during the six years (18 fall, spring, and summer semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded. There is no provision for an extension of the time limit beyond six years for master's students. Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Student Progress Requirement
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information about academic misconduct policies.
Withdrawal and Leave of Absence Information
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Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information about academic grievance policies.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information about grades and academic standing.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
For information about Graduate School deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Graduate School information about applying for graduation.