Indiana University Bloomington

Department of the History of Art

Degree Requirements | Graduate Studies

 Graduate Bulletin/Fine Arts

MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.)

The Ph.D.


MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.)

Course requirements

There are seven areas for the M.A.: Ancient, Byzantine and Medieval, Islamic, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern (19th and 20th Centuries), Art Theory, and African/Oceanic/Pre-Columbian. A minimum of 30 hours of Art History is required, distributed as follows:

A575 is taken during the fall of the first year. All 400-level Art History courses carry graduate credit, with the exception of A400, A490 (watch out for A490; many appetizing courses are taught under this number. If you really need the course, you may take it with approval, but must register for it as A495 or A499. A limit of 12 credits of A495 (Readings) may count towards the M.A. Approval must be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies and the instructor with whom you will study. Please come into the History of Art Office to request a form indicating approval of A495.

400- and 500-level courses are lecture courses; 600-level courses are seminars. A500 (Historiography) and A590 can satisfy area requirements for individual students who work on appropriate projects in the course; the instructor should be consulted in advance to arrange this. A480 (Russian Art) is considered part of the 19th and 20th century area requirements.

You may request transferring up to 8 credit hours of graduate work which would count toward the degree. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies..

A GPA of 3.5 or above in your art history courses is required for graduation. A student who has a GPA of less than 3.5 may be placed on probation. If, at the end of the following semester of probation, the student has not succeeded in raising her/his GPA, she or he may be advised to discontinue degree work.

All requirements for an M.A. must be completed within a five-year span of time (this includes any transferred courses). This is stipulated by the Graduate School.

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Languages

Reading proficiency in one foreign language is required; depending on your area of interest, additional languages may be necessary. Proficiency in one language must be demonstrated by the beginning of the third semester of full-time course work as a M.A. candidate.

Foreign language proficiency is usually demonstrated in one of four ways.

  1. If you majored in a foreign language as an undergraduate, you may ask the Director of Graduate Studies to accept the major as satisfying one of the foreign language requirements.
  2. Another is by taking and passing the Graduate Student Foreign Language Test (GSFLT) which is given four times a year (in October, February, April, and June) and can be taken up to three times; there is a nominal fee. The Department is notified when you have passed.
  3. A third option is by taking and passing the language proficiency test in the department of the language you need in your chosen discipline. The department is notified when you have passed. Proficiency can be demonstrated by passing the 491-492 sequence in the language with a grade of B or above. Sometimes students take both courses during the summer of their first year. It is possible to enter the 492 course directly by passing a placement examination, which is arranged by calling the Testing Bureau at 855-1595; there is a fee for the placement test.
  4. A fourth way you can demonstrate foreign language competence is by receiving a B or better in a 300-level IU literature course in that language. If your undergraduate major was in a foreign language, you may request certification on this basis.

It is not possible to transfer credit hours in a language as proof of proficiency; the language departments that certify proficiency (French and Italian, German, etc.) do not usually accept transcripts as proof of proficiency. Language course hours do not fulfill art history hours requirements.

While credit for Western language courses normally does not count toward the M.A.; Ph.D. students of non-Western languages should consult their minor requirements for guidelines concerning their language courses. African Studies, for example, requires all doctoral students with a minor in that field to take at least two years (12 hours) of an appropriate African language.

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Master's Essay

The Master's Essay is a formal written paper around 25 to 35 pages in length, including the usual scholarly apparatus of notes and bibliography, prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor in your chosen area of concentration. You will select the topic to develop for your essay; its content, approach, and presentation are to be planned in consultation with your advisor. A second reader of your paper should also be selected by the advisor, in consultation with you. Often a Master's Essay will be a continuation of research begun as a seminar project.

Your topic must be approved at the commencement of the work by a majority vote of the Art History faculty. Master’s Thesis must still be submitted in the bound format only.

You should prepare a formal topic proposal to submit to the faculty, including (1) the title for the essay, and the names of your advisor and second reader; (2) a two-to-three page statement outlining the nature of the problem to be addressed, existing scholarship on it, and the methodology to be used; (3) a one-page bibliography. The departmental assistant will circulate your statement to the art history faculty for approval and comments.

