Art History

The M.A. and Ph.D. programs offer advanced training in the study of visual and material culture from the Middles Ages to the present. The Queen's Art History program is strongly committed to mentoring and to the training of graduate students in a variety of interdisciplinary approaches, methodologies, and issues, including the technical examination of art, gender studies, critical theory, cultural representation, and the relationships among art, literature, and science. 

Year 1

• 3 half courses at the 800-level (2 in one term, 1 in the other)
• Pass any needed language requirements
• Establish topics for the comps by the end of the Winter term
• Study for comps over the summer

Year 2

• Prepare comps essays in the fall
• In the Fall term or in January - comprehensive examinations
• Winter term - preparation of the thesis proposal, submitted and approved by the end of the term (before May 1st)
• Summer - begin dissertation research/ prepare for traveling to do on-site research

Year 3

• Dissertation research, begin writing, often on-site

Year 4

• Finish writing and defend the thesis

Requirements

• For admission to the Ph.D. program, an Honours B.A., or its equivalent, and an M.A. with an "A" grade in the primary courses, are required. Normally, both previous degrees should be in Art History; however, the committee will also consider degrees in a related subject (such as Art Conservation, Classics, Cultural Studies, Film, Fine Art, History, Literary Studies, etc.). In all cases, the Art History Graduate Committee will examine the record of courses taken by applicants in both their graduate and undergraduate programs in order to establish that they have sufficient preparation in the History of Art
• Proof of reading knowledge of one language other than English, normally in the form of a test passed at the M.A. level is required at the time of application. 
• A writing sample (e.g. art history essay), submitted online. 
• A current CV must be sent as electronic copy directly to the Graduate Assistant.   
• A brief "Statement of Purpose" (500-600 words), outlining the applicants specific area(s) of research and career goals, this should include a statement of why they believe the Department of Art at Queen's is an appropriate place for their doctoral studies. This must be submitted as part of the online application.
• For international students, if required, a TOEFL total score of at least 600 (paperbased) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.
• Two current academic letters of reference from scholars familiar with the candidates academic record and performance, must be sent either electronically through the online application process or alternatively as hard copy to the Graduate Assistant.
• All official academic transcripts must be sent to the attention of theGraduate Assistant.

Scholarships

• The School of Graduate Studies and Research at Queen’s University offers doctoral students four years of guaranteed funding ($18, 000 per year in 2011-2012).
• The funding package may be comprised of Queen's Graduate Awards, teaching assistantships, or named internal fellowships, which are awarded by the department on a competitive basis.
• Upper-year PhD students may be awarded a teaching fellowship. Employment as teaching assistants helps to familiarize students with the skills and duties of a teaching career; teaching fellowships, competitively awarded usually after completion of the Comprehensive Field Essays, allow students to design and teach their own course.
• Students are urged to seek outside funding, and students with at least an 80% overall average must apply for OGS and SSHRC awards in order to qualify for Queen's funding after their first year.
• Several Bader Fellowships (up to $30,000) for doctoral research in Europe may be awarded annually to students who have completed course work and language requirements, successfully passed the Comprehensive Field Essays and had their Doctoral Thesis Proposals approved. The amount of the Fellowship is $22,000 for students holding external awards (OGS or SSHRCC), and $30,000 for students without external support