Art History
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    Art History

    Temple University
    Temple University
    United States of America
    United States of America, Philadelphia
    University Rank:#721
    Go to Official Website
    Duration4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 1,381 / credit
    Next IntakeAugust 28, 2023
    Art History

    About

    Pursue Temple's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and engage with the rigorous academic training required to attain teaching, research and curatorial positions at the highest levels of the discipline. This 30-credit hour PhD program is intentionally small so that each student's primary advisor can provide one-on-one mentorship and personalized career development. 

    Tyler's Art History PhD students work closely with highly accomplished faculty who have diverse and global areas of expertise, including

    • new and emergent digital technologies,
    • modern and contemporary art, especially in North and Latin America,
    • Renaissance and Baroque Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands,
    • the ancient Mediterranean,
    • the Islamic world, 
    • the art of the African diaspora in the Caribbean, and
    • the history of prints, photography and media theory.

    Access both the intimacy and collaborative spirit of a world-class school of art and architecture–with opportunities to study side-by-side with artists and designers–and the resources of a large, public, tier 1 research university. Take full advantage of the research opportunities created by Tyler's location in Philadelphia–an affordable and vibrant center of art, culture and history situated near New York, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore–and at Temple University Rome, a leading center for interdisciplinary research and study abroad (fellowships are available). 

    Students can supplement their Art History PhD with Temple's Teaching in Higher Education Certificate, Cultural Analytics Graduate Certificate, arts management coursework and more. 

    The doctoral program accepts students with a master's degree in art history or a closely related field. Occasionally, exceptionally well-prepared students with a bachelor's degree and strong art history background are admitted into our direct track 60-credit hour program without first earning a master's degree.

    Program Format & Curriculum  

    The Art History PhD is offered on a part- or full-time basis and must be completed within seven years. All students enter the program with a primary advisor and work closely with them during their studies. 

    The art history doctoral curriculum concentrates on Western art history, broadly conceived, including ancient Mediterranean, the Black Atlantic, early modern, Europe, Islamic, Latin America, and modern and contemporary in the United States. Curricula are informed by the historiography and critical theory of art history.  

    Some courses you may take include the following.

    • Architecture as Performance: Space, Society and Spectacle in the Ottoman Empire
    • History and Theory of Printmaking 
    • Modern and Contemporary Art in Latin America 
    • Seminar on Arts of the African Diaspora: Black and Indigenous Conceptions of Space, Time and Memory
    • Seminar on Ancient Art: Taking Place: Studying Place-making in the Ancient World
    • Seminar on Contemporary Art: Research Entanglements: Artistic Practice, Curatorial Work and Theory
    • Seminar on Early Modern Art: The Affective Image: Devotional, Erotic, Political
    • Seminar on Problems and Period Style: Ancient Counterfeits, Looting, and the Ethics of Collecting

    Learn more about the coursework for the Art History PhD.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    University degree requiring four years of study.

    Request one certified copy of official transcripts from every college and university you have attended, even if only one course was taken. International degrees must be assessed for equivalency with a U.S. degree based on the characteristics of the national educational system, the type of institution attended and the level of studies completed. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is ordinarily required for admissions consideration. If unofficial transcripts are submitted during the application process, submission of official academic records will be required by the end of your first term of graduate study if you are admitted and subsequently enroll at Temple University.

    English Requirements

    • PTEMin 53
    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 79

    Career

    Opportunities

    Every year, Tyler PhD students benefit from exposure to scores of artists, scholars, designers and professionals who are at the top of their fields. Students meet with these inspiring individuals through lectures, studio visits, demonstrations and more–including major speaker programs such as the Jack Wolgin Visiting Artist and Lecturer, the Laurie Wagman Visiting Artist and Artist-in-residence Series in Glass, and the Marjorie Margolies Visiting Artist Program in Painting. Learn more about our programs for visiting artists, designers and scholars.

    Students connect with a plethora of arts projects, programs, studios, workshops, design firms, art centers and collections through internships, residencies and other opportunities listed in Tyler's biweekly newsletter, The WHAT. 

    Art history graduate students regularly find internship opportunities at some of the nation's leading arts institutions, such as 

      • Barnes Foundation,
      • Cooper-Hewitt,
      • Getty Foundation,
      • ICA Philadelphia,
      • Metropolitan Museum of Art,
      • National Gallery of Art, 
      • National Museum of American Jewish History and
      • Philadelphia Museum of Art.

    Pursuing a graduate degree in in art, design and art-related fields elevates students' knowledge, skills and understanding of their discipline, preparing them for new job opportunities or career advancement. Students use what they have learned to build on their professional careers as educators, practicing artists, dynamic thinkers, collaborative makers and creative problem-solvers.

    The Art History PhD program prepares graduates for the nation's top doctoral programs as well as a variety of careers in museums, galleries, nonprofits, archives, libraries and other institutions. Some professional opportunities include the following.

      • Art historian
      • Curator
      • Fine arts appraiser
      • Gallery director
      • Museum administrator

    Career Services

    Tyler career coaches specialize in the types of jobs available in the arts and built environment, mentoring students on everything from cover letters to interviews to career advice.

    Temple's Career Center is another resource that empowers students to find pathways to future success. The Career Center offers comprehensive career development services, from résumés and interviews to finding internships and jobs. Learn more about Temple's Career Center. 

    Fee Information

    Application Fee 60

    How to Apply

    There are important details to keep in mind as you complete and submit your application to Temple University.

    1. Apply using one of two methods.

    Choose one of the following two methods to apply.

    1. Online Application

    Submit an online application and pay the nonrefundable $60 application fee online using either a credit card or a bank account drawn on U.S. funds.

    2. Paper Application

    Download the PDF application and save it to your device. (Adobe Acrobat is required for access.) You can write on the form, save the final version, and then print for mailing. If you have questions while completing the paper form, refer to the application instructions. Before mailing, enclose a check or money order made payable to Temple University, in the amount of $75, drawn on a U.S. bank. The application fee cannot be refunded.

    2. Ensure you use the same name on your application and standardized tests.

    Use the exact same name on your application that you used when registering for your standardized tests. Slight differences in your name can cause your application to go unmatched with your reported test scores and delay the processing of your application.

    3. Submit all supporting credentials.

    Submit the documentation you have been gathering for your application. You can find the correct mailing address or alternate electronic submission information on the degree program’s "Contacts" page in the Graduate Bulletin. All application materials, including portfolios and exhibits, become the property of Temple University and will not be copied, forwarded to another institution or returned.

    4. Contact the department with any questions.

    If you have any questions about your application, contact the program or department directly. Admissions decisions are made by the department based on your complete application profile, which includes grades, test scores, recommendations, statement of goals, research interests, past employment, portfolio and more.

    5. Check the status of your application.

    Remember that your application is reviewed only after it is complete. You can check the status of your application and materials by returning to the application system through which you applied.

    Art History
    Temple University
    Temple University
    United States of America

    United States of America, Philadelphia

    Go to Official Website