The PhD program is intended for students who wish to pursue original research in art history. Students should acquire a deep knowledge of art history, as well as the field's theoretical and historical foundations. PhD students are prepared to pursue careers in academia as well as to become museum curators and directors.
Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to demonstrate many, if not all, of the following:
- understanding of the development of the history and methodology of art history;
- skill in the visual analysis of primary source material;
- skill in contextual analysis and secondary source interpretations;
- productive engagement in the broad and ever-shifting philosophical, scholarly, and institutional debates that determine the structure and content of art history;
- ability to engage in sustained critical thinking;
- ability to write clearly and compellingly;
- deep knowledge of three of the following distribution fields: African, architecture, Asian, ancient, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, 18th- and 19th-century European, American, and modern/contemporary;
- reading proficiency in French or German as well as a second language of particular relevance to their field of study;
- ability to conduct independent research in museums, archives, and/or libraries;
- knowledge and skills necessary to be effective teaching assistants for 1000-level courses;
- grant-writing skills;
- public speaking skills necessary to present research in professional academic settings;
- capacity to teach as an instructor of record in their area of expertise; and
- critical research and writing skills necessary to publish peer-reviewed articles.
The Doctor of Philosophy program in art history requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Of the 72 s.h., at least 39 s.h. must be earned while registered in the UI Graduate College, after formal program admission. For details, see the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations Section XII C. Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50. They may count a maximum of 38 s.h. of work completed for the MA toward the PhD, excluding credit earned in language courses. Students are allowed only one semester of academic probation.
Students are expected to acquire great breadth and depth of knowledge in the discipline of art history, achieve a high level of expertise in a specialized field, and demonstrate professional speaking and writing skills. The program provides them with scholarly challenges, research skills, and mentoring necessary for professional development and successful careers.
Students major in one of the following distribution fields: Asian, ancient Mediterranean, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, 18th- and 19th-century European, American, and modern/contemporary. In addition, candidates minor in two fields: any of the above plus African. One minor must be in an art history distribution field that is non-contiguous with the major field. The second minor may be in any art history distribution field, or it may be in a relevant discipline outside of art history, subject to approval from the art history faculty.
For more detailed information, consult the Art History Graduate Bulletin on the School of Art and Art History website.
Required Courses
Students must satisfactorily complete ARTH:4999 Capstone Seminar in Art History, even if they have completed a similar course at another institution (students who have completed the course for a master's degree or other previous work at the University of Iowa are exempt). They must register for an art history seminar in their first three semesters of PhD coursework (or in their fifth, sixth, and seventh semesters of graduate study), before ARTH:7010 PhD Readings and the comprehensive exam.
Students must register for and satisfactorily complete ARTH:6020 Art History Colloquium for 1 s.h. each semester that they are enrolled for 9 s.h. or more or have an RA/TA appointment. Students who register for fewer than 9 s.h. are strongly encouraged to attend. Art history colloquium is a monthly series of lectures, panel discussions, or field experience focusing on professional development. Planned in conjunction with the graduate Art History Society, this requirement is integral to the degree program and is an important avenue toward professionalism in the field. Attendance is required (any absence needs to be approved by the head of art history before the missed meeting).
Students must attend at least six lectures by visiting scholars in art history during the course of their enrollment as PhD graduate students (proof of attendance is provided by short written responses of 150–250 words turned in to the director of graduate studies within two weeks of the lecture) and must register for an art history seminar in each of the first three semesters of their PhD coursework and prior to both the PhD readings course and comprehensive examinations.
Students may count up to 6 s.h. of credit earned for dissertation research toward the 72 s.h. required for the degree. Courses outside the curriculum of the School of Art and Art History's art history division do not carry art history credit.
Directed Studies
Normally, a maximum of 6 s.h. earned in ARTH:6040 Directed Studies may be applied toward the semester-hour requirement for the PhD, although doctoral students may petition the art history faculty for permission to apply up to 9 s.h.
Language Requirement
PhD students must demonstrate proficiency in French or German for admission to the PhD program in art history. They must demonstrate proficiency in a second non-English language, generally one relevant to the chosen area of research, by the end of the third semester in the PhD program. Students may demonstrate proficiency by:
- two years of university-level coursework;
- earning a grade of B or above in a 3000-level advanced language course;
- achieving at least an 80% proficiency score on the level 5 milestone of the relevant Rosetta Stone language program; or
- scoring 500 or above in the University of Iowa World Languages Placement Test.
In exceptional circumstances, a student may make a direct petition to the faculty upon receiving a recommendation from their advisor. Language courses do not carry degree credit.
