History of Art and Architecture

This program prepares you for a career in college-level teaching, in museum work, and for independent research and writing. Your studies will cover the breadth across the discipline, both in terms of field distribution and methodology.

You will access an amazing array of resources including the Harvard museums' collections of Western, Asian, and ethnographic art; the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies; and Harvard's extensive library system, which includes 200,000+ books on art and archaeology, 80,000+ photographs and slides, and a rich collection of rare books and manuscripts. The many colleges, museums, and commercial galleries in the greater Boston area offer an additional a wealth of resources for study and research.

Examples of student theses and dissertations include "American Painting and the Systems of World Ornament,"‌ "Art, Machine, and Learning in Eighteenth-Century China,"‌ and "Bruegel and the Lost Art of Cloth Painting."‌

Graduates have secured faculty positions at institutions like Harvard University, Boston College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. Others have gone on to careers at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and Menil Drawing Institute in Houston.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of History of Art and Architecture and requirements for the degree are detailed in GSAS Policies. 

STEP 1: CHOOSE A PROGRAM

GSAS offers master’s and PhD degrees in programs based in the arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering and applied sciences. Many programs also allow a student to conduct more focused research by choosing an area of study. Review the programs on offer to decide which best meets your academic goals.

STEP 2: MAKE A NOTE OF THE APPLICATION DEADLINE

Application deadlines vary by program and are noted on the program page.

STEP 3: Review the STANDARDIZED TESTS requirements

Programs may require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test or subject test scores. Applicants who are non-native English speakers may be required to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS). Review the admissions policy on English Proficiency for more information. Be sure to register early for required tests.

STEP 4: COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION BY THE DEADLINE

The online application becomes available in September. The application and all components are due by 5:00 p.m., eastern time, on the deadline date.