PhD Art History at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Doctor of Philosophy program in art history focuses on critical understanding of the aesthetics, production, patronage and reception of art, architecture and design. The program offers classes and opportunities for research across many cultures, geographies and time periods as well as many theoretical approaches and methodologies. The PhD program offers you a tailored experience to develop critical and creative thinking.

What you will study

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus, a dissertation and two foreign language exams Required Core (3 credit hours) ARS 501 Methodologies of Art History (3) Restricted Electives (21 credit hours) ARS 591 Seminar (12) ARS 690 Reading and Conference (6) ARS 790 Reading and Conference (3) Electives (36 credit hours) Research (12 credit hours) ARS 792 Research (12) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) ARS 799 Dissertation (12) Additional Curriculum Information For ARS 591 and elective coursework, students should see their program advisor for a complete list of approved topics and courses.

Career pathways

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as: appraisers archivists gallery curators museum administrators museum curators university faculty members

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Examples of related fields include art history, architectural history, design history or fields in the humanities, such as history or literature; archaeology and anthropology may also be considered. Students without graduate experience in the history of art, history of architecture and history of design may be asked to complete additional coursework. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in an applicable master's degree program.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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