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Art and Art History

The School of Art and Art History provides a creative, multidisciplinary environment for students of the studio arts, the history of art, and art education. Established in 1936, the school is firmly grounded in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It encourages interaction among its diverse faculty as well as collaboration with related disciplines across campus.

Iowa's art and art history graduates enjoy success as practicing professional artists, professors of art history, teachers, museum directors and curators, theater designers, commercial designers, and art administrators.

During the 2009-10 academic year, courses originally scheduled in the Art Building and Art Building West are being held in other facilities, and the school's main office is located in Seashore Hall, close to the Pentacrest. Visit the School of Art and Art History web site and ISIS for information about studio, office, and classroom sites.

Studio Arts

The studio art program is based on the idea that the philosophical issues of society that are questioned and interpreted by artists are the basis for an artist's work. The diversity of concept and style among School of Art and Art History faculty members encourages students to seek and work toward a keen understanding of themselves as individuals capable of making their own personal statements as part of the philosophical continuum in art's history.

Studying the broad contexts in which art is made, understood, and used by society prepares studio art students to continue work in an academic setting as well as in museums, galleries, and a multiplicity of other venues. Graduate students are especially encouraged to examine the contexts of visual and verbal issues central to their own work and that of their contemporaries.

Undergraduate and graduate studio arts students may concentrate in ceramics, design, drawing, intermedia, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

Art History

Art history, a broad intellectual discipline, is central to the humanities. Diverse approaches characterize the school's art history faculty, who have interdisciplinary ties within and beyond the University. Their primary mission is to help students develop skills for exploring issues and problems central to the history of art as a whole as well as to its specialized areas. Because the major in art history stresses the development of critical visual thinking, it prepares students for graduate work in the history of art and for other professional fields as well.

Art Education

The Teacher Education Program in art prepares undergraduate and graduate students for licensure to teach art in grades K-12. Because teaching, like making art, is informed by experience, the art education area has established one of the nation's most extensive preservice teaching programs. Students conduct case studies of individuals making and responding to art, observe art classrooms, teach in a Saturday children's workshop, and participate in artist-in-residence programs in secondary schools. M.A. and Ph.D. students in art education draw on resources in American studies, anthropology, sociology, and the literature, science, and the arts program to prepare for positions as teachers in museums, colleges, or universities, or as art administrators.

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Art and Art History offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art, and a Bachelor of Arts in art history. All three degrees include an optional Teacher Education Program, in collaboration with the College of Education. The school also offers a minor in art and a minor in art history.

Bachelor of Arts in Art

The Bachelor of Arts in art requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 39 s.h. of work for the major. The program requires a foundation in art history as well as an understanding of the formal traditions and contemporary practices in art.

Undergraduate students concentrating in studio art begin in the program leading to the B.A. and pursue broad-based knowledge in at least four areas of studio art. Students who have proven ability may transfer into the B.F.A. program. Application for transfer to the B.F.A. normally is made early in the junior year. B.F.A. students may select an emphasis in ceramics, graphic design, three-dimensional (3-D) design, drawing, intermedia, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

B.A. students in art must earn at least 70 s.h. of credit in non-School of Art and Art History courses; they may count a maximum of 50 s.h. earned in courses offered by the school (art history, studio art, and art education combined) toward graduation. Cross-referenced courses offered by the school may not be counted as non-art electives. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

Teacher licensure requirements are the same for B.A. and B.F.A. students; see "B.A. or B.F.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)" below.

REQUIRED COURSE WORK

The major in art requires the following courses. Not all courses are offered every semester, including required courses. When making a study plan, students should consult with their advisors and ISIS to determine when specific courses will be offered.

Two art history courses chosen from these:

Two additional art history courses chosen from these:

Two foundational studio arts courses:

Two of these three-dimensional courses:  

Two of these two-dimensional courses:  

Electives chosen from School of Art and Art History courses must bring the total credit in art history, studio art, and art education to a minimum of 39 s.h.

Transfer Students

Transfer students majoring in art must complete a minimum of 12 s.h. in studio art at The University of Iowa. The studio hours must include work in at least two different studio areas.

Transfer students majoring in studio art must attend transfer portfolio review and show a portfolio of their art to faculty members, who determine students' placement in, or exemption from, the sequence of basic studio courses.

Study Abroad

Students who wish to study abroad must meet with the undergraduate advisor before they depart to review approval or pending approval of the studio art and art history courses they plan to take. Upon their return, they meet with the undergraduate advisor to determine which courses require portfolio review. Students may need to bring the original art work they completed during their study abroad back to campus for a portfolio review with a designated faculty member.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in art requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 62 s.h. of work for the major (art and art history courses). B.F.A. students may select an emphasis in ceramics, graphic design, three-dimensional (3-D) design, drawing, intermedia, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

Prospective B.F.A. students must apply to the program after completing at least two semesters of work in a studio concentration area but before completing 50 s.h. in art (normally early in the junior year). B.F.A. admission reviews are held once each semester. Students who wish to enter the B.F.A. program should consult the faculty in their studio concentration area for information about the required portfolio review.

