Thesis Track: MA in Art History with an Emphasis on Methods and Criticism
This option is designed primarily for the student who wishes to pursue a specialized problem in greater depth than would be possible in normal course structure as well as provide students with a solid academic foundation on which to base a variety of careers in the arts, or to prepare them for PhD level work at other universities.
General Guidelines
- Thesis Proposal Process
- Thesis Format, Defense, Final Submission, and Best Practices
- Progress to Degree Worksheet
Graduate Grievance Procedures
Federal law and UWM policy require programs and departments to have procedures for graduate students to appeal academic decisions such as grades or scholastic standing. These procedures ensure the protection of students’ rights. These pages serve as a reference on procedures for graduate student academic appeals.
Requirements
Thesis Track: MA in Art History with an Emphasis on Methods and Criticism
Minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits in Art History, of which a minimum of 21 credits must be 700- to 900-level courses, as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 700 | Proseminar in Art History 1 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 891 | Art Museum Internship | 3 |
| 6 credits of ARTHIST 990 Thesis Research | 6 | |
| 9 credits of other 700- to 900-level Art History courses (excluding ARTHIST 703 and ARTHIST 704) | 9 | |
| 9 credits of additional graduate-level Art History courses | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Must be taken in the student's first fall semester.
Of the total 30 credits, 12 credits must be distributed across three of the following four areas: Ancient-Medieval; Early Modern; Modern (1850-the Present including Film); and non-Western. At least 9 of these credits must be taken in courses numbered 700 or above.
The following courses may not be used to satisfy the distribution requirement, although they will count toward the overall number of credits needed to graduate:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 703 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies I | 3 |
| ARTHIST 704 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies II | 3 |
Under special circumstances, 3 credits in 700- to 900-level work may be substituted for 3 of the 6 credits of thesis research. In addition, students may take a maximum of 6 credits of independent research (890, 891 and/or 999); however, these credits may not be taken in the first 6 credits of graduate work in the Department, and not until all deficiencies (if any) have been satisfied. Furthermore, they may not be counted toward the required 21 credits of 700- to 900-level courses. They will count, however, toward the overall number of credits needed to graduate. Upon petition to the director of graduate studies, a student may be permitted to take up to 6 credits in appropriate areas outside Art History (e.g., anthropology, literature, history, music history, philosophy, film).
Thesis
In addition to completing all the coursework required for the degree, the student must write a thesis on a subject selected in consultation with the advisor. This study must demonstrate the student’s ability to organize material and their familiarity with relevant research methods and art-historical literature. The student must pass an oral defense of the thesis.