School of Art, Design & Art History Graduate Program Coordinator
– Cole Welter
Art History Area Head – Dr. John Ott
MISSION
The JMU graduate faculty works to promote scholarly inquiry into the history of art and to help prepare students for future careers in academia or in curatorial work. The area encourages exploration of diverse cultures from prehistoric to the present. Students learn how artworks have been influenced by various factors of the culture in which they were produced, and how art and artists in turn have influenced those cultures. Beyond cultural information, skills are taught in visual perception, theoretical and methodological practices to prepare students for advanced study and entry into arts related fields. Above all, critical thinking, research, and writing competence are stressed.
GOALS
The M.A. in art history is designed for those who wish to prepare for a doctoral program of study, or seek entry level positions in museums, galleries, arts organizations, art-related government agencies and businesses. It also provides advanced art historical study for Virginia teachers, or those who are intending to teach in public schools or other educational institutions.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Master of Arts requires 30 credit hours: 18 hours of art history courses, 6 hours of electives, and either a) 6 hours of Thesis or b) 3 hours of internship and 3 hours of directed study for the Master's essay. While JMU's program emphasizes a broad-based approach, students may also concentrate in American or Modern Art. Graduate 500 level courses are taught in Museum Studies, History of Photography, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century, Contemporary, American, African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian Art. Students enjoy small graduate seminars at the 600 level in specialized topics such as Contemporary New Media, Issues in African Art, Post-Colonial Theory, Michelangelo and Leonardo, or Art and Nationalism. To graduate, students must also successfully complete a written and oral comprehensive examination in art history.
FACILITIES AND RESOURCES
Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of libraries, galleries and museums in nearby Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Va. Students in American Art also may visit a number of historic houses in the state, including Montpelier and Monticello. Graduate student research is supported by Carrier Library holdings of approximately 25,000 art history books/periodicals, extensive electronic access to journals, and interlibrary loan facilities. A new University Art Museum and Arts Center is planned for construction within the next five years.
GRADUATE ALUMNI SUCCESS
Recent JMU graduate students have held internships or positions at the Hirshhorn Gallery, the American Museum of Indian Culture in Washington, and Hollins University Art Gallery. Graduates have gone on for doctoral work at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Williams College and Bard College. Other graduates now hold full-time and adjunct teaching positions at institutions throughout the state of Virginia.
FINANCIAL AID
Graduate students receive support for tuition and expenses through Graduate Assistantships. These provide tuition and a stipend in exchange for approximately fifteen hours per week of work. Duties may include grading papers, guest lecturing, research assistance or helping with operations in the New Image Gallery and the Visual Resource Center.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Due to program curriculum revisions, the MA in art history is not accepting applications at this time.
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum
of 12 hours in art history including six hours of art history surveys. Applicants
should have completed language study of German or French through the intermediate
level (four semesters). Alternatively, one may elect to complete a language
exam demonstrating reading and translation proficiency in German or French by
the end of one's first year of graduate study. Applications must be accompanied
by GRE results, a TOEFL score above 575 (if applicable), three letters of recommendation
and an undergraduate research paper.
Application forms, the Graduate School Catalog, applications for assistantships and fellowships, applications for the Graduate Record Examination and other pertinent information may be obtained by writing to:
Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs
MSC 6702
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Also you may consult the JMU Graduate School website.