Students entering without a prior Masters Degree
Students who have not yet earned an M.A. in History of Art enroll for 68 Fee Totals; most of these credits consist of coursework taken in the early years. The basic plan is for a four-year period of residency, followed by a two-year period of dissertation research and writing.
Year 1 | Students are required to take HA 615 during the first semester and should take at least 5 additional courses at the 400-level or above in the first year. They should also pass their first language examination.
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Year 2 | In the second year, students normally take four courses at the 400-level or above and serve as a GSI for both semesters. Student progress is evaluated in the Third-Term Review; students submit their Third-Term Review Papers by the end of the Fall semester. In addition, students should pass their second language examination.
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Year 3 | In the third year, students take two more courses at a 400-level or above, and take 8 credits of Preliminary Exam Study. The Preliminary Examination is taken in April. Two language exams must be passed in order for students to achieve candidacy by the end of the winter semester.
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Year 4 | All students should achieve candidacy by the beginning of Year 4. Students with exceptional language requirements must complete them by the end of the second semester of Year 4. Students write their prospectus and become engaged in dissertation research. The prospectus defense is to occur before the end of the third week of classes. Students apply for external funding for Year 5.
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Year 5 | Funding: Students are supported by external funding. (Students receive one more semester of fellowship funding in year five or six.) | |||
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Year 6 | Funding: Students are supported by external funding. |
Minimum Rackham Fee Totals = 68
Students Enterting with a Prior Master's Degree
The basic plan for a three-year period of residency, and two years of dissertation research and writing is as follows:
Year 1 | Students are required to take HA 615 during the first semester and should take at least 5 additional courses at the 400-level or above in the first year. They should also pass their first language examination.
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Year 2 | In the second year, students take two courses and teach as a GSI for one semester. Student progress is evaluated in the Third-Term Review; students submit their Third-Term Review Papers by the beginning of the Fall semester. Students should pass their second language examination. Students should also pass their preliminary examination and achieve candidacy.
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Year 3 | Students achieve candidacy, write their prospectus, and become engaged in dissertation research and grant writing. The prospectus defense is to occur before the end of the third week of classes. Students with extra language requirements must complete their final language requirements by the end of the second semester of Year 4.
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Year 4 | Funding: Students are supported by external funding or teach as GSIs for both semesters. (Students receive one more semester of fellowship funding in Year 4 or 5.) | |||
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Year 5 |
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Minimum Rackham Fee Totals = 50
Obtaining the Master's Degree
The M.A. is awarded under two circumstances: 1) as a milestone toward the Ph.D. by means of a formal application to Rackham, which is initiated by the student in consultation with the DGS; or 2) in exceptional cases in consultation with advisors when a student elects to terminate his or her progress toward the Ph.D. In both cases, all of the following requirements must be met:
1. Students must obtain a minimum of thirty credits of approved coursework taken at the 400-level or above with a B average in all graduate coursework. Students must have received a B or better in all credits in graduate History of Art coursework. (Note: For courses at the 400-level, students must verify that each course is offered for both graduate as well as undergraduate credit before registering.)
2. Students must demonstrate reading proficiency through departmental examination or approved coursework in at least one relevant, approved research language.
3. Students must elect a minimum of ten graduate courses at the 400-level or above including the First Year Graduate Seminar (HA 615).
4. Students must earn a grade of B in two three-credit cognate courses in related disciplines at the graduate level (courses numbered 400 or higher).
5. Students must gain the approval of a Third-Term Review Paper (i.e. seminar or equivalent graduate research paper) intended to demonstrate the student's command of the skills in research, writing, and critical thinking necessary for writing a doctoral dissertation.
6. Students must fulfill the appropriate distribution requirements. (See "Requirements for the Ph.D." above.)
It is expected that the student will complete the M.A. degree within two years.
