"The master's degree is conferred only on completion of a coherent and focused program of advanced study." (Graduate School Catalog)

In addition to fulfilling the requirements outlined below, students should continue to acquire a broad knowledge of art history and related subjects by taking and auditing courses and through outside reading. Those who did not major or minor in art history should speak with the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible about additional coursework that may be required. They should also make every effort to meet the language requirement as quickly as they can. Those who enter the program with broad art historical training and sound language preparation should complete the MA in two years. Students needing extra time should discuss their circumstances with the Director of Graduate Studies and their advisor.

Students have the option of taking seminar or lecture classes. All student schedules should be designed in consultation with the faculty advisor and the DGS. In special circumstances one Independent Study (AH799) may be considered the equivalent of a lecture course.

AH 701
MA students with a strong background in art history or the equivalent should take a minimum of seven art history courses, at least four of which must be seminars.* The question of breadth in an individual student's program will be determined by the advisor in consultation with the DGS, who may require up to three broad lecture courses.+

One required course in the Asian/African area.
One course in two of three following areas:

• Ancient/Medieval
• Renaissance-Northern-Baroque
• 18th-20th Centuries

Students are required to take classes in three of these four areas on this campus.*

One foreign language. (See the Graduate Handbook)

(See below)

*Seminars are defined as discussion-based classes of 12 or fewer students requiring more and longer reading and writing assignments as well as more in-depth research projects.

+Lectures are defined as larger classes in which a faculty member addresses the group and assessment is based on shorter writing assignments and quizzes / exams.

AH 701
Two seminars 800-level (or equivalent)
Four lecture courses in art history (300-400 level)**
(One may be a directed study with the major professor)
Two courses in East Asian Studies outside art history

One art history course each in two of the three Asian subfields (Chinese, Japanese, and Indian)
One art history course in a non-Asian field
(Courses taken as an undergraduate satisfy breadth requirements.)

One foreign language. (See the Graduate Handbook)

(See below)

Illustrations. Illustrations, plans and diagrams must be of good quality and systematically labeled. High resolution digital insertions and high quality Xeroxes are acceptable.

Format. All basic issues of format (including method of citation, type of bibliography, list of illustrations, use of chapter or section headings, use of foreign languages) are to be determined in consultation with your major professor. For matters of style, consult the University of Chicago's A Manual of Style (14th ed.). The Chicago Manual is followed by most art history periodicals and academic presses; its basic guidelines are also stated in Kate L. Turabian's, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, an inexpensive paperback.

(Revised 10/28/10)

"The PhD ... degree program must be rationally unified, and all courses must contribute to an organized program of study and research. Courses must be selected from groups embracing one principal subject of concentration, called the major (see the Graduate Handbook), and from one or more related fields, called the minor." (Graduate School Catalog)

1. Three Recommendation Letters from Faculty (including adviser)

2. Writing Sample

3. Application Statement

   1. Overview of M.A. Career: The intellectual reasons for entering graduate school that drove the academic quest; the fields of study the student has followed during past two years of M.A. study (including M.A. paper topic); publications, conference papers, and talks.

   2. Reasons for Continuation of Graduate Study, both intellectual and practical. Intellectually, questions that drive pursuit of Ph.D. Practically, the individual's goals (such as curatorial work or teaching and research on a university level).

   3. Ph.D. Program Plan. Restatement and elaboration of the driving intellectual questions to be pursued during Ph.D.

      1. Ph.D. Course work: Areas of focus for Art History courses; Minor work.
      2. Ph.D. Committee: Faculty beyond the major professor and their relevant areas of expertise.
      3. Potential dissertation topics or areas of research to be explored.
      4. Explain how UW-Madison resources and faculty will allow the student to meet her or his goals.

The application will first be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. That committee then will bring the case before the whole faculty, who will then have the opportunity to review the materials and offer comments. A simple majority vote of the faculty is required.

AH 701 or equivalent Four art history classes, two of which may be lecture courses.

Two foreign languages including that for the MA (See the Graduate Handbook)

Option A: Ten credits in one outside department Option B: Twelve credits in two or more outside departments

Oral and Written Preliminary Exams

(See the Graduate Handbook)

(See the Graduate Handbook)

(See the Graduate Handbook)