M.A. in Art History

The M.A. in art history requires thirty graduate credits, taken over a period of two years time, during which students plan individualized programs of study under the guidance of the faculty. Courses offered in art history cover a broad range of subject areas, providing opportunities for both breadth and specialization. At least one course in each of the five broad areas of art history taught in the department -ancient/medieval, Renaissance, Baroque/18th century, modern/American, and non-Western-are required. Also required are HOA 655 - Proseminar in Graduate Research Methods and Scholarly Writing  and HOA 656 - Literature of Art Criticism .

Colloquia and special lectures augment formal courses. With permission, a limited number of credits may be taken outside the department, such as studies in literature, aesthetics, museum studies, and art librarianship, when relevant to a student’s program of study. Courses in studio art are not included in the degree program. Information on graduate programs in studio arts or museum studies can be obtained by writing to the assistant dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts.

During the first semester of graduate study, students take an art history qualifying exam, which tests knowledge of major monuments and disciplinary vocabulary. The art history exam must be passed successfully before students enroll in their second semester of study.  Students also take a language exam, which assesses reading knowledge of Italian, French, German, or Spanish. The language exam must be passed by the beginning of their second year. In their last semester, students participate in a seminar, during which they prepare a qualifying paper and present their findings at a public symposium.

Faculty specializations in medieval, Italian and Northern Renaissance, baroque, and 18th- 20th century art are reflected in library holdings that include several visual databases and a comprehensive collection of books and periodicals. The Syracuse University Art Collection and the nearby Everson Museum of Art have notable collections of paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, and sculpture.

Concurrent Degree with Museum Studies

Concurrent degrees are offered in art history within the College of Arts and Sciences and in museum studies through the College of Visual and Performing Arts. For these degrees, students complete a minimum of 55 credits, which must include the requirements for the M.A. in museum studies (33 credits) and the M.A. in art history (22 credits). While students may work on the two degrees simultaneously, the art history degree is not awarded until the museum studies requirements have been completed.

For information on the M.A. in museum studies, contact Edward Aiken, Director of the Museum Studies Program, The Warehouse 1st floor, eaaiken@syr.edu.

M.A. in Art History in Florence, Italy

Thirty graduate credits are required for the specialized M.A. degree program in the study of Italian Renaissance art.

Florence Fellowship Program

Four graduate fellowships are awarded annually. Applicants for this program must have a strong working knowledge of the Italian language and must meet entrance qualifications for graduate study in the Department of Art and Music Histories. Students begin their coursework in the fall semester at the University’s main campus in Syracuse, where they complete three graduate seminars. Students are also required to audit a formal Italian language class. Upon successful completion of the fall semester, students register for two semesters of advanced coursework at Syracuse University’s Villa Gigliucci in Florence. Four seminars are offered during the spring semester, and in the following fall semester students enroll in a seminar on art conservation and the advanced research seminar culminating in a public colloquium devoted to aspects of Renaissance art history.

The deadline for application to these programs is January 1.