CSU Chico Graduate Program in Art History

MA Art History Application Instructions

Guide to M.A. Degree in Art History

(30 Units Minimum)

Department of Art and Art History

California State University, Chico

Chico, CA 95929-0820

(530) 898-5331

(Effective Fall 1994; Revised Fall 2002)

The M.A. Degree in Art History is designed to prepare post-baccalaureate students for a variety of professional opportunities (e.g., museum work) and/or for entrance to doctoral (Ph.D.) programs in other institutions. This guide gives an overview of what to expect during the two years or more needed to complete the degree program. The students are expected to regularly consult the University Catalog (current in the academic year of the student's admission to the Graduate School) and monitor changes in regulations and requirements governed by the Graduate School.

Since students are accepted into the M.A. program as "conditionally classified," normally, the Art History faculty collectively acts as academic and career advisors until a "classified" status is achieved and a thesis committee formed. Graduate students should discuss their objectives and career interests with all Art History faculty as early as possible, so that they can receive appropriate program and degree directions. They are also expected to meet with the Graduate Art History Advisor and other faculty (if appropriate) on a regular basis (suggested at least twice a semester) in order to discuss their academic progress and planning, and to obtain such information as up-coming conferences, grants, scholarships and internship programs.

By the end of the second semester of the first year, all students should informally create their thesis committee by consulting with faculty members and the Graduate Art History Advisor. It is recommended that the committee consist of three members. Upon completion of their regular course work, a classification examination is given for determining a "classified" status. (See Part II, A below.) At this time, the official paperwork concerning the thesis committee is filed. Thereafter, the thesis committee provides directions for completing the thesis and the M.A. degree during the fourth semester or later if necessary.

The following information is divided into four parts, and explains the basic process to be followed for satisfactory completion of the 30-unit minimum degree program. Part I provides information on course requirements; Part II, classification examination, and granting of classified status; Part III, M.A. thesis; and Part IV, additional information.

Part I. Course Requirements

This is a 30-unit minimum degree. Additional units may be required or recommended subject to students' undergraduate course work or other factors as determined by the Art History faculty. The attached Curriculum Guide gives an idea of how these units can be distributed into four semesters.

A. Art History Seminar and Thesis Writing 6 units

• ARTS 500, Art History: Theory and Research Methods 3 units

This course covers research methodologies and historiography of art history, and should be taken at the earliest opportunity. The course is scheduled on demand yearly or every other year. The seminar provides a foundation for art historical research and an understanding of how the discipline of art history developed. These are useful in developing research techniques and methodologies for term papers and thesis work. The seminar may also act for introducing graduate students to each other and "networking" among them. Those who took ARTS 500 as an undergraduate at CSU, Chico, or an equivalent course elsewhere, may substitute one 200- or 300-level Art History course selected from the three groups as described below, provided that the Graduate Art History Advisor recognizes such a substitution in writing.

• ARTS 699T, Masters Thesis 3 units

This course is assigned at the commencement of thesis writing and only after a classified status has been achieved. (For more about the thesis work, see our contract for completing M.A. thesis.)

B. Upper-Division Art History Courses 18 units

Two courses must be taken from each of the following three groups. (Note: The 300-number designation applies to graduate students only, but the course is usually offered simultaneously with the 200-number applicable to both graduates and undergraduates. Consult the University Catalog regarding the 300-level units requirement.)

Group 1: Western Art, Ancient through 18th Century 6 units

ARTS 407/607, Medieval Art

ARTS 409/609, Northern Renaissance and Mannerist Art

ARTS 410/610, Italian Renaissance and Mannerist Art

ARTS 411/611, Baroque and Rococo Art

ARTS 414/614, Greek Art

ARTS 415/615, Roman Art

ARTS 400, Art History Special Problems*

Group 2: Western Art, 19th and 20th Centuries 6 units

ARTS 403/603, American Art History

ARTS 404/604, International Art: Contemporary

ARTS 401/601, Aesthetics and the Artist

ARTS 416/616, California Art

ARTS 417/617, European Art 1800-1850

ARTS 418/618, European Art 1850-1900

ARTS 419/619, European Art 20th Century

ARTS 400, Art History Special Problems*

Group 3: Ethnic and Non-Western 6 units

(When course offerings do not permit six units taken from this group, permission may be given to select three units each from Group 1 and 2.)

ARTS 405/605, Pre-Columbian Mexican Art

ARTS 406/606, Meso-American/Colonial Art

ARTS 408/608, Chinese and Japanese Art

ARTS 412/612, American Indian Art

ARTS 413/613, African Art

ARTS 400, Art History Special Problems*

Note *: ARTS 400, Art History Special Problems, may apply to any one of the three groups depending upon appropriateness of seminar topics to the particular group.

C. Elective Units in Art History or Studio 6 units

These are selected from 400/500/600-level art history, or upper division studio courses.

D. Additional Courses open units

Foreign Languages

In addition to the 30-unit requirement, students are encouraged to take foreign language courses based upon career goals and intentions to enroll in doctoral programs which require reading knowledge of at least French and German, and other languages appropriate to students' study (e.g., Italian for Italian Renaissance; Spanish for not only art in Spain but also in Latin America; Chinese and Japanese for Oriental art; Greek and Latin for Classical and Medieval art).

Related Courses

Although not required, students may consider courses which enrich the degree program, such as those in the humanities and other arts (history, literature, performing arts, philosophy, religion), social studies (psychology, political and social sciences), and technological areas (engineering), depending on students' future plans.

