Art History
School for Studies in Art and Culture: Art History
St. Patrick's Bldg. Rm. 423
Tel.: 613-520-2342
carleton.ca/artandculture/arthistory
M.A. Art History
About the Program
Carleton's M.A. in Art History emphasizes critical and historical concerns as well as practical experience. Students examine recent theoretical shifts in art history and are offered direct experience with collecting, exhibiting, and researching institutions in the Ottawa area. The program's dual approach trains students to attain a critical awareness of contemporary theoretical debates while working directly with art objects. We maintain professional links to institutions in the National Capital region, including the National Gallery and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, through our strong practicum (internship) program and adjunct faculty members who work at these institutions. Reflecting these institutions' collections, Canadian and Aboriginal art are strengths in the program although we offer a program inclusive of western art with some non-western resources. Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in the museum, research, and heritage sectors, and for further study in Art History and related disciplines.
Academic Regulations
See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Academic standing: a standing of B- or better must be obtained in each credit counted towards the master's degree.
Regulations governing requirements for the master's thesis, including deadlines for submission, are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is an Honours bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) in art history or a related discipline, with at least high honours standing. Related disciplines may include anthropology, history, and Canadian studies. Applicants without a background in art history may be required to take up to a maximum of 2. 0 credits in certain designated courses from the undergraduate art history program in addition to their regular program.
Qualifying-Year Program
Applicants who do not qualify for direct admission to the master's program may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Applicants who lack an Honours degree, but have a 3-year degree with an honours standing (at least B overall) will normally be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Program Requirements
Students in the M.A. in Art History must select one of the following streams:
Coursework Stream
- 1.0 credit in ARTH 5010 [1.0]
- 3. 0 credits in Art History. Students are normally required to take 1.0 credit from ARTH 5112, ARTH 5113, ARTH 5114, ARTH 5115, ARTH 5117, ARTH 5210, ARTH 5218, ARTH 5403, ARTH 5500, 0.5 credit in another Art History course and 1. 0 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0.5 credit may be taken in Art History or, in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor.
Research Essay Stream
- 1.0 credit in ARTH 5010 [1.0]
- 2. 0 credits in Art History, of which 0.5 credit must be selected from ARTH 5112, ARTH 5113, ARTH 5114, ARTH 5115, ARTH 5117, ARTH 5210, ARTH 5218, ARTH 5403, ARTH 5500. Students are normally required to take 1.0 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0.5 credit may be taken in Art History or, in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor. Out of the 2.0 credits taken, at least 0.5 must be in an area outside that of the student's research paper specialization.
- 1.0 credit in ARTH 5908 [1.0] Research Essay
Thesis Stream
- 1.0 credit in ARTH 5010 [1.0]
- 1.5 credits in Art History, of which 0. 5 credit must be selected from ARTH 5112, ARTH 5113, ARTH 5114, ARTH 5115, ARTH 5117, ARTH 5210, ARTH 5218, ARTH 5403, ARTH 5500. Students are normally required to take 0.5 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0. 5 credit may be taken in Art History or, in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor. Out of the 1. 5 credits taken, at least 0.5 credit must be in an area outside that of the student's thesis specialization.
- 1.5 credits in ARTH 5909 M. A. Thesis (with the approval of the graduate committee).
Language requirement: students are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of French (or another language to be approved by the Art History graduate supervisor).
- A maximum of 1.0 credit may be selected from course offerings at the 4000-level in Art History.
- To enter the thesis stream, students are required to notify the Graduate Supervisor of their intent at the beginning of their first term of study. The thesis (60-80 pages) is written under the supervision of a faculty member with both expertise and an interest in the student's topic. The Graduate Committee will determine whether a student is eligible to enter the thesis stream after one term of study in the case of full-time students and after two terms of study in the case of part-time students. For those students allowed into the thesis stream, the deadline for the submission of the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is normally no later than April 15 of the first year of study for students enrolled full-time, and no later than the middle of the fifth term of registration for students enrolled part-time.
