Art History & Visual Culture

The doctoral program in Art History & Visual Culture at York offers an exceptional opportunity for research, teaching and professional development within a department that is unique in terms of its resources, location, faculty and areas of interest.

In the doctoral program, each of the fields is broadly conceived and students may incorporate research on non-Western topics, minority cultural practices and interdisciplinary issues and approaches. The four fields of study represent the significant areas of teaching and research strength of York? Art History faculty, and provide a frame within which students can pursue diverse theoretical and practical engagements in their study of art and visual culture.

The objective of the program is to prepare candidates for careers in art history and academia, as well as in publishing, curatorial practice, museology and arts administration.

• You will have opportunities to view exhibitions in the vibrant downtown Toronto art community and attend events with international and nationally acclaimed artists, curators and theorists.
• The program prepares its graduates for career choices in academia or the cultural sector by refining critical, scholarly and teaching skills.
• The program is relatively small and allows graduate students to work closely with individual members of the faculty.

• You must have graduated from a recognized postsecondary institution holding an honours degree or equivalent. Some programs consider applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree and relevant work experience.
  
  Undergraduate degrees not designated as honours degrees may be acceptable as the equivalent of an undergraduate honours degree if they contain a minimum of 120 credits (typically, a four-year program with full time enrolment) including the completion of a minimum of 6 credits at the fourth-year level at an accredited postsecondary institution.
  
  Three-year first cycle undergraduate degrees from institutions that meet the criteria set forth in the Bologna Declaration may be acceptable as the equivalent of an undergraduate honours degree.
  
  If you completed your undergraduate or master’s studies outside Canada, you may need to complete additional courses to qualify for admission to a graduate program at York. Please contact the relevant program office for more information.
  
  If you have completed a four year undergraduate degree at an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology, you will need to contact Office of Admissions to have the requirement added to your record. This will allow your transcript to be uploaded to continue the admission process.


• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least a “B” or equivalent, is required. Most programs require at least a “B+” or equivalent. Your GPA is assessed over the last two years of undergraduate study (full time, or equivalent); or, if you have a master’s degree, we will use your highest level of education to calculate your GPA. Please be sure to check International Credential Equivalencies.
  
  Your GPA is a critical consideration is determining admissibility. Also, be sure to check the specific requirements of your program of choice. In rare cases, a program any choose to give priority to a candidates professional or creative accomplishments, or other relevant experiences, recommendations, portfolio, or test results.

If your first language is not English, you must show you have an acceptable level of English by completing a language proficiency test.

If you have completed at least one full year at an accredited university in a country where English is the official language of the institution, you may be exempt from this requirement.

1. Meet minimum admission requirements
2. Meet program-specific requirements
3. Know the application deadlines
4. Submit your application
5. Submit all required documentation
6. Check on Transfer Credit for Advanced Placement