Department of Art History

PhD - Curatorial

The Curatorial track trains students to be critical and productive art historians equipped to produce museum publications or programs and manage projects, departments, or institutions. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts works as an institutional partner; its curators and senior administrators contribute, as Affiliated Faculty, to teaching Art History and/or Museum Studies courses, provide mentorship to interns and museum research fellows, and serve on dissertation committees.

Students complete coursework in three areas. Art history courses provide grounding in theories and methods, develop critical thinking and writing skills, promote acquisition of subject knowledge. Nonprofit management courses provide knowledge and skills in nonprofit governance, management, law, and fund-raising; and museum studies, which provides a broad overview of historical developments, institutional responsibilities, professional opportunities, and theoretical issues relevant to contemporary museum practice.

Students may apply to the PhD program directly upon completion of the BA or after completing an MA in art history or a related field. Students entering with a BA will complete a program of study for one of the MA tracks and then move on to complete credits required before moving on to the doctoral program. Students entering with an MA, especially those in fields outside art history, may be required to complete additional coursework beyond the 30 credits as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies and the prospective adviser.

Program Requirements

The Curatorial track requires students to complete 60 credits of post-baccalaureate coursework. Students who already hold an M.A. in Art History, Museum Studies or related field are encouraged to apply. Their specific programs of study will include a minimum of 30 credits and be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, the Museum Studies Coordinator, and the student's dissertation advisor.

The 60 credits of post-baccalaureate coursework are distributed as follows:

1. ARTH 690: Historiography and Methodology (3 credits), to be taken in the first semester
2. 3 graduate art history courses in major area (9 credits)
3. 2 graduate art history courses in minor area (6 credits)
4. 2 graduate art history courses in any area (6 credits)
5. 3 museum studies courses (9 credits)
6. 3 nonprofit management courses (9 credits)
7. 2 museum internshipÑone curatorial and one administrative (6 credits)
8. 6 credits thesis or museum project
9. 6 credits dissertation

Exams

1. Proficiency in two languages, typically German plus French, Spanish or Italian.
2. Field exams in the major and minor areas of study.
3. Students advance to candidacy upon completion of all course work, exams, and approval of the dissertation proposal. Candidacy is typically attained by the end of the fourth semester of full-time study.

Admissions Requirements

For applicants with a BA requirements are the same as for admission to the MA in Historical Studies.
For applicants with an MA:

1. GPA of 3.8 on all graduate work
2. GRE scores: 1000 combined Verbal and Quantitative, 5 or better on the Analytic Writing portion.
3. 2 letters of reference from instructors who can assess the applicant's preparation and promise for advanced doctoral work
4. 1 letter of reference from a museum professional who has supervised the applicant's work as a museum intern, employee, or volunteer.
5. Statement of purpose outlining the applicant's reasons for seeking a PhD, area of intended specialization, prospective major adviser, and professional goals. The statement of purpose may also include professional experience relevant to the pursuit of a graduate degree in art history.
6. Completed MA thesis or other academic writing sample
7. Applicants are advised to correspond with faculty members with whom they wish to work.

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