Ã山ǿ¼é

Art History

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Art History

Location

Location

  • Department of Art History and Communication Studies
  • Arts Building, W-225 (West Wing, top floor)
  • 853 Sherbrooke Street West
  • Montreal, QC H3A 0G5
  • Canada
  • Telephone: 514-398-4933
  • Fax: 514-398-7247
  • Email: graduate.ahcs [at] mcgill.ca
  • Website: www.mcgill.ca/ahcs

About Art History

About Art History

The graduate program in Art History offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees and is extremely active. The programs cover a wide range of areas of study delimited by the Department's fields of specialization, which include the following: Ancient; Medieval; Renaissance; the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries; Contemporary; Canadian; East Asian; Architectural History; New Media; Print Culture; Gender and Sexuality; Race and Representation; and art historical methodologies, notably Feminism and Postcolonialism. All of our faculty members are outstanding scholars in their respective fields and are involved in a wide range of major collaborative and individual research projects, many involving faculty from other universities, departments, and programs (such as Communication Studies, English and Literary Studies, Histories of Science and Medicine, Religious Studies, Classics, History, and Women’s Studies). These research projects allow us to offer relevant research training opportunities and assistantships to our graduate students.

Ã山ǿ¼é is situated in one of the most vibrant cities in North America, and Montreal offers myriad opportunities for graduate students to engage with local arts institutions, either officially, through internships and research fellowships, or unofficially, through volunteering. Local institutions range from large-scale public museums (such as the Musée d'art contemporain, the Musée des beaux arts, and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa) to smaller alternative galleries (such as feminist arts spaces La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse and Studio XX). There are also university-based venues such as the Redpath Museum on campus and the McCord Museum of Canadian History (which houses the Ã山ǿ¼é Archives), and independent contemporary art galleries such as DHC and the Darling Foundry. The Canadian Centre for Architecture, with its archives and exhibitions, and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec also offer grants and research opportunities for local graduate students. A close relationship with the other three major universities in Montreal (Concordia University, Université de Montréal, and Université du Québec à Montréal) affords students access to a broad network of additional courses, lectures, and colleagues across the city.

To obtain financial aid information, please consult the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website at www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding/students-postdocs or email graduate.fellowships [at] mcgill.ca.

For programs in Art History and Communication Studies, refer to our website: www.mcgill.ca/ahcs.

Residency Requirements

There are residency requirements for both the master's and the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. residency requirement is: for students who enter the Ph.D. program at Ph.D. 1 (this is for students who do not have a master's degree, i.e., fast-tracked from a B.A. into the Ph.D.), nine full-time terms (Ph.D. 1, Ph.D. 2, and Ph.D. 3); for students who enter the Ph.D. program at Ph.D. 2 (these students have a master's degree), six full-time terms (Ph.D. 2, Ph.D. 3). All Ph.D. students must also be registered full-time in year Ph.D. 4. Once the residency requirements have been fulfilled, the student is then in additional session and may continue in additional session until the end of M.A. 3 or Ph.D. 7.

Coursework

Before classes begin, each student will meet with an adviser to determine an appropriate selection of courses, which, when considered with the previous record, balances breadth of coverage and specialization. The candidate is required to pass, with a grade of 65% (B-) or better, all those courses that have been designated by the Department as forming a part of her/his program. These are the courses that have been entered on the registration form. A few extra courses may be taken, but it is then the responsibility of the student to see that these courses are clearly marked "not required" on the registration form. M.A. students who have selected the graduate option in Gender and Women’s Studies are required to take 6 credits (within the total credits that are required for the M.A. degree); WMST 601 (3 credits) is a required course, and the complementary course can be either WMST 602 or another 3-credit course related to Gender and Women’s Studies. All course selections must first be approved by the supervisor/Graduate Program Director.

Master of Arts (M.A.); Art History (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
Please contact the Department for more information about this program.
Master of Arts (M.A.); Art History (Non-Thesis) — Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits)
The graduate option in Gender and Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in a participating unit who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women’s studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The thesis must be on a topic centrally related to gender and/or women’s studies.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History
Please contact the Department for more information about this program.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History — Gender and Women's Studies
The graduate option in Gender and Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in a participating unit who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women’s studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The thesis must be on a topic centrally related to gender and/or women’s studies.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2012-2013 (last updated Nov. 22, 2012) (disclaimer)

Art History Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Art History Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Revision, October 2012. Start of revision.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Entrance into either the M.A. or Ph.D. programs is limited to the best qualified applicants. A minimum CGPA of 3.3 or the equivalent, i.e., 75%, is highly recommended. The Department requires a research statement of at least 250 words outlining the candidate's particular research interest in Art History as well as a sample of his/her written work such as a seminar paper or, in the case of Ph.D. applicants, all or part of the M.A. paper or thesis. For a complete list of materials required, see the Application Checklist below.

For international applicants whose first language is not English, please see www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/requirements/proficiency.

M.A. Program

To apply to the M.A. program, candidates are normally expected to have a B.A. degree in art history or in another closely related field; candidates may come from other fields such as literary studies, comparative literature, ethnic studies, Canadian studies, architecture, urban planning, film studies, history, performance studies, or philosophy/aesthetics, but must have taken at least 10 courses relating to the history and theory of some aspect of the visual arts, preferably covering a wide range of historical time periods and geographical regions. In exceptional cases, applicants without a strong background in art history may be admitted but with additional requirements arranged in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies to be completed before matriculation in the M.A. program.

