Graduate Programs

The Department of Art and Art History offers the Masters of Arts degree in Art History, which has two tracks. The M.A. program normally takes two years to complete.

Entering graduate students choose one of the following tracks:
M.A. in Art History
M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies

Admission Requirements for Art History MA programs:

Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. Undergraduate major in Art History is the best preparation for this program, but not mandatory. Applicants who have undergraduate degrees in other fields but have minored in Art History or have taken three or four undergraduate art history courses are also encouraged to apply. The following is required for application: A 500 or above Verbal GRE general test score, a recent writing sample of your best piece of writing, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and reading knowledge of a foreign language.

Please note that we review applications ONLY February, for the following academic year (fall) admission.

Master of Arts: Art History

The master's program in art history is designed to provide a broad historical understanding of the visual arts, in addition to developing critical thinking and methodological skills. Students engage these issues through course work, seminars, independent research, and teaching experience. Students complete their degree either by writing a thesis or by submitting two qualifying papers; either option involves an independent research topic designed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. M.A. students from our program are successful in applying to and completing Ph.D. programs.

Requirements for the M.A. degree in Art History

• Reading knowledge of one foreign language upon entry
• Eight semester courses in art history at the advanced (100 and above) level
  • Historiography and Methodology (FAH101)
  • At least three (3) seminars
  • Optional one second foreign language course in lieu of a lecture course
• Comprehensive Exam
• At least one semester TA or RA (subject to enrollments and funding)
• M.A. thesis or two Qualifying Papers 

Master of Arts: Art History and Museum Studies

The master's program in Art History and Museum Studies is designed to give students advance qualification in art history and a broad introduction to museum work. The program is offered for those hoping to work in art collection-related fields. It provides students with skills to integrate the theoretical study of art history with practical concerns of displaying, managing, and interpreting art objects in a variety of museum settings. Students take courses in art history and museum studies simultaneously. Graduates of this program typically pursue careers in museums, art galleries, art publishing, museum education, teaching, art libraries, visual resource collections, or auction houses. If you are interested in museum studies courses only please see the Museum Studies Certificate Program.

Requirements for the M.A. degree in Art History and Museum Studies

• Reading knowledge of one foreign language upon entry
• Six semester courses in art history at the advanced (100 and above) level
  • Historiography and Methodology (FAH101)
  • At least two (2) seminars
• Five courses in Museum studies, including a museum internship
• Comprehensive Exam
• At least one semester TA or RA (subject to enrollments and funding)
• M.A. thesis, 2 Qualifying Papers (QP), or 1 QP and an additional AH seminar 

Policy on Summer Courses (for both tracks)

Courses taken through the Tufts Summer Session with the intention of fulfilling a degree requirement must be approved by the student’s department. Provided that the course is required for the degree, the graduate school will pay the summer tuition for full-time students (courses taken in excess of the degree requirements, directed and independent studies, special topics courses, audited courses, and language courses taken to prepare for the language exam are excluded.)

Students who withdraw from a course or receive a grade below B- will be responsible for paying for the course. All graduate students must pay the $45 registration fee.

Internships

The department does not offer academic credit for internships. Nor does it provide formal services for graduate students seeking internships. However, graduate students in the master's program in Art History and Museum Studies do complete an internship for credit as part of their Museum Studies credential, which the Museum Studies office helps arrange. Additionally, many Art History MA students have found for themselves interesting, challenging internships in arts organizations, especially Boston area institutions. To aid students in internship searches the department maintains an Internship Resource Binder; see Rosalie Bruno in the department office. Students may also seek guidance from their academic advisors, the Director of Graduate Studies, and from Tufts Career Services office.

Master of Fine Arts

For information regarding the M.F.A. contact the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.