Degrees

The MA in Art History is a rigorous 2-year program that provides students with a broad knowledge of Art History and equips them with skills in its methodologies. Graduates who have achieved a distinguished record in our program should be well prepared for acceptance into doctoral programs in Art History or related disciplines. Many of our students who do not pursue the Ph.D. go on to careers in the museum world, as well as non-profit, for-profit, education, and related fields. For detailed information about the MA in Art History degree please review the University Catalog and the Art History Graduate Handbook.

MA Art History Handbook & Degree Requirements     MA Art History Application

The MFA in Art Practices is a rigorous program intended for artists committed to pursuing a professional life in the arts. It prepares students for careers as practicing artists and arts professionals as well as teachers in colleges, universities, and art schools. During the two and half-year program, students focus on one of several fields including, Ceramics, IMAP (photography, digital media, video, integrated arts), Painting and Drawing, Printmaking, and Sculpture and Post-Studio Practice. Additionally, in collaboration with the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts, the Department of Art and Art History offers a film MFA.
 

MFA Degree Requirements     MFA Art Practices Application

The dual degree program is a collaboration between Art and Art History and the Leeds School of Business. Students can pursue a dual degree of an MA/MBA or an MFA/MBA. Candidates must apply to each program separately.
 

Dual Degrees: MA/MBA or MFA/MBA Program Description & Application

The Ph.D. in Arts of the Americas emphasizes the cross-cultural circulation of visual culture in the Americas from ancient to contemporary times. Our program encourages students to think across subfields (e.g., Pre-Columbian Art, Colonial Latin American Art, Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art, Native North American Art, Modern and Contemporary American Art, etc.) and to situate American visual culture in the fluid circuits of cross-cultural exchange, as well as global intellectual and trade networks. This interdisciplinary approach brings Art History into dialogue with Anthropology, History, Ethnic Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Religious Studies, and other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Our accelerated Ph.D. program is ideal for students who already have an MA in Art History or an equivalent degree, including professionals in the art field seeking an opportunity to advance in their career by earning a Ph.D.
 

Ph.D. in Arts of the Americas Application

A professional certificate might be just what you need to take your career or your coursework to the next level. Continuing Education partners with departments across the university to offer certificates delivered in a variety of formats (on-campus, online, or hybrid). Many certificate programs are open to nondegree students. Explore the Certificate Programs

In addition to the required coursework, MFA and MA students gain insights about their respective fields through the Visiting Artist Program and Visiting Scholars Program, both of which invite distinguished artists and scholars to CU for talks, seminars, and individual meetings with students.

Current Graduate Students

University-wide Financial Aid:
The federal loan program for graduate students is administered by the Office of Financial Aid

Departmental Support:
The department’s own resources include fellowships and teaching and non-teaching part-time positions:

• Graduate Part-time Instructor (GPTI)
• Graduate Assistant (GA)
• Teaching Assistants (TA)

TAs teach recitation sections of World Art Studies 1 & 2, a large introductory art history course. GPTIs typically teach introductory courses in their home areas (e.g. Photography 1) or Introduction to Studio Art 1 & 2 (Foundations). GAs provide assistance either in their home area or elsewhere in the department (e.g. the Visual Resources Center) or in the CU Art Museum.

Each of these types of appointments comes with a salary, 5 (GA) or 6 (GPTI) credit hours of tuition remission per semester and 70% health insurance premium through CU-Boulder.

MFA students in our Film Track are also supported by the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Art which has its own GPTI and TA (Teaching Assistant) positions for graduate students who work with the moving image.

There is no separate application form for departmental support but applicants are encouraged to express their interest in GA, TA and/or GPTI appointments in their personal statement of purpose accompanying the application. Decisions regarding departmental support are made at the time of admission.

Explore all Graduate Art & Art History resources

The Department of Art and Art History offers over $20,000 in merit-based awards for undergraduate and graduate students that are made possible through the generosity of donors.

Scholarship Information and Application

The Graduate Information Session provides prospective graduate students with a broad overview of CU Boulder’s graduate program offerings, opportunities for CU Boulder graduate students and helpful resources for graduate students across the disciplines.

For Art & Art History:
Graduate Program, art.grad@colorado.edu