B.F.A. students in art must earn at least 58 s.h. of credit in non-School of Art and Art History courses; they may count a maximum of 62 s.h. earned in courses offered by the school (art history, studio art, and art education combined) toward graduation. Cross-referenced courses offered by the school may not be counted as non-art electives. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

Teacher licensure requirements are the same for B.A. and B.F.A. students; see "B.A. or B.F.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)" below.

B.F.A. students must complete all courses required for B.A. students; see "Required Course Work" under "Bachelor of Arts in Art" above.

In addition, B.F.A. students must complete three courses in a studio concentration area beyond the introductory or beginning course, as well as one introductory course and one advanced course in each of two additional studio areas (minor concentration areas).

B.F.A. students in drawing and painting are required to take 01F:106 Undergraduate Seminar in Drawing and Painting in addition to the three required studio courses for the concentration area. This course work does not count toward the minor concentration areas.

B.F.A. students in painting are required to complete the following sequence: 

Students may enroll in other painting classes in addition to the above sequence.

B.F.A. students must present an exhibition of their studio work, preferably at the School of Art and Art History.

B.A. and B.F.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)

Students majoring in art who are interested in teaching in elementary or secondary schools may earn a B.A. or B.F.A. in art with K-12 teacher licensure through the Art Education Program. Art education requires a broad foundation in formation traditions of studio art, substantive knowledge in art history, and art teacher certification course work.

Applications for admission to the Art Education Program must be submitted to the Teacher Education Program in the College of Education, in care of the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services. Application deadlines are June 15 for fall admission, October 15 for spring admission, and March 15 for summer admission.

B.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)

The Bachelor of Arts with teacher licensure (art education) requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 42 s.h. of work for the major (art and art history courses). Art education students concentrate in studio art and pursue broad-based knowledge in at least four areas of studio art.

B.A. students in art education must earn at least 70 s.h. of credit in non-School of Art and Art History courses; they may count a maximum of 50 s.h. earned in courses offered by the school (art history, studio art, and art education combined) toward graduation. Cross-referenced courses offered by the school may not be counted as non-art electives. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

REQUIRED COURSE WORK

The major in art with teacher licensure (art education) requires the following course work.

Two art history courses chosen from these (preferably taken during the first or second year):  

Two additional art history courses: 

Two foundational studio courses: 

Three three-dimensional courses: 

Two of these two-dimensional courses: 

 
Electives chosen from School of Art and Art History courses must bring the total credit in art history, studio art, and art education to a minimum of 42 s.h. Students often select two additional studio courses in an emphasis area.

B.F.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts with teacher licensure (art education) requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 62 s.h. of work for the major (art and art history courses). Art education students concentrate in studio art and pursue broad-based knowledge in at least four areas of studio art. B.F.A. students may select an emphasis in ceramics, graphic design, three-dimensional (3-D) design, drawing, intermedia, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

B.F.A. students in art education typically complete an additional semester of course work.

Prospective B.F.A. students must apply to the program after completing at least two semesters of work in a studio concentration area but before completing 50 s.h. in art (normally early in the junior year). B.F.A. admission reviews are held once each semester. Students who wish to enter the B.F.A. program should consult the faculty in their studio concentration area for information about the required portfolio review.

B.F.A. students in art must earn at least 58 s.h. of credit in non-School of Art and Art History courses; they may count a maximum of 62 s.h. earned in courses offered by the school (art history, studio art, and art education combined) toward graduation. Cross-referenced courses offered by the school may not be counted as non-art electives. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

B.F.A. students must complete all courses required for B.A. students; see "Required Course Work" under "B.A. with Teacher Licensure (Art Education)" above.

In addition, B.F.A. students must complete three courses in a studio concentration area beyond the introductory or beginning course, as well as one introductory course and one advanced course in each of two additional studio areas (minor concentration areas).

B.F.A. students in drawing and painting are required to take 01F:106 Undergraduate Seminar in Drawing and Painting in addition to the three required studio courses for the concentration area. Papermaking, calligraphy, and bookbinding courses may not be used as major or minor areas.

Before they student teach, B.F.A. students must present an exhibition of their studio work, preferably at the School of Art and Art History.

Transfer Students

Transfer students majoring in art with art education must complete a minimum of 3 s.h. in art history and 12 s.h. in studio art at The University of Iowa. The studio art credit must include work in at least two different studio areas.

Undergraduate transfer students majoring in studio art must show a portfolio of their art to faculty members on the Friday before a fall or spring semester begins. The faculty members determine each student's placement in or exemption from the sequence of basic studio courses.

