MA Art History

This intensive four-semester program offers students an opportunity to explore advanced seminars in art history. MA students may take coursework in ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern art, with a geographic focus in South Asia, Anatolia, Europe and the Americas. Whether you write qualifying papers or a thesis, this program of study is intended for students with a BA in any field who want to pursue work in museums, galleries, education, government advocacy, social justice or any of the other myriad careers where advanced knowledge of the visual and built environment is useful.

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General Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required: 36.
  • Course Work: A minimum of 16 hours at the 500-level in art history courses, excluding AH 598-Thesis Hours and AH 590-MA Paper Research. All students are required to take courses from at least four different tenured and tenure-track UIC Art History faculty members.
  • Required Courses: AH 510 and 511. Teaching assistants are also required to take AH 512. Of the remaining course work selected with an advisor, all students are required to take at least one course in each of the following areas: Ancient/Medieval/Early Modern (before 1800); Modern/Contemporary (after 1800); and Africa/Asia/Indigenous Americas.
  • Foreign Language Requirements: Students must present evidence of advanced knowledge of a language other than English as it relates to the student’s chosen area of research. Evidence of the ability to pursue research in additional languages may be necessary, depending on the availability of literature in the field selected, and the selection of those languages must be approved by the student’s advisor
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-work-only Options: Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
  • Thesis: Must take at least 5 hours in thesis research (AH 598). No more than 8 hours of AH 598 can be applied to the degree.
  • Course Work Only: Students who do not write a thesis must submit two substantial research papers written in conjunction with graduate courses taken in the Department of Art History to the departmental Graduate Program Committee. Students selecting the two-paper option may register for 0-4 hours MA paper research (AH 590).

Course Work

All MA students are required to complete the following:

  • A minimum of 16 hours at the 500-level in art history courses, excluding AH 598—Thesis Hours and 590 MA Paper Research. All students are required to take courses from at least four different tenured and tenure-track UIC Art History faculty members.
  • Required Courses: AH 510 and 511. Teaching assistants are also required to take AH 512. Of the remaining course work selected with an advisor, all students are required to take at least one course in each of the following areas:
    • Ancient/Medieval/Early Modern (before 1800)
    • Modern/Contemporary (after 1800)
    • Africa/Asia/Indigenous Americas
  • Highly Recommended
    The department encourages interdisciplinary study and research. Students should explore course offerings in other departments within the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and UIC.

Language Requirement

  • Students must present evidence of advanced knowledge of a language other than English as it relates to the student’s chosen area of research. Evidence of the ability to pursue research in additional languages may be necessary, depending on the availability of literature in the field selected, and the selection of those languages must be approved by the student’s advisor or the DGS if the student does not have an advisor.
  • Selection of Language: Reading knowledge of a foreign language relevant to the student’s plan of study is required. The Director of Graduate Studies or faculty advisor will approve the selection of a language. The study of any language important to the student’s area of research interest will be considered.
  • Proof of Language Competence: The student must do one of the following:
    • Receive a grade of B or better in a UIC foreign language reading course for graduate students (or its equivalent at another institution, with the approval of the DGS). These courses will not count toward the 36 credit hours required for the MA or PhD degree.
    • Pass a language exam administered by a language department at UIC. The department recommends that students take the language exam during their first year of graduate study. In case of failure, the student may repeat the examination until it is passed. The foreign language requirement must be satisfied before the student registers for thesis research.
    • A test administered by or through the Department of Art History of no more than two hours. The language test usually consists of a translation of a passage into English with the aid of a dictionary.
    • 4 semesters of college/university language study, with a grade of B or better. Courses where readings are in translation may not be used. The last semester of study can be no more than 5 years prior to the student’s first year of graduate study.
    • The equivalent of the above (determined by the Director of Graduate Studies) in workshops, summer programs, fieldwork or research in a foreign language, or other language-learning activities.
    • A degree from a foreign university where English is not the primary language of instruction. In cases of languages, such as some Native American languages, where there is not a significant body of written material in the language, courses focusing on grammar and conversation, or spoken fluency as demonstrated by testing, may be used.
    • Native speakers with advanced reading skills as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies are exempt from the language requirement as are those students who have completed: 1) study in a foreign language at a foreign university, 2) field work conducted in a second language, or 3) summer intensive second language programs at an advanced level.

Transfer Credit

  • The specific number of transfer credit hours accepted for transfer is determined on an individual basis. No transfer is automatic.
  • Maximum allowed transfer credit: No more than 9 semester hours of previous graduate work.
  • The GPC evaluates the student’s petition for transfer credit and makes a recommendation to the Graduate College.
  • Non-degree credit: Individuals enrolled as non-degree students who are subsequently admitted as degree candidates may petition to transfer a maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate credit in which grades of A or B were earned.

