Coursework
ASU's MA in art history is a comprehensive degree program designed to train students to engage with visuality in multiple ways. A diverse curriculum fosters critical understanding of aesthetics, production, patronage and consumption of art. Internationally recognized faculty members offer classes covering many cultures, time periods and geographies, using multiple approaches and methodologies. The program stresses intersections between disciplines and art in social and political contexts, and histories and theories of visual culture.
Fellows enroll in two graduate-level courses each semester. Course offerings in the art history curriculum include Ancient Greek and Roman, Asian, Contemporary, Global/Thematic Seminars, Latin American, Medieval, Modern, Pre-Columbian art, contemporary Indigenous art, African American and African Diaspora.
Additionally to the required art history courses, fellows can enroll in museum courses and in seminars offered outside the art history area or School of Art such as: American Indian Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies, African and African American Studies, Anthropology, Communication, Women and Gender Studies, Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, School of Sustainability, Global Studies, Philosophy, Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and more.
Mentorship
Each fellow is mentored by a seasoned museum professional outside of their home institution during the fellowship to provide individual counsel on graduate study, thesis and externship design, and ongoing career trajectory.
Thesis requirement
Under the guidance of a Thesis Committee, fellows write a thesis proposal during the second year and complete and defend their thesis in the third year. The thesis must demonstrate significant research abilities and methodological approaches.
Language requirement
Students must have a reading knowledge of one research language. The selected language needs to be appropriate for the area of research concentration and must be approved by the chosen faculty mentor. The requirement can be fulfilled by passing the Graduate Foreign Language Examination. Although it is highly recommended that students meet the foreign language requirement before beginning the program, many languages can be taken at ASU.
Travel and externship
Fellows are expected to travel to one to two convenings at ASU at the beginning of each semester and occasionally to one of the partner institutions.
Fellows participate in a customized weeklong externship at the end of their second year.
The externship is a summer travel opportunity for the fellows to either develop curatorial and thesis-related research, to work on a project with their mentor, or to travel on a professional development trip that will be focused on exploring a type of museum practice that will advance their careers, based on their professional and/or academic interests.