Art History

The master's program in art history, offered by the department of Art and Art History, is designed to provide a broad historical and theoretical understanding of the visual arts, in addition to developing critical thinking and methodological skills. Students engage these issues through course work, seminars, independent research, and teaching experience.

Students complete their degree either by writing a thesis or by submitting two qualifying papers; either option involves an independent research topic designed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. M.A. students from our program are successful in applying to and completing Ph.D. programs.

The master's program in art history is designed to provide a broad historical and theoretical understanding of the visual arts, in addition to developing critical thinking and methodological skills. Students engage these issues through course work, seminars, independent research, and teaching experience.

Students complete their degree either by writing a thesis or by submitting two qualifying papers; either option involves an independent research topic designed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. M.A. students from our program are successful in applying to and completing Ph.D. programs.

Requirements for the M.A. degree in Art History

• Reading knowledge of one foreign language upon entry
• Eight semester courses in art history at the advanced (100 and above) level
  • Historiography and Methodology (FAH101)
  • At least three (3) seminars
  • A graduate level language course in a second foreign language maybe taken in lieu of a lecture course with the permission of the graduate director
• Comprehensive Exam
• At least one semester TA or RA (subject to enrollments and funding)
• M.A. thesis or two Qualifying Papers

1. Online application for admission
2. Scanned copies of all college transcripts
3. Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
4. Personal statement elaborating on your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study at Tufts
5. Application fee of $85 
6. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
7. Achieved competitive scores on both the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections of the GRE
8. Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the internet based exam is required for M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. applicants, and a minimum score of 85 is required for M.F.A. applicants. The minimum IELTS score is 6.5. 
9. GRE general test score
10. A recent writing sample of your best piece of writing
11. Personal statement
12. Three letters of recommendation
13. Reading knowledge of a foreign language

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

For students who show scholarly promise, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering offer scholarships, fellowships, and research or teaching assistantships to full-time students in doctoral programs. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also offers awards to full-time students in master’s programs. Certificate students are not eligible for these awards.

• Tuition Scholarships are available in most master's and doctoral programs for qualified students.
• Teaching Assistantships are offered by most departments.
• Research Assistantships are generally available in the science and engineering areas.
• Fellowships are offered to students who demonstrate outstanding records of achievement and a well-articulated plan of study.