Bachelor of Arts in Art History

The Bachelor of Arts in art history requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 45 s.h. of work for the major. The history of art is engaged in problems of historical analysis and the interpretation of culture, so the program provides students with a broad background in the humanities consistent with a liberal arts and sciences education. The undergraduate degree program provides students with a strong liberal arts background and prepares them for competitive placement in graduate schools across the country.

As students progress through the program, they become familiar with historical relationships between art objects and society, learn techniques of formal analysis, study patterns of patronage, and absorb methods for interpreting the meaning of paintings, sculptures, and architecture. In the course of their studies, art history majors develop their research abilities and writing skills.

The major in art history requires at least 45 s.h. in art history and studio art courses. Students may count a maximum of 50 s.h. earned in School of Art and Art History courses (art history, studio art, and art education combined) toward graduation; they must earn at least 70 s.h. of credit toward the B.A. in non-School of Art and Art History courses. Exception: students working toward two majors, one in art history and one in studio art, and students earning a major in art history and a minor in studio art may count more than 50 s.h. earned in art history, studio art, and art education courses (combined) toward graduation; they must complete 56 s.h. of credit in non-School of Art and Art History courses in order to graduate with a major in art history.

Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

The major in art history requires the following courses.

All of these, taken before enrollment in courses 099 and above:

One of these: 

All of these: 

Required studio course:

Additional studio course--one of these: 

CREDIT IN DISCIPLINES OUTSIDE ART HISTORY

Art history students must take courses in at least three of the following disciplines, for a total of 12 s.h.: anthropology, classics, history, literature, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, or others. Courses must be approved by the student's faculty advisor.

Transfer Students

Transfer students planning to major in art history should meet with the undergraduate advisor to discuss the requirements they may fulfill with transfer courses. Art history transfer courses must be reviewed by the art history division head to determine the student's placement in or exemption from required art history courses.

Study Abroad

Students who wish to study abroad must meet with the undergraduate advisor and the head of art history before they depart to review approval of the art history courses they plan to take. Upon their return, they meet with the art history division head to review their art history course work and confirm the credit they have earned.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan.

B.A. in Art

Before the third semester begins: at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least four courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: at least eight courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least 11 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.F.A. in Art

Admission to the program leading to the B.F.A. in art is limited and depends on the department's evaluation of the student's work. In order to participate in the Four-Year Graduation Plan, students must be admitted to the degree program on schedule as determined by the art advisor.

Before the third semester begins: at least four courses in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least eight courses in the major, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: at least 14 courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least 18 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. in Art History

Before the third semester begins: at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least four courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: at least eight courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least 11 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

School of Art and Art History students who are members of the University of Iowa Honors Program may apply for honors in the art or art history major during the semester before graduation. In order to graduate with honors in art or art history, students must fulfill specific department requirements as described under "Honors in Art" and "Honors in Art History" below.

University of Iowa honors students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information about honors study at Iowa).

Honors in Art

Honors students majoring in art must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in the major. In order to earn a degree in art with honors, a student must complete an honors project supervised by a faculty member, prepare a statement of the sources of the studio work, and hold an exhibition of the honors project. The artist's statement can address the history of art, the history of ideas, or a personal philosophy and should be written under the supervision of faculty in the student's studio concentration area. Students must register for 01P:190 Honors in Studio Art (0-3 s.h.).

Honors in Art History

Honors students majoring in art history must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in the major. Students have two options for earning a degree in art history with honors.

Option 1: Students take two upper-division courses with honors designation and complete an extra project, such as an annotated bibliography, a supplemental paper or presentation, or a comparable project endorsed by the instructor. Then students enroll in a third upper-division course appropriate to their honors thesis topic and write the thesis (5,000 to 7,000 words) as part of the course, for an additional 1 s.h. Students register for 01H:190 Honors Research in Art History (arr.).

Option 2: Students research and write an honors thesis of 10,000 to 15,000 words under the direction of an art history faculty member, earning 3 s.h. They register for 01H:190 Honors Research in Art History (arr.). Students work with an art history faculty member as their honors thesis advisor. They must have the thesis advisor's approval before beginning work on their thesis project. The thesis should conform to the Graduate College format for theses; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College in the Graduate College section of the Catalog. The title page must follow the University of Iowa Honors Program format; consult the Honors Program.

Minor in Art

The minor in art requires a minimum of 16 s.h. in art courses, including at least 12 s.h. in courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. The minor must include 01A:003 Basic Drawing (or an equivalent), and 12 s.h. of studio art (one introductory course and one advanced course in each of two studio areas). Students may substitute one art history course for one of the advanced studio courses. Before registering for a course, students must satisfy all prerequisites for the course.

Courses in art education, bookbinding, calligraphy, graphic design, and papermaking, and courses with prefixes 01B and 01P do not count toward the minor in art.

Course work applied toward the minor in art may not be used to satisfy requirements for a major in art or in art history.

