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Program Description
The Institute of Fine Arts is dedicated to graduate teaching and advanced research in the history of art and archeology and in the conservation and technology of works of art. The Institute strives to give its students not only a sound knowledge in the history of art, but also a foundation in research, connoisseurship, and theory as a basis for independent critical judgment and research. The student following the PhD course of study gains a deeper understanding of a subject area, beyond what is normally acquired at the master’s level and develops a capacity for independent scholarship.
The PhD Program at the Institute of Fine Arts is a course of study designed for the person who wants to investigate the role of the visual arts in culture through detailed, object-based examination as well as historical and theoretical interpretation. The degree program provides a focused and rigorous experience supported by interaction with the leading scholars of the Institute, and access to New York area museums, curators, conservators, archaeological sites and NYU’s global network.
Archaeological Excavations
At present the Institute conducts five active excavations in cooperation with the Faculty of Arts and Science: at Abydos, Egypt; at Aphrodisias, Turkey; at Sanam, Sudan; at Selinunte, Sicily; and at Samothrace, Greece. Advanced students are invited to participate in these excavations and may be supported financially by the Institute.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Fine Arts for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 72 credits, as follows:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| 1 | 24 |
| 2 | 4 |
| | 44 |
| Total Credits | 72 |
Additional Program Requirements
Language Requirement
Students are required to pass examinations in two modern languages relevant to their area of specialization, and are expected to learn other languages that will equip them for advanced research in their chosen fields.
Qualifying Paper
The Qualifying Paper may be developed from seminar work or might be on a topic devised in consultation with the student’s advisor. Normally, the student will be advised to produce a detailed study on a subject that leads towards the dissertation. It should be no longer than 10,000 words (excluding bibliography and footnotes). Students who already hold an MA may submit their MA thesis in lieu of the Qualifying Paper.
Major Exam
Following the completion of their coursework, PhD students are examined on a major field consisting of two contiguous areas and on a third minor area, which can be in a related field or provide skills necessary for their dissertation. Students should consult their advisor in selecting the two additional examiners and the fields for examination. It is the responsibility of the advisor to invite examiners and to inform any outside examiners about Institute procedures. Students should work closely with each of their examiners to determine appropriate bibliographies.
The purposes of the major examination are to ensure that students develop a comprehensive understanding of their chosen field of study in both breadth and depth, that they can draw independent conclusions based on the study of objects and on written scholarship, and that they are able to effectively communicate these conclusions to an academic audience. The major examination is separate and distinct from the presentation of the dissertation prospectus. Students should allow at least one semester (15 weeks) of preparation for the oral examination. The committee will submit three essay questions to the Academic Office immediately following the oral examination. Within 30 days of the oral examination, the student must pick up the written component, the "Two Week paper." For the "Two Week Paper," the student chooses one topic out of the three given by the examiners. The paper must be submitted two weeks after picking up the prompts from the Academic Office.
In order for the candidate to continue to the dissertation, the advisor and the two other examiners must pass both the oral and written components of the examination. If the candidate does not pass either part of the exam, the candidate is allowed one more attempt. Failure to pass both parts of the second major examination will result in termination from the program.
Dissertation Proposal
The proposal must be presented to a dissertation committee no later than six months after passing the major examinations. Students will discuss potential dissertation topics with their supervisor, who will form a dissertation committee of three faculty members (the supervisor and two others). The proposal will be distributed to the committee members in advance of a proposal presentation.
The proposal presentation provides a forum for the committee and the student to discuss intellectual and methodological aspects of the dissertation and to formulate research plans. Immediately following the presentation, the committee will determine if the proposal has passed or if it is in need of revision. The final, approved proposal will be distributed at the next full faculty meeting for further comment. The written proposal consists of:
-
A narrative exposition of the dissertation subject detailing the state of current scholarship as well as the student’s own research aims. The proposal should demonstrate the viability of the project and should clearly set forth the research questions to be addressed with direct reference to sources and contexts. The narrative should not exceed 2500 words (approximately 8-10 pages). Arguments should be properly footnoted;
-
A chapter outline that is no more than one page;
-
A bibliography of principle references, divided as appropriate into separate archival and primary source sections;
-
Up to five images
Dissertation
The dissertation may contain no more than 250 pages of text. Permission to exceed this limit can be granted only through petition to the faculty by way of the Director of Graduate Studies. Each doctoral candidate submits to a final oral defense of the dissertation before a committee of five scholars.
Departmental Approval
All Graduate School of Arts and Science doctoral candidates must be approved for graduation by their department for the degree to be awarded.
Course Definitions and Requirements
Proseminar
The purpose of the Proseminar is to introduce students in the doctoral program to advanced research methods in the history of art. Because it is a dedicated course for the entering PhD student, it will serve to consolidate the cohort. It is taken during the first semester and is taught by a rotation of the Institute faculty, with a different faculty member chosen each year. Emphasis is placed on the specific practices of art-historical analysis in relation to visual and textual interpretation. The contents of the seminar vary each year according to the research interests of the chosen instructor. The class is structured around specific problems in the history of art rather than broad conceptual paradigms, with an emphasis on historical interpretation.
Colloquium
A colloquium provides an analysis or overview of the state of the literature on a given art historical topic or problem, with extensive reading, discussion, and presentations. There may be a final paper.
Seminar
A seminar is a focused advanced course that explores a topic in depth. Seminars are often based on an exhibition in the New York area. Students are expected to produce a substantive paper that demonstrates original research.
Lecture
Lecture courses explore topics or historical periods, giving overviews of major issues as well as detailed analysis of specific problems and works of art. Students are responsible for assigned and recommended reading, and may produce short papers and/or take an exam.
Sample Plan of Study
Plan of Study Grid
| 1st Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 2nd Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 3rd Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 4th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 5th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 6th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| |
4 |
| | Credits | 8 |
| 7th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
4 |
| | Credits | 4 |
| | Total Credits | 72 |
Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GA 4747) course. All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the skills and abilities to:
- Critically investigate the role of the visual arts in culture through object-based examination as well as historical and theoretical interpretation.
- Effectively communicate original, independent research and interpretations of secondary material through written and oral presentation.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of critical issues in the field of art history or archaeology through written and oral examinations in a defined field.
- Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding and interpretation of one topic in art history through substantial original research presented in the form of a dissertation.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.