Graduate Field
History of Art, Archaeology, and Visual Studies
Program Description
Students choose a major concentration and two minor ones, one (in rare cases, both) of which may be in another field. The format of examinations in the major and minor concentrations is determined in consultation with each member of the Special Committee. Individual exams are followed by an oral exam with all members of the committee.
Research and study opportunities
The Fine Arts Library in Sibley Hall has extensive holdings in art and architectural history; Olin and Kroch Libraries have excellent resources in history, literature, and other related fields. Particularly notable are the special collections on Dante, Petrarch, witchcraft, the history of science, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is particularly strong in modern and Asian art. It also has a study collection in other fields, including a rich print collection. A study gallery and classroom in the museum make it a regular part of instruction.
The Department of History of Art has a collection of over 300,000 slides and a study collection of photographs of works of art.
The field sponsors a colloquium including graduate students in the field. Students are also encouraged to participate in one of many interdisciplinary groups in theory, medieval studies, the Renaissance colloquium, the Southeast Asia program, and others.
Students interested in the history of architecture and urban development may want to consider the Field of Architecture.
Concentrations
- American art
- Ancient art and archaeology
- Medieval art
- Modern art
- Asian art
- Baroque art
- Renaissance art
- Southeast Asian art
- Theory and criticism
- African, African American, and African Diaspora
- Asian American art
- Comparative modernities
- Contemporary art
- Digital art
- East Asian art
- History of photography
- Islamic art
- Latin American art
- Native American and Indigenous studies
- 19th century art
- South Asian art
- Visual studies
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
Program Requirements
- 12 courses for a letter grade and four semesters of teaching assistantships if the student does not have a fellowship
- 14 courses for a letter grade if the student has a fellowship
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 6
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Usually in sixth year
Course Requirements
Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below.
- ARTH 6000 Graduate Research Methods in Art History, taken in the first semester
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