Minor in Art History

The minor in art history requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in art history courses, including 12 s.h. in advanced courses taken at The University of Iowa. For the minor, courses numbered 01H:021 Introduction to the Art of West Africa and above are considered advanced. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. The minor must include one survey-level course chosen from 01H:002 Arts of Africa, 01H:005 Western Art and Culture Before 1400, 01H:006 Western Art and Culture After 1400, or 01H:016 Asian Art and Culture. Before registering for a course, students must satisfy all prerequisites for the course.

Course work applied toward the minor in art history may not be used to satisfy requirements for a major in art or art history.

Graduate Programs

The School of Art and Art History offers a Master of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in art, and a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in art history. The Master of Arts in art includes an art education option. The school also collaborates with the College of Education to offer an art education subtrack in the Doctor of Philosophy in education.

Prospective and current graduate students are encouraged to consult the online Art and Art History Graduate Bulletin for detailed information about graduate study in art.

Master of Arts in Art

The Master of Arts in art requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of graduate credit. The degree is offered with or without thesis and with majors in ceramics, design, drawing, intermedia and video art, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

The required 38 s.h. includes at least 12 s.h. in a major studio area; 6 s.h. in a minor studio area from one of the M.A. majors that offer at least 21 s.h. in studio courses; 3 s.h. in the history and theory of art, excluding readings and directed studies; a drawing course taken at The University of Iowa; and 6 s.h. of courses outside art and art history.

M.A. students must hold a B.A. or B.F.A. in art equivalent to that offered by The University of Iowa. Undergraduate deficiencies, if any, may be made up concurrently with graduate study but do not count toward the graduate degree requirements.

All M.A. students undergo a division-wide review for M.A. candidacy by the faculty during the third semester in residence. They also must submit a written artist's statement.

M.A. students choose the thesis or nonthesis option in consultation with their area advisor. They may earn 1 s.h. for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for 01A:302 M.A. Written Thesis, with approval of the thesis supervisor. Thesis credit earned in an M.A. program is not applicable toward M.F.A. requirements.

For more detailed information, consult the Art and Art History Graduate Bulletin.

Master of Arts in Art, with Art Education

The Master of Arts in art, with art education, requires 38 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must earn 18 s.h. of studio art and art history in a ratio of two to one (either 12 s.h. of graduate credit in studio art and 6 s.h. in art history, or 6 s.h. in studio art and 12 s.h. in art history); 8 s.h. in graduate seminars in art education; and 12 s.h. to be specified after the student begins the program. The degree also requires a written thesis based on research in art education, creative scholarship, or art history.

M.A. students must hold a B.A. or B.F.A. in art equivalent to that offered by The University of Iowa. They also must hold teaching licensure/certification in art. See "Admission" later in this Catalog section.

Art education majors may elect to take art history courses on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.

Master of Fine Arts in Art

The Master of Fine Arts in art requires a minimum of 60 s.h. of graduate credit. The degree is offered with thesis and with majors in ceramics, design, drawing, intermedia and video art, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. Following completion of the M.A., students may be invited into the M.F.A. Program.

The required 60 s.h. includes at least 18 s.h. in a major studio subject; at least 9 s.h. in a minor studio field selected from the fields listed above; 6 s.h. in art history and theory of art; 6 s.h. in courses originating outside the school; and a drawing course at The University of Iowa (if not already taken).

M.F.A. students must hold an M.A. in art equivalent to that offered by The University of Iowa. Transfer credit is decided by faculty review.

All students must undergo an M.F.A. committee review. They also must complete a written theses and possibly a studio thesis.

M.F.A. students may earn 1 s.h. for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for 01A:304 M.F.A. Written Thesis, with approval of the thesis supervisor. Thesis credit earned in an M.A. program is not applicable toward M.F.A. requirements.

Master of Arts in Art History

The Master of Arts in art history requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit and is offered with thesis. M.A. students are expected to acquire a broad knowledge of art history and to become familiar with major periods and monuments of world art. They also become proficient scholars, receiving training in research methods and theory necessary for subsequent scholarship at the Ph.D. level.

M.A. students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.50. Only one semester of academic probation is allowed. All M.A. candidates, including transfer students, must take at least 24 s.h. in residence at The University of Iowa.

M.A. students in art history must earn a grade of B or higher in semester-long courses (100-level or above) in five of the following 10 distribution fields: African (including Oceanic), architecture, Asian, ancient (3000 B.C.E.-300 C.E.), medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, 18th- and 19th-century European, American (including pre-Columbian, Native American, and African American), and modern/contemporary. These courses must be taken after the B.A. is granted.

M.A. students must complete a substantial thesis that demonstrates their ability to conduct scholarly research and convey ideas in writing appropriately for the discipline and for the student's specialization field.