Part II. Classification Examination,
and Granting of Classified Status

A. Classification Examination

All students are admitted into the M.A. program in Art History as "conditionally classified". Upon completion of the required course work, but before undertaking thesis writing, the students must receive a "classified" status, i.e., be accepted as a candidate for the M.A. degree.

The classification examination is administered during the semester graduate course work is to be completed. Its date should be arranged early in the semester in consultation with the Graduate Art History Advisor. The examination is normally administered at about the sixth to eighth week of the semester, and should not take place during the last two weeks of the semester, or the finals week. The examination is about three hours in duration, and consists of two essays:

1) a topic closely related to the student's thesis area; and

2) a topic more generally related to the the thesis area

To prepare for the classification examination, consult with the thesis committee and Graduate Art History Advisor early in the semester, determine areas of study, and obtain reading lists for the essay topics.

Results of the classification examination will be presented to the Department faculty for approving the "classified" status, and the students are provided with feedback on strengths and problem areas if any. If the results are not acceptable to the Art History faculty, students may retake the unsuccessful portions of the examination after consultation with the faculty.

B. Granting of the Classified Status

The purpose of this classification process is to demonstrate the preparation and promise likely to result in successful completion of the degree program. Upon successful completion of the classification examination, the Art History faculty presents to the Department a dossier (file) which normally contains the following items:

• Result of the classification examination;

• A transcript (of the graduate studies);

• A brief thesis statement (one to two typewritten pages);

• Copy of the thesis committee form;

• A brief career objective statement (one to two typewritten pages);

• Any other relevant materials (e.g., published essays, term papers).

The Department faculty votes on granting the classified status to become a candidate for the M.A. degree in Art History, subject to satisfactory completion of the thesis. If the classified status is denied, it is possible for a student to try a second time.

Part III. M.A. Thesis

Normally, an M.A. thesis at the minimum should demonstrate:

1. Mastery of literature related to the thesis topic. For example, a thesis on color dynamics in Georgia O'Keeffe's early paintings would also contain a chapter on the broader history of color theory, with particular emphasis on late 19th- and early 20th-century developments in Europe and North America.

2. Critical examination of a focused topic and application of one or more art historical methodologies. For instance, a thesis on medieval and Renaissance depictions of labor might examine such images from the social context of patron and artist through a Marxist methodology.

3. The ability to discern issues and facts critical to making a cogent argument and analysis, and the ability to organize the chosen material and to effectively present the argument in an acceptable thesis format.

It is useful to consult the past theses housed on the 3rd floor of the Library. But a thesis does not have to be a lengthy treatment of the chosen topic. A recommended length would be about 50 to 75 pages, and no more than 100 pages. Students should consider their thesis more like an extended term paper. While completing a thesis is the culminating point of the M.A. program, and thus the thesis work is an important step for the future, students should progress in a timely manner.

Often a thesis topic develops from a research paper carried out during a formal course, or from informal discussion about special interests with Art History and other Department faculty. Some unique local research opportunities are also available, such as on some aspect of the Janet Turner Print Collection, and archival materials pertaining to the history of northern California (housed in the Special Collection of the Library). Other local and regional resources should also be considered (e.g., the State Archive and Crocker Museum in Sacramento).

Since a brief thesis statement must be part of the classification dossier material, students should start formulating their thesis ideas early in the second year of the program by consulting with the Art History faculty. While a thesis committee need not be formed before the classification examination, it is essential to meet frequently with the faculty to discuss how to formulate a thesis topic and its focus. It is also advisable to discuss these with other graduate students so as to "brainstorm", share thesis ideas, and get any useful feedback on them.

Before actual writing can take place, it is important for the students to consult with the Thesis Editor of the Graduate School to familiarize themselves with rules and regulations governing thesis format, inclusion of illustrations and their copyright matters. For more on the departmental process of completing a thesis, consult our thesis contract, a copy of which is obtainable upon request.

IV. Additional Information

A. Slideroom (Ira Latour Visual Resources Collection)

In addition to the Library resources, the Slideroom (or Ira Latour Visual Resources Collection) provides graduate students additional materials (books and videos) available for study within the collection. The collection houses recent volumes of the Art Bulletin and Art Journal, published by the College Art Association of America.

B. Contrapposto Publication

The Art History Area publishes Contrapposto: A Collection of Student Essays in Art History, a yearly publication of the best writings from Art History classes. Graduate students should strive for their essays to be selected in this publication, which can demonstrate a mark of distinction in grant and fellowship applications and future career opportunities.

C. Scholarships and Awards

Art History graduate students are encouraged to apply for Department scholarships and a variety of on-campus and external grants and awards. Locally, they include CSUC Academic Writing Award, Graduate Students Research and Travel Grants, and Fellowship for Underrepresented Students administered by the Graduate School.

D. Internships

Various internships are possible at such institutions as the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation (Venice, Italy), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), the Getty Center for Art History (Malibu, CA), and other regional museums. These can provide invaluable experience and make students more aware of career possibilities.

E. Conference Participation

Announcements of Art History conferences for graduate students at other universities may be posted on bulletin board in the Slideroom. Also, information on art history professional associations (e.g., College Art Association of America) may be found there. It is useful to participate in these conferences, if possible at all, so as to find about the current and future interests in art history and job opportunities. (College Art Association publishes lists of job opportunities on a regular basis. These lists contain not only teaching positions requiring Ph.D. degrees, but also such openings as slide curators and archivists requiring M.A. degrees in art history.)

Best wishes for a successful experience with the degree program. If you have any questions about the program, write to or call the Graduate Art History Advisor, Graduate Coordinator, or Department Chair at the address and phone number listed at the top of this guide.