Students who select the Two-Paper Option must submit two substantial research papers written in graduate courses taken at UIC or at a CIC institution. Qualifying papers should be based on two different seminar papers or one seminar paper and one independent study paper. Each paper should be at least equivalent in quantity and quality to an excellent seminar paper and should use primary sources, ask critical questions of the material being presented, and be potentially useful for other scholars. Students selecting the two-paper option may register for 0-4 hours MA paper research (AH590).

Readers

No later than the 12th week of the semester preceding intended graduation, students who have chosen the Two-Paper Option:

  • formally select two professors to read each paper: the professor for whom each paper was written, whether from Art History or from another department, shall be one of the readers. At least one of the readers must be from the department of Art History. The same two professors may serve as readers for both papers;
  • notify (in writing) the DGS of the intent to choose the Two-Paper Option and provide the names of the faculty members who originally assigned the papers and of any additional readers. Complete the Two-Paper Option form (also available in the Art History office). It will be placed in your file for reference.

Registration

  • Students who select the Two-Paper Option may register twice for AH 590 MA Paper Research (0 credit hours). Registration is not required but does entitle students to registered student status.

Completion of Two Papers

  • A draft must be distributed to the respective primary reader of each paper no later than the first Friday of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Each draft must be approved by the respective primary reader prior to its distribution to the second readers. Students should allow two to three weeks turnaround time by readers for each paper draft and should also be aware that readers routinely require extensive revision and rewriting of drafts before final approval.
  • To declare intention to graduate for a certain term, students must complete the steps listed in the UIC Web for Student for the Pending Degree List as given on this web. The Pending Degree List form may be submitted from the start of registration for the graduation semester until the Friday of the third week of fall and spring or second week of the summer semester.
  • Both papers should be completed and approved by all readers by the tenth week of the semester. The departmental Two-Paper Option form must be signed by all readers and given to the DGS.

Advisor and Thesis Committee

No later than the 12th week of the semester preceding intended graduation, students who have selected the Thesis Option:

  • formally choose a thesis advisor and two additional members of the Thesis Committee. Though it is common to select all three members of the Thesis Committee from the Art History faculty, one member may be drawn from outside the department or university;
  • notify (in writing) the DGS of the intent to write a thesis and provide the names of the Thesis Committee members. The DGS and the Graduate College must approve the membership of the committee;
  • discuss the scope and direction of the thesis with the thesis advisor and produce a thesis proposal. The student should meet with the committee as soon as possible after the completion of the proposal to obtain their approval before beginning the process of research and writing;
  • submit names of Thesis Committee members to the Graduate College for approval and official appointment.

Thesis Semester Credit Hours

  • Minimum of 5 cr hr in AH 598 (thesis research) required.
  • No more than 8 hours of AH 598 can be applied to the degree. To register for AH 598, students must have successfully completed all course requirements including the foreign language requirement, passed the Comprehensive Examination, and submitted the Committee Recommendation Form.

Completion of Thesis

  • The thesis draft must be complete and distributed to the full committee no later than the first Friday of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. The thesis draft must be approved by the advisor prior to its distribution to the full committee.
  • To declare your intention to graduate for a certain term, you must submit the Pending Degree List form. The Pending Degree List form may be submitted from the start of registration for your graduation semester until the Friday of the third week of fall and spring semester or second week of the summer semester.
  • A final revision is expected by the sixth week of the semester. Students should allow two to three weeks turnaround time by committee members for each thesis draft and should also be aware that committee members routinely require extensive revision and rewriting of the thesis drafts before final approval.
  • The oral defense of the thesis will take place after the committee has approved the final draft of the thesis. The committee members will attend the defense, which will take place no later than 3 weeks after the final version of the thesis has been approved.
  • The deadline to submit the final, approved thesis for graduation is normally the tenth week of the semester (sixth week of summer semester). Most Art History faculty are on 9-month teaching contracts and do not supervise theses in the summer. Check with your thesis advisor.

 

Sample Course Schedule

Fall Semester

  • AH 510. Historiography of the Visual Arts, 1750 to 1960 or AH 511. Toward New Histories of the Visual Arts, 1960 to the Present.
  • AH seminar.
  • AH or UIC course for graduate credit.

Spring Semester

  • AH seminar.
  • AH independent study with thesis adviser.
  • AH, Art, MUSE or LAS seminar.

Summer Semester

  • AH 598. Master’s Thesis Research.
  • Language study.

Fall Semester

  • AH 510. Historiography of the Visual Arts, 1750 to 1960 or AH 511. Toward New Histories of the Visual Arts, 1960 to the Present.
  • AH 598. Master’s Thesis Research.