REQUIRED COURSES

M.A. students in art history must satisfactorily complete 01H:200 History and Methods (3 s.h.) during their first fall semester of enrollment and must register for an art history seminar in their first, second, and third semesters of enrollment. They also must satisfactorily complete 01H:210 Art History Colloquium (1 s.h.) every semester that they are enrolled for 9 s.h. or more; students who register for less than 9 s.h. are strongly encouraged to attend the colloquium, as well.

Courses outside the curriculum of the School of Art and Art History's art history division do not carry art history credit. Cross-referenced courses not taught by art history faculty members also do not carry art history credit.

DIRECTED STUDIES

Directed Studies (01H:300) is designed for graduate students who already have taken one or more advanced courses in a specific art history field. It provides students with an opportunity to work one-to-one with a professor to continue specific research interests developed in lecture courses or seminars, or on topics that eventually may be the subject of a thesis or dissertation. Directed Studies cannot be substituted for a lecture course already offered in the program. Students must discuss their decision to take Directed Studies with the professor involved and have the professor's approval. The Directed Studies topic must be within the professor's range of expertise.

Students meet with their Directed Studies professor once a week. The hours of work and written assignments required for Directed Studies must be equal to a comparable regularly scheduled course. Directed Studies is not available through Guided Correspondence Study.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

M.A. students must demonstrate proficiency in French or German by the end of their third semester. Proficiency is determined by a translation exam administered under the direction of the art history division. Credit earned in language courses does not count toward the degree.

M.A. COMMITTEE

The M.A. committee consists of the student's M.A. thesis advisor and two additional tenured or tenure-track faculty members in art history.

M.A. THESIS

M.A. students must complete a written thesis on a topic chosen from one of the 10 distribution fields (see "Master of Arts in Art History" above). Students register for 01H:302 M.A. Written Thesis and may count 3 s.h. of thesis credit toward graduation. Students choose an M.A. thesis advisor who specializes in their concentration field. Students who wish to concentrate in more than one field must work closely with faculty members in both fields.

FINAL EXAMINATION

The final examination constitutes an oral defense of the written M.A. thesis. The final examination meeting with the M.A. committee normally takes place toward the end of the student's last semester of course work.

Doctor of Philosophy in Art History

The Doctor of Philosophy in art history requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Ph.D. students are expected to acquire great breadth and depth of knowledge in the discipline of art history, achieve a high level of expertise in a specialized field, and demonstrate professional speaking and writing skills. The program provides them with scholarly challenges, research skills, and mentoring necessary for professional development and successful careers.

Ph.D. students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.50. They may count a maximum of 38 s.h. of work completed for the M.A. toward the Ph.D. Students are allowed only one semester of academic probation.

To establish academic residency, doctoral students must be enrolled full-time (at least 9 s.h.) at The University of Iowa for two semesters beyond their first 24 s.h. of graduate study; or they must enroll for at least 6 s.h. in each of three semesters during which they hold an assistantship of one-quarter-time or more. Resident tuition is assessed for assistantship semesters and adjacent summer sessions.

Ph.D. students major in one of the following 10 distribution fields: African (including Oceanic), architecture, Asian, ancient (3000 B.C.E.-300 C.E.), medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, 18th- and 19th-century European, American (including pre-Columbian, Native American, and African American), and modern/contemporary. Students also minor in two fields. The first minor must be in an art history distribution field that is not contiguous with the major field; the second may be in any art history distribution field or in a relevant discipline outside of art history, subject to the faculty's approval.

Ph.D. students must complete a publishable dissertation that makes an original contribution to the art history discipline and demonstrates evidence of superior understanding of critical issues in the student's chosen specialization field.

For more detailed information, consult the Art and Art History Graduate Bulletin.

REQUIRED COURSES

Ph.D. students must satisfactorily complete 01H:200 History and Methods (3 s.h.), even if they have completed a similar course at another institution (students who have completed the course for a master's degree or other previous work at Iowa are exempt). They must register for an art history seminar in their first three semesters of Ph.D. course work (or in their fifth, sixth, and seventh semesters of graduate study), before the Ph.D. readings course and comprehensive exam. They also must satisfactorily complete 01H:210 Art History Colloquium (1 s.h.) every semester that they are enrolled for 9 s.h. or more; students who register for less than 9 s.h. are strongly encouraged to attend the colloquium, as well.

Up to 6 s.h. of credit for dissertation research may be applied toward the 72 s.h. required for the degree. Courses outside the curriculum of the School of Art and Art History's art history division do not carry art history credit.

DIRECTED STUDIES

Normally, a maximum of 6 s.h. earned in 01H:300 Directed Studies may be applied toward the semester-hour requirement for the Ph.D., although doctoral students may petition the art history faculty for permission to apply up to 9 s.h.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Students must demonstrate proficiency in French or German for admission to the Ph.D. program. They also must demonstrate proficiency in a second non-English language relevant to their research area by the end of their third semester of Ph.D. work or before their dissertation topic is approved. Proficiency is determined by a translation exam administered under the direction of the art history division. Credit earned in language courses does not count toward the degree.

