Graduate Programs

Graduate Study in Art History

The Department of Art History offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Art History, as well as a departmental certificate in Museum Studies. At the Master's level, candidates choose to specialize in either Western or Asian Art History. Applicants may be admitted to the post bachelor’s MA or MA/PhD programs or to the post-master’s PhD program. Applicants admitted to the MA/ PhD program must later make an internal application to the PhD program upon completion of the MA degree requirements. They may also be admitted as non-degree candidates seeking only a certificate in museum studies.

The art history faculty offers graduate courses in all areas of Western, Asian, Meso-American, Islamic and African art. Courses are also offered by adjunct and/or visiting faculty members. Some departmental courses are given at the Boston University Art Gallery, at the Museum of Fine Arts and other area museums, and internships for credit (practica) may also be arranged.

Graduate study in art history at Boston University thus exposes the student not only to the faculty and facilities of the University itself, but also to the faculty, curators, and artistic treasures of the many universities, colleges, museums, and historical agencies in Boston and New England. Applicants should also consult the descriptions of related programs of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, i.e., American and New England Studies and the Department of Archeology, as courses in these programs are open to qualified art history students.

Graduate students may enroll in four types of courses: Colloquia, seminars, practica, and directed studies.

Each graduate colloquium, though a course in its own right, is related to an undergraduate lecture in the related undergraduate courses. Graduate colloquia function as workshops and discussion groups. Students are introduced to the bibliographical and methodological tools of the subject so that they may deal with it on a professional level.

Graduate seminars investigate specific topics or problems in depth and from various stand points of view.

The practicum is an internship designed to enhance the student’s overall development and to provide direct experience with art historical work in a professional setting.

Directed studies may be taken as reading courses in areas in which no colloquia or seminars being offered, or to work on research projects usually (but not necessarily) related to the PhD dissertation. Admission to the directed study should be sought on the basis of well-founded, clearly formulated proposals submitted to the instructor with whom the student wishes to work.

Address requests for admission applications and related materials, or general inquiries concerning the program, to the Administrative Secretary, Department of Art History, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue room 302, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-2520. All applicants are required to submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Applications should be submitted to the graduate school admissions address. Applications deadlines are October 15 for January admission and January 15 for September admission. September admission is preferred for program continuity.

MA candidates may receive transfer credit for up to two courses taken outside of Boston University, provided that they have been taken at a graduate level. No transfer credit for courses taken outside of Boston University is granted to post-master’s PhD candidates.

Graduate Student Handbook
Graduate Student Calendar
Dissertations

Admissions

Writing Sample
A writing sample is optional for MA and MA/PhD applicants. For post-MA applicants to the PhD program, a writing sample is required. The sample, preferably a thesis or a paper in your chosen field, should be sent, electronically, with the application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

For more information on applying to our graduate program, please visit The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Webpage. There you can find the online application form, financial aid and scholarship information, and contact information regarding the status of submitted applications.

If you have department-specific questions regarding your application, you may also contact our Director of Graduate Admissions:

Professor Jonathan Ribner
Office: CAS Room 210B
E-Mail:jribner@bu.edu
Office Phone: (617) 353-1465

Financial Aid

A variety of fellowships, assistantships and grants are available to qualified degree candidates. Presidential University Graduate Fellowships and Dean’s Fellowships are multi-year grants for entering graduate students. (Students may not apply directly for these fellowships) Teaching fellowships are available to post-MA students. Graduate assistantships are also available. Research assistantships have also been made available at area museums and art institutions. In addition, small awards are available for a graduate student to travel to conferences, workshops, achieves, and collections through a fund set up by the Art History Graduate Alumni Association.

Grants in the Field of American Art: Henry R. Luce Foundation has made funds available for dissertation grants in the field of American art at BU.

Jan and Warren Adelson Fellowship: funds post MA and PhD students in American art.

History of Photography Grants: The Kate and Hall Peterson support doctoral studies in the History of Photography.

Fellowship of Asian Art History: Thanks to a gift from Dr. Ralph C. Marcove we offer a fellowship for graduate students in the history of Asian art.

Henry C. Luce Grant: in Asian Art The Henry Luce Foundation grant to the Art History Department supports students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Asian Art History in addition to the Certificate in Museum Studies.

The Mellon Fellowships: The foundation offers fellowships for graduate studies in the liberal arts. For more information please visit their website at http://www.woodrow.org/mellon/

Student Organizations

The Graduate Art History Association is an organization for graduate art history concentrators as well as interested students from other departments. Activities include discussions, guest lectures, and outings.