PhD Committee
The PhD committee consists of the student's dissertation advisor, who is responsible for the major field; two members responsible for the two minor fields; and at least two additional members. Of these five, four must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members from the art history division. One must be from outside the division and must be a member of the Graduate College faculty. When appropriate, committees may include additional members.
Comprehensive Examination
Upon completion of course requirements, the PhD candidate takes three written comprehensive examinations. The major exam consists of six questions and lasts six hours; the two minor exams each consist of three questions and last three hours. The exams are taken on any three days within one week (Monday through Friday).
The scope of the comprehensive exams is determined in consultation with the candidate's degree committee supervisor and the committee members responsible for the two minor fields.
Oral Comprehensive Examination
Within approximately two weeks of completing the three written exams, the candidate meets with the degree committee for the oral comprehensive examination, which concentrates on questions that arise from the written comprehensive exams.
Dissertation Proposal
Each student must complete a publishable dissertation that makes an original contribution to the art history discipline and demonstrates evidence of superior understanding of critical issues in the candidate's chosen specialization field. As soon as possible after completing the comprehensive examinations, the candidate submits a dissertation proposal to the degree committee supervisor and subsequently to the degree committee. See the Art History Graduate Bulletin for complete instructions.
The committee meets as a group with the candidate to discuss the dissertation proposal and to offer comments and suggestions. The proposal must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before the approval meeting. The proposal includes a 1–2 page abstract, a 10–15 page précis that includes a review of the state of the field, and a bibliography.
After the proposal has been approved by the committee, the candidate circulates an abstract to the entire art history faculty. The candidate must give a public presentation on the dissertation topic no later than the end of the semester following the degree committee's approval. The presentation is scheduled with the head of art history.
Final Examination
Upon completing a dissertation, the candidate meets with the PhD committee for an oral defense of the dissertation. The oral defense constitutes the final examination for the PhD. The successful completion of this examination normally marks the last stage in the candidate's fulfillment of requirements.
Application materials should be uploaded onto a student's admissions profile (see instructions below under "Application Procedures"). All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and the School of Art and Art History.
The deadline to submit materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions is Dec. 15 for the art history program; admission is for the following fall.
School of Art and Art History Requirements
Prospective graduate students must meet the School of Art and Art History's admission requirements for the specific degree program they plan to enter. They must submit application materials to the university's Office of Graduate Admissions and to the specific program they wish to enter. Program-specific application requirements and deadline dates are listed below.
All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Applicants must hold an MA in art history or a related graduate degree and be able to demonstrate proficiency in French or German. Proficiency in a second non-English language relevant to the student's research area is required by the end of the third semester of PhD work.
Applicants whose first or official language is not English and whose previous academic degrees were not earned at an English-language institution must score at least 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). All applicants must have a minimum TOEFL iBT speaking score of 26 and a listening score of 25. An application is not reviewed if scores are lower than the requirements specify. As an alternative to the TOEFL, applicants may take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). They must have a total score of 7.0, with no subscore less than 6.0. In addition, all IELTS test takers, regardless of score, are required to take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation. The Duolingo English Test (DET) with a score of at least 105 also is accepted.
All students for whom English is not a first language and who have first-time appointments as teaching assistants (TAs) are required to take a test to assess their effectiveness in speaking English before they are assigned assistantship responsibilities. No applicant is considered for an appointment without an iBT speaking score of 26 and a listening score of 25. The English Speaking Proficiency Assessment (ESPA) is the test the University of Iowa uses to assess students' oral language and listening skills. The English Language Performance Test (ELPT) is a supplement to the ESPA test and is designed to measure the ability to communicate in English in a classroom context in one’s field of study. The ELPT is given to students who have scored 50 or 55 on the ESPA, and to TAs who teach a world language that have scored 45. To learn more about the ESPA and ELPT, visit the English as a Second Language Program website.
Application Procedures
Prospective students may apply online through the Office of Admissions website. After submitting an application, applicants will receive email instructions on how to access their admissions profile on MyUI. Applicants then upload the required supplemental documents through a secure portal.
Required documents include transcripts from all colleges and universities an applicant has attended, contact information for three individuals (able to assess applicants' potential for graduate study) designated to provide letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and the Supplemental Graduate Application Information form.
Art history applicants also should supply a research paper (preferably from an art history course) or thesis that demonstrates potential to undertake graduate-level research in art history, and a personal statement of 1,000 words describing their intellectual development, academic interests, and career goals. The statement must name the University of Iowa faculty member under whose guidance the applicant hopes to work and indicate how that faculty member's area of expertise, or how the art history program, is especially suited to the applicant's interests and goals.
Students who completed an MA at the University of Iowa and who wish to apply to the PhD program in art history must make a formal application for a change of status through the graduate program coordinator. Applications are evaluated in the context of the entire applicant pool.