PH.D. COMMITTEE

The Ph.D. committee consists of the student's faculty mentor, who is responsible for the major field, two members responsible for the two minor fields, and at least two additional members. Of these five, four must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members from the art history division. One must be from outside the division and must be a member of the Graduate College faculty. When appropriate, committees may include additional members.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Upon completion of course requirements, the Ph.D. candidate takes three written comprehensive examinations. The major exam consists of six questions and lasts six hours; the two minor exams each consist of three questions and last three hours. The exams normally are taken on two consecutive days.

The scope of the comprehensive exams is determined in consultation with the candidate's degree committee supervisor and the committee members responsible for the two minor fields.

ORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Within approximately one month of completing the three written exams, the candidate meets with his or her degree committee for the oral comprehensive examination, which concentrates on questions that arise from the written comprehensive exams.

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

As soon as possible after completing the comprehensive examinations, the candidate submits a dissertation proposal to his or her degree committee supervisor and subsequently to the degree committee. The committee meets as a group with the candidate to discuss the dissertation proposal and to offer comments and suggestions. (The proposal must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before the approval meeting.) The proposal includes a 1-2 page abstract, a 10-15 page précis (including a review of the state of the field), and a bibliography.

After the proposal has been approved by the committee, the candidate circulates an abstract to the entire art history faculty. He or she must give a public presentation on the dissertation topic no later than the end of the semester following the degree committee's approval. The presentation is scheduled with the head of art history.

FINAL EXAMINATION

The completion of a written dissertation, which constitutes an original scholarly contribution to the field, and the successful completion of the final examination (the oral defense) of this dissertation fulfill the Ph.D. requirements.

Ph.D. in Education, with Art Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in education, with art education, requires a minimum of 60 s.h. of graduate credit beyond the master's degree. The program gives college teachers and researchers in art education and art supervisors in state departments of education and school systems an opportunity to continue their inquiry and creative work in art history and in studio art.

The program is administered by the College of Education, in cooperation with the School of Art and Art History. Students must apply for admission to the College of Education. Graduates are granted a Doctor of Philosophy in education, with art education subtrack.

The curriculum must be planned with the advisor and must include at least 15 s.h. in the School of Art and Art History, 15 s.h. in art education graduate seminars, 15 s.h. in a related area (e.g., aesthetics, anthropology, higher education, psychology, sociology), and 15 s.h. in thesis and tool courses.

Students must take both oral and written comprehensive examinations. The written examination consists of an in-depth research problem to be completed within 14 days, after which an oral examination on the project is held. The research problem is assigned by the examining committee, and the written portion of the examination is not intended to relate directly to the student's dissertation proposal.

Students also must complete a written dissertation for at least 12 s.h. of credit and are expected to prepare a dissertation proposal and defend it before the dissertation committee. An oral examination on the dissertation is the Ph.D. final examination.

Admission

Prospective graduate students must meet the School of Art and Art History's admission requirements for the specific degree programs they plan to enter. Prospective students must submit application materials to the University's Office of Graduate Admissions and to the specific program they wish to enter. Program-specific application requirements and deadline dates are listed in the appropriate sections below.

All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Applicants to all art and art history graduate programs must submit the following to the University's Office of Graduate Admissions: a completed graduate application form (one area of interest must be specified on the form); an official copy of all transcripts of undergraduate and/or graduate work completed by the application date; TOEFL scores (if applicable); and the required application fee. Art history applicants also must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

Applicants whose first or official language is not English and whose previous academic degrees were not earned at an English-language institution must score as follows on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): for studio art applicants, at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 81 (Internet-based); for art history applicants, at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based).

Deadline dates for submission of materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions are December 15 for art history programs, and February 1 for studio art programs and art education programs; all are for fall admission.

The Office of Graduate Admissions notifies all applicants by mail of admission decisions. Acceptance notification cannot be given over the phone by either the admissions office or the School of Art and Art History.

M.A. and M.F.A. in Art

Applications to the M.A. and M.F.A. programs in studio art, with all supporting materials and requests for financial aid, must be received at the School of Art and Art History and the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 1 for fall admission.

In addition to materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (see "Admission" above), applicants must submit the following materials to the graduate secretary at the School of Art and Art History: a one-page statement of purpose, official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work completed by the application date, three letters of recommendation assessing potential as a graduate student, application for graduate awards (if desired), and application for graduate scholarships and fellowships (if desired). They also must submit one of the following portfolios (portfolios are returned by mail only to applicants who supply return postage.).

Note: CDs should contain 10-20 images measuring 5x7 inches, maximum of 150 DPI, as PDF or PowerPoint files.

