M.A. Art History at University of South Florida

Programme overview

The M.A. in Art History trains students in art history, theory and methods for careers in art collections, education and cultural institutions and for Ph.D. study. Small seminar-style courses cover art and architecture from antiquity to the present in a global context, supported by the Contemporary Art Museum, Graphicstudio and the Kennedy Family Visiting Artist/Scholar programme. The programme is NASAD accredited and has an endowed chair in modern and contemporary art history.

Faculty: College of Design, Art and Performance | Department: School of Art and Art History | Duration: 38 credit hours (thesis option) or 42 (qualifying paper option); about two years full time | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tampa, FL, United States

What you will study

8 core hours (methods of art history, research in art history), at least 16 hours of art history seminars spanning ancient/medieval/Islamic, Renaissance/early modern and modern/contemporary periods, 8 hours of electives, and either a 6-hour thesis or a 2-hour qualifying paper with 8 additional seminar hours.

Career pathways

Museum curator, registrar, educator or director; gallery director; art critic; art librarian; visual resources professional; corporate collection curator; arts agency administrator; K-12 and college instructor; university professor.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Must meet USF graduate admission and English proficiency requirements. Research paper in English on an art history or related topic; three letters of recommendation; one-to-two page essay on research interests and goals; CV or resume; an interview may be requested. Reading knowledge of a relevant foreign language (two semesters of beginning undergraduate language with B or better, GSFLT score of 450 or above, or a translation proficiency exam). Applicants without an art history degree may need preliminary courses. Applications accepted to June 1; those after January 15 are less likely to receive scholarships and funding. Admission is competitive.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Master's and Educational Specialist admission is offered for Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

Final university deadlines for master's and Educational Specialist programmes: June 1 for Fall, October 15 for Spring, February 15 for Summer. Programme-specific priority deadlines apply for funding and consideration; priority applications receive maximum consideration and later applications are considered on a space-available basis.

The nonrefundable graduate degree-seeking application fee is $30, paid through the Online Graduate Application site; international applicants may pay by electronic fund transfer from international banks. Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.) are required only if the programme requires them.

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