Applicants should consult the Art History Graduate Bulletin on the School of Art and Art History website. No separate application is necessary for scholarships or teaching/research assistantships for applicants.
The Office of Graduate Admissions notifies all applicants by mail of admission decisions.
Fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and tuition scholarships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of artistic and/or scholarly record.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Assistantships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of academic record, promise as scholars or artists, and demonstrated ability to do the job. Quality of performance in one's graduate program at Iowa is generally the major criterion for awarding teaching assistantships. The number of hours of work required depends on the amount of the award.
Scholarships and Fellowships
The School of Art and Art History offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships made possible by contributions from alumni who wish to support promising artists and scholars. These awards are made on the same basis as teaching and research assistantships.
Information for graduate scholarships and fellowships is included in the admissions package and is available in the School of Art and Art History main office.
Renewal or reappointment for fellowships and assistantships depends on adequate progress toward the degree (graduate students must accumulate at least 18 s.h. of graduate credit each calendar year and maintain a grade-point average above the required minimum) and satisfactory performance of assistantship duties.
Decisions on assistantships and financial aid generally are made during the latter part of the spring semester for the following academic year. Applications and all relevant materials should be on file by Jan. 15.
Many graduates pursue careers that match their degree specializations, such as commercial or graphic designer, conservation or museum curator or administrator, art educator, public artist, gallery and museum administration, art appraisal, and restoration, or community art center coordinator or instructor.
The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Art History, PhD
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| 72 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; typically 30 s.h. (but up to a maximum of 38 s.h.) of graduate transfer credits taken for the master's from an accredited institution allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a, b | ||
| Maintain a cumulative program GPA of at least 3.50. | ||
| Students major in one of the following distribution fields: Asian, ancient Mediterranean, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, 18th- and 19th-century European, American, and modern/contemporary. In addition, candidates minor in two fields: any of the above plus African. c | ||
| Students must attend at least six public lectures by visiting scholars in art history during the course of enrollment as PhD graduate students; proof of attendance is provided by short (150-250 word) written responses turned in to the director of graduate studies within two weeks of the lecture. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARTH:4999 | Capstone Seminar in Art History d, e | 3 |
| ARTH:6020 | Art History Colloquium f | 1 |
| ARTH:6XXX Graduate Art Seminar g | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH:6020 | Art History Colloquium f | 1 |
| ARTH:6XXX Graduate Art Seminar g | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language Proficiency Exam h | ||
| ARTH:6020 | Art History Colloquium f | 1 |
| ARTH:6XXX Graduate Art Seminar g | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH:6020 | Art History Colloquium f | 1 |
| ARTH:7010 | PhD Readings i | 3 |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Comprehensive Exam j | ||
| Dissertation Prospectus k | ||
| ARTH:7010 | PhD Readings i | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH:7020 | PhD Thesis l | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARTH:7020 | PhD Thesis l | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH:7020 | PhD Thesis l | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARTH:7020 | PhD Thesis l | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH:7020 | PhD Thesis l | 0 |
| Final Exam m | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
- a
- Students entering with fewer than 30 s.h. of coursework from the master's degree must work with their faculty advisor to complete the needed appropriate graduate coursework.
- b
- Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
- c
- One minor must be in an art history distribution field that is non-contiguous with the major field. The second minor may be in any art history distribution field, or it may be in a relevant discipline outside of art history, subject to approval from the art history faculty.
- d
- Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate elective coursework and sequence.
- e
- Students must register for and satisfactorily complete ARTH:4999 even if they have enrolled in a similar course at another institution; students who have already taken this course at The University of Iowa are exempt from this requirement and should work with faculty advisor to select an alternate course.
- f
- Take each semester when enrolled in 9 s.h. or more or have a research or teaching assistant appointment; all students are encouraged to attend the colloquium.
- g
- Must register for an art history seminar in first, second, and third semesters of enrollment; credit for graduate seminars may be applied toward the five distribution fields requirement.
- h
- Students must demonstrate proficiency in French or German for admission to the PhD program in art history. They must demonstrate proficiency in a second non-English language, generally one relevant to the chosen area of research, by the end of the third semester in the PhD program. Credit earned in language courses does not count toward the degree. See General Catalog and department website for specifics.
- i
- Students preparing for the Comprehensive Exam will work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate PhD Readings coursework and sequence.
- j
- Taken upon completion of course requirements; consists of three written exams and an oral exam. See the General Catalog and department website for specifics.
- k
- Submitted after completing the Comprehensive Exam; see the General Catalog and department website for specifics.
- l
- Up to 6 s.h. of dissertation credit may count towards degree requirements.
- m
- Dissertation defense.