Ceramics, design, intermedia and video art, jewelry and metal arts, or painting: 8 slides, CDs, and/or photos of work in the major area; and 2 slides, CDs, or photos of work in a second studio area; CDs or DVDs may be submitted for intermedia.

Drawing: 8 slides, a CD, or photos of drawings, including figure drawings; and 2 slides, CDs, or photos of work in a second studio area.

Photography: 20 images of major field of work on slides, in prints, or on a CD; and 2-3 images in a second area on slides, in photos, or on a CD.

Printmaking: 10-20 images on a CD, or slides with a selection of 4-6 original printed works, sent in a returnable portfolio.

Sculpture: a selection of 20 slides or a CD with at least 10 sculptures or installations (multiview) and a slide of at least two drawings; for kinetic sculptures, a DVD.

Each slide must be enclosed in a slide sheet and labeled with the name, title, portfolio medium, size, and approximate date of work; the top should be indicated. An inventory list with the same information should be included. Extreme care is taken in handling all portfolios, but the school cannot be responsible for reimbursement in the event of loss or damage.

Applications and all supporting materials are reviewed by a committee of art and art history faculty from the appropriate area.

M.A. in Art History

Applications to the M.A. program in art history, with all supporting materials and requests for financial aid, must be received at the School of Art and Art History and the Office of Graduate Admissions by December 15 for fall admission in the following year.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree, preferably in art history or a related field.

Although exceptions may be made when other components of the application are strong, applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1200 and an analytical writing score of at least 5 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test; and an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.25 on a 4.00 scale.

In addition to materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (see "Admission" above), the following materials must be submitted to the graduate secretary at the School of Art and Art History: transcripts from all colleges and universities the applicant has attended; three letters of recommendation assessing the applicant's potential for graduate study in art history (sent by the person making the recommendation); and a research paper (preferably from an art history course) or undergraduate thesis that demonstrates the applicant's potential to undertake research in art history.

Applicants also must submit a 1,000-word personal statement describing their intellectual development, academic interests, and career goals; the statement must name the University of Iowa faculty member under whose guidance the applicant hopes to work and tell how that faculty member's area of expertise, or how the art history program, is especially suited to the applicant's interests and goals.

Applicants to graduate programs in art history should consult the Art and Art History Graduate Bulletin on the School of Art and Art History web site.

Ph.D. in Art History

Applications to the Ph.D. program in art history, with all supporting materials and requests for financial aid, must be received at the School of Art and Art History and the Office of Graduate Admissions by December 15 for fall admission in the following year.

Applicants must hold an M.A. in art history or a related graduate degree and must be able to demonstrate proficiency in French and German. Proficiency in a second non-English language relevant to the student's research area is required by the end of the third semester of Ph.D. work; see "Language Requirement" under "Doctor of Philosophy in Art History" above.

Although exceptions may be made when other components of the application are strong, applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1200 and an analytic writing score of at least 5 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test; and a graduate g.p.a. of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale.

Students who completed an M.A. at The University of Iowa and who wish to apply for entrance into the Ph.D. program must make a formal application to the program. Applications are evaluated in the context of the entire applicant pool.

In addition to materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (see "Admission" above), the following materials must be submitted to the graduate secretary at the School of Art and Art History: transcripts from all colleges and universities the applicant has attended; three letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant's M.A. thesis supervisor, assessing the applicant's potential for doctoral study in art history (sent by the person making the recommendation); and a copy of an M.A. thesis or other substantial M.A. research paper.

Applicants also must submit a 1,000-word personal statement describing their purpose in pursuing graduate studies and their intellectual development, academic interests, and career goals; the statement must name the University of Iowa faculty member under whose guidance the applicant hopes to work and how that faculty member's area of expertise, or the art history program, is especially suited to the applicant's interests and goals.

Applicants to graduate programs in art history should consult the Art and Art History Graduate Bulletin on the School of Art and Art History web site.

M.A. in Art Education

Applications to the M.A. program in art education, with all supporting materials and requests for financial aid, must be received at the School of Art and Art History and the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 1 for fall admission.

Applicants to the M.A. program must hold a B.A. or B.F.A. in art equivalent to that offered by The University of Iowa. They also must hold teaching licensure/certification in art.

Applicants with course work deficiencies are required to remedy the deficiencies by taking appropriate courses.

In addition to materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (see "Admission" above), M.A. applicants must submit the following materials to the graduate secretary at the School of Art and Art History: a term paper or other example of ability to write in the field; a selection of slides or photographs of their creative work in two studio areas; three letters of recommendation assessing their potential for graduate study; and a one-page personal statement describing their purpose for pursuing graduate study.

Ph.D. in Art Education

Applications to the Ph.D. program in art education, with all supporting materials and requests for financial aid, must be received at the College of Education and the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 1 for fall admission.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must hold an M.A. in art education from The University of Iowa or an equivalent degree from an accredited college or university. They also must have completed one year of successful teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school.