Art-quality photocopies may be used to illustrate the essay unless one of your readers requests that you use photographs. Color plates are required only if the essay deals with color specifically, if a reader requests them, or if you feel they are vital to the essay in some critical aspect.

The completed essay must be read and approved by the faculty advisor and the second reader. You are required to give the Departmental Graduate Secretary a copy of the finished and approved essay; you may leave it unbound or bind it to your liking. The essay will then be deposited in the Fine Arts Library. Your request for graduation cannot be sent to the Graduate School for formal approval until you bring in the final approved copy of your essay. If you fail to deliver your essay, you will not officially be graduated from the Master's program, and your diploma will be withheld until the essay is received by the Graduate Secretary.

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Pass/Fail Option

The Graduate School requires a grade-point average of 3.0 or better with no more than four hours of incompletes on the academic record, not counting starred "R" courses for any student who elects the Pass/Fail option. This option does not apply to students who transfer from one department to another, only until they complete at least one year's work in the new department. To be eligible for the Pass/Fail option, an M.A. or Ph.D. student must have completed thirty hours. Exceptions to this rule may be made for "non-academic" courses such as swimming, ballet, voice lessons, etc. In addition, other exceptions can be made on an as-needed basis. Students may take pass/fail courses only outside the major and minor areas; however, the student who has already completed an approved outside minor may enroll in further courses on a Pass/Fail basis. Such courses may not be used for fulfillment of Graduate School language or tool/research skill requirements; although the student may take Pass/Fail courses beyond the requirements in these areas.

The student receives full credit for a course with a grade of "P" although such grades are not computed in the GPA. A grade of "F," however, will be included in the GPA, and the student will receive no credit for the course. There is no maximum number of Pass/Fail hours, but a student who wishes to elect more than one such course per semester must submit in writing reasons for doing so to the Graduate School.

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M.A. Checklist for Graduation
  1. After the final draft of the essay is approved, check the number and validity of your credits.
  2. 60 days before you plan to graduate, apply for graduation at the Graduate School, Kirkwood 111.
  3. Turn in a copy of the approved essay to the Graduate Secretary.
  4. Make certain that all "I" and "R" grades have been removed by the professor(s) in question.

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The Ph.D.

Admission
  1. All students, whether or not they have M.A.s from I.U., must apply for admission to the program.
  2. Students nearing completion of their Master's degree in two years may apply for admission to the Ph.D. program in the fourth semester. If accepted, however, their matriculations are conditional on the successful completion of all coursework for the M.A. and approval the final version of their Master's essay before the beginning of classes. This policy applies to students with M.A.s from elsewhere also. If conditions for matriculation are not met, the student may reapply for the following semester.
  3. An application for internal candidates consists of 1) writing sample, 2) letter of intent/proposed course of study and career aspirations, 3) a transcript, 4) a curriculum vita, and 5) two or more letters of support from advisors. One of these letters should be from a faculty member who has agreed to serve as primary dissertation advisor. The second letter should be from a "back-up" advisor - the second reader, who would see you through to completion should the primary advisor become unable to do so.
  4. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee, chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies, and a recommendation is made to the department. If all are in agreement as to the student's suitability, he/she will be admitted to candidacy.

* Students who take courses beyond the number required for M.A. without being admitted to the Ph.D. program do so at their own risk.
** Since financial aid will be dependent upon timely admission into the Ph.D. program M.A. students who wish to enter the Ph.D. program should apply during their fourth semester in the Department. This means that acceptance will be conditional upon successful and timely completion of M.A. requirements including the M.A. essay.

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Course Requirements

The Ph.D. in History of Art is offered in the areas of Ancient, Byzantine and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern and Contemporary, (19th and 20th centuries), and African/Oceanic/Pre Columbian Art.

Courses in Art Theory pertinent to the major field satisfy the major field requirements; Art Theory may also be taken as an inside minor. The requirements for Ph.D. candidates in Art History include 90 credit hours, distributed among one major and two minor fields:

Major area (a minimum of 28 hours of courses and seminars):
4 lecture courses 16 hours
3 seminars 12 hours

Minor I (16 hours)
2 lecture courses 8 hours
2 seminars 8 hours

Minor II (12 hours)
2 lecture courses 8 hours
1 seminar 4 hours

Electives:
Additional hours (18): selected in consultation with your advisor.

