Graduate Bulletin

Art History, Ph.D.

Center for the Arts / TYLER SCHOOL OF ART

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: December 15

Spring: November 1

The Department of Art History offers a doctoral program for students with an M.A. degree, as well as for exceptionally well-prepared students with a B.A., who may be admitted directly without first earning a master's degree. A strong art history background, appropriate languages, and indicators of high achievement are requisites for students with a B.A. only. Applicants should declare an intention to enter this program.

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year. Most applications are received before the deadline dates. Students wishing to be considered for fellowships and teaching assistantships must apply by December 15.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members, gallery directors, and/or curators familiar with the applicant's academic and art historical competence.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Five courses in Art History are required for admissions consideration: two surveys and one upper-level course in each of three areas to include Ancient or Medieval art; Renaissance or Baroque art; and Modern and Contemporary American and European art.

Strong applicants to the program who meet the prerequisites, except in the number of courses, may be admitted conditionally. These students
are permitted to enroll in a maximum of four undergraduate courses to complete the required prerequisites.

Master's Degree in the Discipline/Related Discipline:

Generally, a master's degree in Art History is required. but a background in Art History and a master’s degree in a related field suffice. Alternatively, exceptionally well-prepared students with a B.A. may be admitted directly to the Ph.D program.

Bachelor's Degree in the Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree is required, but it need not be in Art History.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Scores are typically in the 75-99% range on the verbal and analytical sections.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 100 iBT or 600 PBT.

CV:

A  curriculum vitae is required.

Writing Sample:

The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper on a topic in Art History. The paper should be no more than 10 pages in length and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Credits Required Beyond the Master's: 30

Number of Credits Required Beyond the Bachelor's: 60

Required Courses:
The program requires 60 graduate-level credits in Art History beyond the B.A. degree. Up to 9 credits can be taken in graduate courses outside the department if the coursework is relevant to the student's field and approved by the student's advisor. Up to 6 credits may be taken in directed research, and 6 credits are required in writing the dissertation.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Requirements: Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages: German and either French or Italian. With permission of the Director of Graduate Studies, the student may substitute another language appropriate to her/his field.

Culminating Events:

Qualifying Paper:

The qualifying paper is required of those entering the program with a bachelor's degree. At the end of the third semester of coursework, such students are required to submit a long paper to demonstrate their command of scholarly research and writing. This is done in lieu of a master’s thesis. The ability to continue in the Ph.D. program is contingent on the quality of this paper. If the qualifying paper is not deemed acceptable, the student is transferred to the M.A. program.

Dissertation:

The Doctoral Advisory Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the Art History Department. The composition of the Doctoral Advisory Committee must be approved by the department's Graduate Committee. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the committee members, and informing the student of her/his academic progress.

The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is comprised of the Doctoral Advisory Committee and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member from outside the Art History Department. The Outside Examiner should be identified no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student will defend the dissertation.

If a student needs to change a member of a committee, the new member must be approved by the department's Graduate Committee and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.

Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Doctoral Advisory Committee and register with the designated person/office at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. After the department has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send the Graduate School a completed "Announcement of Oral Defense" form at least 10 working days before the defense. The department posts flyers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/tyler/arthistory/gradprogram.html

Admissions Information:

Office of Graduate Admissions

Tyler School of Art
2001 N. 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

tylergrd@temple.edu

215-777-9090

Department Information:

Department of Art History

Tyler School of Art
2001 N. 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122
ahgrad@temple.edu

215-777-9165

Department Contacts:

Director of Ph.D. Program:

Marcia Hall

marciahall@verizon.net

215-777-9165

Director of M.A. Program:

Elizabeth Bolman

ebolman@temple.edu

215-777-9165

Department Chairperson:

Gerald Silk

gerald.silk@temple.edu
215-777-9165

About the Program

The Art History Department offers courses of study leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Ph.D. is intended to prepare students for college teaching or other research-oriented positions.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Department of Art History

Tyler School of Art
2001 N. 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122
ahgrad@temple.edu

215-777-9165

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

Students researching Italian topics may be eligible for a fellowship to study in Rome. Doctoral students have priority. In addition, opportunities for study and excavating abroad are offered in the summer.

Ranking:

In its evaluation of Art History doctoral programs by Academic Analytics, the Art History Department at Tyler School of Art was ranked out of 62 national Ph.D. programs as follows: 12th in 2006-07, 2nd in 2007-08, and 15th in 2008-09. Academic Analytics uses the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index™ (FSP Index) and the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Database (FSP Database) to rank doctoral programs at Research Universities. It measures the scholarly productivity of faculty using their book and journal publications, journal article citations, federally funded research grants, and honorific awards. Because all Ph.D. programs are included in the database, Academic Analytics also establishes faculty productivity benchmarks based on national standards within the particular discipline.

Accreditation:

This degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Areas of Specialization:

The curriculum includes courses in all periods and phases of Western art history, as well as special concentrations in Aegean, Greek, and Roman art; Late Antique, Byzantine, and Medieval art; Renaissance and Baroque painting, sculpture, and architecture; Northern Renaissance and Northern Baroque art; the History of Prints; and Modern and Contemporary American and European art. It also introduces a wide variety of critical methods and approaches.

Job Placement:

The program is intended to provide breadth and thoroughness in the study of Art History as preparation for a career in college teaching, research, or a related area.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students must contact the Art History Department for information.

Financing Opportunities

Exceptionally qualified students who apply for the Ph.D. may be nominated for prestigious Presidential, University, and Future Faculty Fellowships. The department also offers some Teaching Assistantships. Applicants interested in being considered for these awards must submit their application by January 15.

Assistantships carry a stipend and full tuition remission for up to 9 credits per semester. Applications should include a statement of previous teaching and/or research experience, areas of interest and future goals, unofficial transcripts, and curriculum vitae. Teaching Assistantships are ordinarily reserved for doctoral students.

Eligible graduate students are encouraged to apply for work study. Work-study grants may be used to assist in the image-digitizing project and other activities in the Visual Resources Collection.

Updated 11.15.12