Graduate Art History
Attention Art History MA Students: the next Qualifying Exam will be postponed until further notice.
The Master of Arts program in art history is designed to prepare students to meet the specialized requirements of work in museums, galleries, auction houses, publishing, and teaching. This program deepens students’ insights into the history of art as a whole and provides them with opportunities to develop research skills in specific areas under the direction of scholars in those fields. Students who complete the program are qualified to enter PhD programs.
The Master of Arts program in art history offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the art and architecture created by the many cultures, civilizations, and artists around the globe from antiquity to today. Students work with faculty who research, teach, and publish in a wide range of periods, styles, and media. In addition, students have the opportunity to study a broad variety of topics with the option to enroll in art history graduate courses at other CUNY campuses (including the Graduate Center, Hunter College, Brooklyn College, and the City College of New York). The programs at CUNY take advantage of New York City with its host of world-renowned museums, galleries, libraries, and some of the most prominent edifices and landscapes in the history of world architecture.
Entry into the program
The minimum, basic requirements for matriculation into the Art History program are:
1. Completion of one introductory survey (preferably two) and a minimum of four advanced undergraduate courses (normally 12 credits) in Art History.
2. Completion of at least two documented semesters of college-level study of a foreign language, or the equivalent (with equivalencies to be determined through appeals to the Graduate Committee). Note: If English is not your native language, you may satisfy this first (of the two) foreign language requirements by earning a TOEFL score of 575 or above.
3. And, generally, demonstration of sufficient depth and breadth of preparation, and a high level of achievement (e.g. GPA), to prove your readiness for achieving a graduate degree.
For full matriculation and program requirements, view or download the MA Handbook.