Dissertation credit hours: up to 16 hours

Total: 90 credit hours

Specific requirements in the major field are determined by the faculty advisor in that field in consultation with the student. The first minor (or "inside" minor) is taken in another field within the department. The second minor may be taken within the department or, with the approval of the major advisor, as an "outside" minor in another department or program.

Students are to satisfy the requirements for the graduate outside minor as defined by that department or program (usually 9 to 12 hours); if there are no established requirements, they should take 12 hours of graduate level courses.

Hours accumulated for the M.A. at IU count towards the Ph.D. Up to 30 hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another institution; grades for transferred courses must fall within the seven year limit for all Ph.D. coursework (that is, the seven years prior to successful completion of the Ph.D. exams). Transferred credit must be approved by the Director of the Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School.

All 400 level Art History courses carry graduate credit, with the exception of A400, A490, and A499. Readings courses (A495) are to be approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Studies; normally, they cannot be used to satisfy the minor requirements.

400 and 500 level courses are lectures; 600 level courses are seminars. A500 Historiography and A590 can satisfy major or minor requirements for individual students who work on appropriate projects in the course; the instructor should be consulted in advance to arrange this.

Advisor and advisee should meet at least once per semester to make sure that courses taken as electives are agreed upon in advance.

Electives for a total of 18 credit hours are to be chosen in consultation with the Ph.D. advisor. It is recommended that Ph.D. students take these electives in the form of seminars in various fields within art history. However, electives may be taken in any form that is approved by Ph.D. advisor, e.g., additional courses or seminars in the major area, readings and research courses, or courses in another discipline that supports the student's research agenda. Each semester the agreed upon courses must be recorded.

Electives should be recorded on a planning sheet and given to the Art History office staff for inclusion in your dossier. Each form should include the date and the signature of the advisor.

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Language Requirements

Reading proficiency in two foreign languages is required; depending on your area of interest, additional languages may be necessary. If you majored in a foreign language as an undergraduate, you may ask the Director of Graduate Studies to accept the major as satisfying one of the foreign language requirements. Languages certified for the M.A. degree at IU will count for the Ph.D. as well.

Foreign language proficiency is usually demonstrated in one of three ways.

  1. One is by taking and passing the Graduate Student Foreign Language Test (GSFLT) which is given four times a year (in October, February, April, and June) and can be taken up to three times; there is a small fee. The Department is notified when you have passed.
  2. Proficiency can also be demonstrated by passing the 491- 492 course sequence in the languages with a grade of B or above.It is possible to enter the 492 course directly by passing a placement examination, which is arranged by calling the Testing Bureau at 855-1595; again, there is a fee for the placement test.

    Students in African art who take African Studies as their outside minor may count graduate credit courses in an African language in partial satisfaction of the credit-hour requirements for that outside minor.
  3. A third way you can demonstrate foreign language competence is by receiving at least a B in an IU literature course in the language, on the 300 level or higher. Credit for Western language courses normally does not count toward the Ph.D.; students of non Western languages should see their faculty advisors for additional information.

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Qualifying Examinations

Qualifying examinations may be taken after the student has satisfied all language requirements and has a minimum of 74 hours of course work in the major and minor fields.

These usually consist of three three hour written examinations in the major field. (Qualifying examinations for students whose major field is Modern Art 19th and 20th Centuries will be either on 19th Century or on 20th Century art.) The three exams must be taken within a span of five working days. At the discretion of the department, there may be an oral exam. Arrangements to take the qualifying examinations must be made with the major advisor at least 60 days in advance.

The questions are formulated by the major advisor with the participation of the faculty representative of the first minor, and the papers are normally read by a faculty committee of two or three members. Students must pass all parts of these examinations. A student who fails all or any part of them may take all or part of them one more time only, after waiting at least six but not more than twelve months after the first attempt.

Once you pass the qualifying exams, you will be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. Please double-check to be sure that the Graduate Secretary has sent your "Nomination to Candidacy" form to the Graduate School; a certificate of candidacy will be sent to your permanent address, and the approved nomination form is filed with your records here. The seven year time limit for completion of the degree begins with the date of passing the qualifying exams.