Ph.D. Program

In order to apply to the Ph.D. program, candidates must hold an M.A. degree preferably in art history or in a closely related field together with an appropriate number of art history and related courses such as are described for entrance into the M.A. program. All candidates for the Ph.D. program are strongly advised to contact a potential supervisor well in advance of submitting the application in order to establish a relationship. Applicants who have not vetted their research proposal (application statement) with a potential supervisor are unlikely to be admitted.

Application Procedures

Application Procedures

Ã山ǿ¼é’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

For any admissions problems, please contact Maureen Coote, the Graduate Administrative Coordinator (Office: Arts W235; Phone: 514-398-4933; Email: maureen.coote [at] mcgill.ca).

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
  • Writing Work (in English or French)
  • Research Proposal
  • Reference Letters – must be accompanied by the following "Recommendation Form" filled out by the letter writer: Recommendation Form [.pdf], Recommendation Form [.doc]

Dates for Guaranteed Consideration

Dates for Guaranteed Consideration

Canadian International Special/Exchange/Visiting
Fall: Jan. 15 Fall: Jan. 15 Fall: Jan. 15
Winter: N/A Winter: N/A Winter: N/A
Summer: N/A Summer: N/A Summer: N/A
Note: There are no January admissions for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs.

Revision, October 2012. End of revision.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)

Art History and Communication Studies Faculty

Art History and Communication Studies Faculty

Chair
Angela Vanhaelen
Directors
Amelia Jones – Director, Graduate Programs in Art History
Darin Barney – Director, Graduate Programs in Communication Studies
Cecily Hilsdale – Director, Undergraduate Programs in Art History
Roberta G. Lentz – Director, Undergraduate Programs in Communication Studies
Emeritus Professors
John M. Fossey; B.A.(Birm.), D.U.(Lyon II), F.S.A., R.P.A.
George Szanto; B.A.(Dart.), Ph.D.(Harv.)
Professors
Amelia Jones; B.A.(Harv.), M.A.(Penn.), Ph.D.(Calif.)
Marc Raboy; B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
Christine Ross; M.A.(C'dia.), Ph.D.(Paris I)
Will Straw; B.A.(Car.), M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
Associate Professors
Darin Barney; B.A., M.A.(S. Fraser), Ph.D.(Tor.)
Jenny Burman; B.A.(C'dia), M.A., Ph.D.(York)
Charmaine Nelson; B.F.A., M.A.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Manc.)
Carrie Rentschler; B.A.(Minn.), M.A., Ph.D.(Ill.-Urbana-Champaign)
Jonathan Sterne; B.A.(Minn.), M.A., Ph.D.(Ill.-Urbana-Champaign)
Angela Vanhaelen; B.A.(W. Ont.), M.A., Ph.D.(Br. Col.)
Assistant Professors
Gabriella Coleman; B.A.(Col.), M.A., Ph.D.(Chic.)
Cecily Hilsdale; B.F.A.(C'dia), M.A., Ph.D.(Chic.)
Mary Hunter; B.A.(Qu.), M.A., Ph.D.(Lond.)
Matthew Hunter; B.A.(Reed), M.A., Ph.D.(Chic.)
Roberta G. Lentz; B.A.(Arkansas), M.A.(Ill.-Chic.), Ph.D.(Texas-Austin)
Adjunct Professors
Cornelius Borck, Johanne Lamoureux, Charles Levin, Bronwen Wilson
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)

Master of Arts (M.A.); Art History (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)

Research Project (18 credits)

ARTH 606 (3) Research Paper Preparation
ARTH 607 (3) Research Paper Proposal
ARTH 608 (6) Research Paper 1
ARTH 609 (6) Research Paper 2

Required Course (3 credits)

ARTH 600 (3) Advanced Professional Seminar

Complementary Courses (24 credits)

Chosen from the following:

ARTH 617 (3) Modern Art
ARTH 618 (3) Art History - 1400-1900 1
ARTH 630 (3) Directed Reading 1
ARTH 646 (3) Topics: Chinese Visual Culture
ARTH 647 (3) Topics: Renaissance Art & Architecture 1
ARTH 648 (3) Topics: Renaissance Art & Architecture 2
ARTH 653 (3) Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 1
ARTH 654 (3) Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 2
ARTH 660 (3) Contemporary Art & Criticism 1
ARTH 661 (3) Contemporary Art & Criticism 2
ARTH 673 (3) Topics: 18th - Century Art & Architecture 1
ARTH 675 (3) Topics: 19th - Century Art & Architecture 1
ARTH 678 (3) Topics: 19th - Century Art & Architecture 2

or from the 700-level complementary courses listed for the Ph.D.

Normally only 3 credits at the 500 level are permitted.

Alternatively, up to 6 credits may be from other disciplines, as approved by the Department.

3 credits may be taken at another approved university.

Language Requirement

In addition to possessing a proficiency in English and French, students must demonstrate reading knowledge of any language relating to their research project assessed by means of a written translation of a text.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)

Master of Arts (M.A.); Art History (Non-Thesis) — Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits)

The graduate option in Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet the degree requirements in Art History who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women's studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The final research paper must be on a topic centrally related to gender and/or women's...

For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.); Art History (Non-Thesis) — Gender and Women's Studies (45 credits).

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History .

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History — Gender and Women's Studies

Students should refer to the Departmental website for information about Ph.D. residency and timing. ...

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Art History — Gender and Women's Studies .

Faculty of Arts—2012-2013 (last updated Nov. 22, 2012) (disclaimer)
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