General Requirements for the M.A: Art History degree
M.A. in the History of Art Application
M.A. Advancement Form

The Master of Arts in Art History is designed to train community college teachers, museum curators, art administrators, conservators, research personnel, and slide librarians. It also prepares students seeking a graduate library degree with a specialization in art history or in the application of computers to art history or for continuing to the Ph.D. degree.

Applicants do not need to have a B.A. in Art History to apply to the graduate program, but they should have completed several art history courses and be able to submit sample papers to demonstrate their skills in art historical analysis and research. Mastery of foreign languages relevant to the applicant’s desired area of research is highly desirable. Appropriate areas of art historical research are Asian, African, Baroque, Classical, Contemporary, Design History, Medieval, Modern, Renaissance as well as Art by Women and Contemporary Theory and Criticism.

University resources include approximately 30,000 books on art, 5,000 volumes of bound art periodicals, and a Special Collection of rare books located in the University library. The Visual Resources Library of the School of Art & Design contains more than 200,000 slides, and Slide room staff are actively experimenting with digital access for image storage and retrieval.

General Requirements for the History of Art M.A. degree:

The Master's of Arts program in Art History requires 30 units of coursework. Of these, 21 units must be in art history courses, including a minimum of four seminars (12 units), and the final 9 units may be in related areas of study. Art History M.A. students must pass a comprehensive written examination designed to test general competence in art history. They must also demonstrate reading knowledge of a foreign language related to the subject of the intended thesis research. Attainment of candidacy, and eligibility to enroll in Art 299, Master's Thesis, will be contingent upon satisfactory completion of both comprehensive and language examinations.

Breakout of 30 units (taken while in graduate standing):

21 units minimum in art history courses taken while in graduate standing, with a minimum of 15 units in 200-level courses

9 units maximum in related areas of study outside the department

0 units permitted in lower division (0-99) courses in program

0 units permitted with grade of NC, D, F, U, or I

Specific Requirements to Advance to M.A. Candidacy in Art History:

Complete 30 units total coursework to achieve classified graduate standing

Fulfill English competency requirement

Formulate program of study and apply for candidacy

Pass the Art History Comprehensive Examination: Part I (Advisory)

Pass the Art History Comprehensive Examination: Part II (Required for enrollment in 297AB or 299)

Pass the Foreign Language Competency Examination

After Advancement to Candidacy:

15-18 units in elective units approved by your graduate advisor AND

3-6 units in Art 297 AB/ Master's Project --OR--

3-6 units in Art 299/ Master's Thesis

Candidate Checklist for completing the Art History M.A. degree:

Select thesis or project topic and form Masters committee

Complete Masters coursework

Complete thesis or project

Schedule and pass an oral examination meeting (also known as the thesis defense)

Receive formal committee approval for the thesis or project report

Bind and submit thesis or project report to Graduate School

Apply for graduation

For detailed information on the above areas, please refer to the SJSU Catalog section on the M.A. in Art and Design

History of Art - M.A. Degree
For advising see:
Dr. Anne Simonson - Art 115
Phone: 408-924-4394
E-Mail: simonson@email.sjsu.edu

Dr. Beverly Grindstaff - Art 115
Phone: 408-924-4394
E-Mail: bgrindst@email.sjsu.edu

Mail M.A. applications to:
Graduate Advisor, School of Art & Design
San José State University
One Washington Square, ART 125
San Jose, California 95192-0089