Accelerated Graduate BA/MA

What is the Accelerated Graduate Program?

The Art History accelerated graduate program offers high-achieving students the opportunity to complete both the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Art History degrees in 5 years. Normally, a BA plus an MA degree would take six years or more. Students in the accelerated graduate program can save one year of time and tuition costs.

The 5-year accelerated graduate program consists of 3 years of undergraduate study and 2 years of graduate study. To successfully complete both programs in five years, students must map out a clear plan early – no later than the second semester of freshman year.

What can I do with this degree?

This program is especially well-suited to students with a high GPA and clear professional goals related to art curation, management or administration, or certain types of teaching jobs. Individuals with a master’s degree in art history typically work in:

  • museums
  • galleries
  • preservation societies
  • historical societies
  • auction houses
  • publishing houses
  • libraries

holding roles such as:

  • curator
  • restoration specialist
  • assistant or associate director
  • assistant or associate creative director
  • marketing or sales specialist
  • education coordinator
  • valuation specialist
  • authenticator
  • conservation specialist
  • art dealer

Master’s degree holders may also qualify to teach the subject at the community college level or as a lecturer at a four-year university.

Am I eligible? How can I enroll?

Students should declare their interest in the accelerated graduate program as soon as they start at UWM as a freshman. Students should discuss the program with their assigned general advisor and with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Art History, Michael Aschenbrenner. Both advisors will assist with course selection and planning to prepare to apply to the Master’s program in Art History during junior year of college.

Admission to the master’s program is not guaranteed, and students must still meet the admissions criteria for the master’s program. To be considered, students must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and must be on track to complete all general requirements for the bachelor’s degree by the end of the third year.

Students not admitted to the master’s program can continue on and finish just the bachelor’s degree in art history.

How does it work?

During the third year, students will take some undergraduate courses that will double count towards the bachelor’s degree and forward towards the master’s degree. During the fourth and fifth years, students will take graduate courses, some of which will double count towards the master’s degree and backwards towards the bachelor’s degree.