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The Ph.D. Dissertation

The topic of your Ph.D. dissertation must be in the same area as your qualifying exams; it is determined by you in consultation with your major advisor. The topic must be approved at the commencement of work by a majority vote of the History of Art faculty; under the supervision of your advisor, you are to prepare a written dissertation proposal to submit to the faculty for evaluation. Your advisor will also set up a Research Committee for your project.
This will consist of no fewer than three members of the Department and one representative of the minor.

Upon completion of the work, you will defend your thesis before the Research Committee. At least 6 weeks before the date of the defense, you should submit a complete unbound copy of the dissertation to each member of the Research Committee.

The defense will NOT be scheduled until all committee members have received the COMPLETE dissertation and the defense WILL NOT be scheduled sooner than 6 weeks after receipt.

You must also submit a thesis abstract and summary to the Graduate School at this time (see the Graduate School Bulletin).

Ph.D. dissertations submission may now be submitted electronically. Please see: http://graduate.indiana.edu/preparing-theses-and-dissertations.php

Supporting documentation must be received for your Ph.D. degree to be awarded, in addition to the submission of your on-line Dissertation:

1. Acceptance with Original Signatures
2. Abstract with Original Signatures
3. Title Page
4. Copyright Page (if copy right dissertation) you can get the copyright page from the Graduate School
5. Microfilm and Copy right Fee Receipt from the Office of the Bursar
a. Microfilm – Mandatory: $60.00
b. Copy right – Optional: $45.00
6. (Optional)
Survey of Earned Doctorates
IU Exit Survey

Items 1-4: regular bond paper may be used.

For the final submission of the thesis, see the Graduate Secretary for a copy of the Graduate School's "Ph.D. Dissertation Requirement."

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In-Absentia Registration

All doctoral students must be registered in the fall and spring semesters of each academic year to be considered full-time students. This holds true regardless of where you are working or doing research. In-absentia registration is available for doctoral students only. If you have completed 90 hours of coursework and have taken and passed your qualification exams then you may register for FINA G901 (Advanced Research). If you have completed your qualification exams but have not completed 90 hours you may register for A879 (Doctoral Dissertation). If you are an in-state resident, one credit hour of A879 will be the least expensive solution.

If you have out-of-state residency you may want to consider G901, which offers 6 credit hours of doctoral dissertation for a flat fee per semester.

Students enrolling in G901 must be (1) doctoral students who have completed ninety hours or more of graduate coursework, and (2) doctoral students who have completed all requirements for their degree except the dissertation or final project or performance, if applicable, and (3) doctoral students who have not previously enrolled in more than five semesters of G901. Each student wishing to enroll in G901 must submit a G901 course authorization from signed by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Only six semesters of G901 (six credits each for a total of 36 hours) are available to each doctoral student. Registration for more than this will result in loss of registration. After you have used the six segments of G901 allotted to you, you will be registered for A879, one credit hour, unless you indicate another course.

REGISTRATION IS NOW ON-LINE. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN REGISTRATION.

You must be registered every fall and spring semester from the time that you are nominated to candidacy until the time that you hand in your completed copy of the dissertation. If you fail to register for a semester, or fail to pay, you must request a retroactive registration, which must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

If you wish to be registered in-absentia, please notify the Departmental Graduate Secretary at least six weeks in advance of each semester that you need course authorization and request your Registration Access Code (RAC) if you wish to be enrolled. Failure to do so may result in late fees from the Registrar or loss of doctoral status.

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General Information for Overseas Research Facilities

If you plan on doing research abroad, there is an excellent chance that you will need some form of identification that will indicate your student status before you will be allowed to enter (much less use) many research facilities, archives and libraries. Just in case, go to International Programs in Bryan Hall 205, telephone 855-8669, at the corner of Indiana and Kirkwood to procure an extremely official-looking document complete with gold seal and ribbon. This document will state the country you will be going to, when and how long you will be doing research in that country, and your degree status. Request two copies and keep them in separate places in your luggage. It is advisable also to ask your major field advisor for a letter of introduction.