Graduate Study by UIC Undergraduate Seniors

With the approval of the graduate program, the undergraduate or professional college, and the Graduate College, UIC students in their last year of study for an undergraduate degree may be admitted to the Graduate College if they are within 8 semester hours of earning the baccalaureate at the time of matriculation. These students will be admitted on limited status for no more than two terms in residence, pending completion of the baccalaureate. These students register as graduate students and are eligible for fellowships, assistantships, and graduate tuition waivers. Courses used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements are transferred back to the undergraduate college and cannot be applied to a graduate degree.

Applicants who are admitted to limited status pending completion of their bachelor’s degree must be awarded the undergraduate degree within two terms in residence. If this condition is not satisfied, graduate admission is cancelled and the student is transferred back to the undergraduate college.

https://catalog.uic.edu/gcat/graduate-study/graduate-study/#Graduate Study by UIC Undergraduate Seniors

Recommended Course Load

Years 1 – 3:

  • Satisfy all but 8 credit hours of your BA requirements.
  • Consult with a faculty advisor by spring of 3rd year to facilitate Joint BA/MA.

Year 4 Fall:

  • Remaining BA requirements (about 8 UG credit hours)
  • AH 510 or AH 511 (4 credit hours) (Option to waive this req. and take a different 400/500 course if you excelled in AH 301. Contact DGS.)

Year 4 Spring:

  • Three 400 or 500-level courses (12 credit hours.)

Year 5 Fall:

  • AH 510 or AH 511 (4 credit hours) (Option to waive this req. and take a different 400/500 course if you excelled in AH 301. Contact DGS.)
  • One 400 or 500-level course (4 credit hours)
  • AH 590 (MA Paper Research) or AH 598 (MA Thesis Research) (4 credit hours)

Year 5 Spring:

  • One 400 or 500-level course (4 credit hours)
  • AH 590 (MA Paper Research) or AH 598 (MA Thesis Research) (4 credit hours)

To Apply:

  1. Submit to the AH Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) a letter of intent to complete the Joint BA/MA by April 3. Do this no later than the semester before you will have only 8 credit hours remaining to complete your BA (usually spring of your 3rd year.) You may request a sample letter of intent from the DUS.
  2. Apply for admission to the graduate college before the semester in which you have only 8 credit hours remaining to complete your BA (usually August before your 4th year.) You will receive a link to a special application from the Graduate College.
  • Deadline for Fall: Aug. 1.
  • Deadline for Spring: Nov. 15.

For more information contact DUS Nina Dubin, dubin@uic.edu

Administration of the MA Program

  • The graduate program in art history is the responsibility of the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) and is administered by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). All questions or problems should first be directed to the DGS. If there are unresolved problems, these may be taken to the chairperson of the department.

Advising

  • Graduate students taking courses are strongly advised to meet with their advisor to discuss course offerings and progress toward the degree before registering each semester.

Registration

  • Students normally register continuously until all course requirements for the degree have been completed. Students on full-time status must register for 9 semester hours or more each semester. Students holding assistantships must register for at least 8 semester hours each semester. International students holding a teaching or research assistantship must enroll for (1) at least 8 semester hours if they hold a one-half time (50%) appointment or (2) at least 10 semester hours if they hold a one-third time (30%) appointment.

Minimum Grade Point Average

  • Required GPA: 3.00/4.00 or higher. Students whose GPA drops below this average must meet this requirement in the following semester of enrollment or be placed on academic probation. While on probation, students will not receive financial aid or fellowships. After two semesters on probation, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Time Limitation

  • Master’s degree: within 5 consecutive years of initial registration. Students may petition the Graduate College for an extension of the time limit; petitions require the recommendations of the student’s advisor and the DGS. Extensions are not automatic.

Leave of Absence

  • Master’s degree: within 5 consecutive years of initial registration. Students may petition the Graduate College for an extension of the time limit; petitions require the recommendations of the student’s advisor and the DGS. Extensions are not automatic.

Who qualifies for in-state tuition?

  • Residents of the state of Illinois are assessed in-state tuition, and all other students are assessed out-of-state tuition. U.S. citizens, permanent residents and holders of certain types of visas may establish Illinois residency and qualify for in-state tuition provided certain conditions are met. There is also an Illinois law that allows for some students, including non-citizens, to qualify for in-state tuition provided specific criteria are met. For more information, click here.

Does UIC offer graduate housing?

  • UIC offers single student resident housing for graduate students on the west side of campus, which is accessible by UIC shuttles and CTA buses. For more information, click here.

Graduate College Deadlines

Forms

Funding Opportunities (Grad College)