PhD Art History at Stanford University

Programme overview

The doctoral program in Art & Art History provides students with rigorous training in researching and analyzing visual and material cultures, including Film and Media Studies. The program prepares students to produce original scholarship and to teach art history at advanced academic levels.

Faculty: School of Humanities and Sciences | Department: Art & Art History | Duration: 135 units minimum | Study mode: full-time | Location: Stanford, CA, United States

What you will study

Programme load is 135 units minimum. Requirements are organised into: Program Requirements; Teaching Requirement; Advancement to Candidacy; Oral Exam; Dissertation; Language Requirement; Film & Media Studies (Subplan).

Career pathways

The program prepares students to produce original scholarship and to teach art history at advanced academic levels.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level graduate admission (Graduate Admissions): a U.S. bachelor's degree or international equivalent, transcripts for every institution attended, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and TOEFL/IELTS scores unless exempt (U.S. citizens and permanent residents, native English speakers, or applicants with English-medium degrees). Each graduate programme sets its own GRE policy (required, optional or not considered). Programme-specific criteria are set by the department.

Tuition is charged for Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters (Summer quarter also billed separately). Graduate programmes such as PhD and Master's in Computer Science admit for Autumn entry only; Education PhD and Master's programmes begin September 20, 2027.

The graduate application fee is $125, nonrefundable. Deadlines are set by each programme: Computer Science PhD December 8, 2026; Education PhD November 16, 2026.

Apply through the official page: https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/apply

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