Applicants with course work deficiencies are required to remedy the deficiencies by taking appropriate courses.

In addition to materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (see "Admission" above), Ph.D. applicants must submit the following materials to the Art Education Office: a portfolio consisting of 12 colored slide reproductions of their art work and two examples of their written work, which may be new or previous work.

Financial Support

Fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and tuition scholarships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of artistic and/or scholarly record.

In the studio programs, financial aid to new students is possible, but most assistantships and scholarships are awarded to graduate students who have been in residence for at least a year. This gives faculty members an opportunity to observe their performance and potential.

Presidential Graduate Fellowships

The Graduate College awards Presidential Graduate Fellowships on the basis of a University-wide competition among incoming Ph.D. students. For information about the fellowships, including nomination and selection criteria and stipends, see Presidential Graduate Fellowship on the Graduate College web site.

Dean's Graduate Fellowships

The Graduate College awards Dean's Graduate Fellowships on the basis of a University-wide competition among graduate students. Criteria for the fellowships are similar to those for the Presidential Graduate Fellowship but are designed to support incoming students who are underrepresented in graduate education. For more information, see Dean's Graduate Fellowship on the Graduate College web site.

Teaching and Research Assistantships

Assistantships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of academic record, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores, promise as scholars or artists, and demonstrated ability to do the job. Quality of performance in one's graduate program at Iowa is generally the major criterion for awarding teaching assistantships. The number of hours of work required depends on the amount of the award.

Scholarships and Fellowships

The School of Art and Art History offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships made possible by contributions from alumni who wish to support promising artists and scholars. These awards are made on the same basis as teaching and research assistantships.

Information and application materials for graduate scholarships and fellowships are included in the admissions package. They also are available from the School of Art and Art History main office in Seashore Hall.

Renewal or reappointment for fellowships and assistantships depends on adequate progress toward the degree (graduate students must accumulate at least 18 s.h. of graduate credit each calendar year and maintain a grade-point average above the required minimum) and satisfactory performance of assistantship duties.

Decisions on assistantships and financial aid generally are made during the latter part of the spring semester for the following academic year. Applications and all relevant materials should be on file by February 1. Applicants should verify the submission date; consult the school's main office.

Student Organizations

The undergraduate Art History Club and the graduate Art History Society sponsor activities for students. The Faculty/Graduate Student Art History Colloquium meets five times each semester to focus on professional development and issues of broad interest in art.

Resources and Facilities

Reference Collections

The art library contains 100,000 volumes, an outstanding periodical collection, and an extensive microfilm and microfiche archive.

The school's Office of Visual Materials contains 350,000 slides, 30,000 photographs, a videotape library, and a rapidly growing database that currently contains more than 125,000 digital images.

Museum of Art

The University of Iowa Museum of Art has a significant permanent collection that includes major holdings of 20th century and contemporary art, African and pre-Columbian art, English and American silver, European and American prints, drawings and photographs, and Etruscan, Iranian, and contemporary American ceramics. As well as serving as a resource for research in a wide variety of art history areas, the museum offers a program of exhibitions, lectures, and recitals.

Due to the Iowa River flooding of summer 2008, the museum's collections are being displayed and its events are being held in a variety of other facilities. Learn about current exhibitions and events, and their locations, by visiting the Museum of Art web site.

Interdisciplinary Resources

Colloquia, visiting artists and lecturer programs, and graduate workshops bring visitors to the school and provide open forums for discussion of issues in art and scholarship.

Among the school's major assets is the Project for the Advanced Study of Art and Life in Africa (PASALA), an interdisciplinary program that brings together faculty with international reputations in art history, anthropology, films, history, and literature to offer courses and independent study of art in West, Central, East, and South Africa. The result is a program of unusual breadth and depth of expertise. PASALA is among the most active of such programs in the country, organizing international symposia that discuss significant topical issues and publishing the proceedings in regular issues of Iowa Studies in African Art. PASALA offers scholarships and support for research in Africa and dissertation preparation to outstanding students. A major resource for PASALA is the Stanley Collection of African Art in The University of Iowa Museum of Art.

Art history participates in a collegewide program called Crossing Borders, which offers major financial support to designated graduate student fellows whose dissertation topics involve multiple foreign language areas. Fellows take team-taught seminars in a range of disciplines, with focus on interactions across cultural, regional, or national divides. They help plan an annual convocation, at which they and invited lecturers present their research.

The school also maintains an affiliation with the University's Department of American Studies, providing students with opportunities to study not only the history of American art but a variety of interdisciplinary programs in American history, literature, and politics.

Art Buildings

The School of Art and Art History's permanent facilities are temporarily closed while The University of Iowa renovates and rebuilds its arts campus in the wake of flooding on the Iowa River during summer 2008. The school's main office currently is located in Seashore Hall on the University's central campus, and classrooms and studio arts facilities are housed in a variety of locations. Visit the School of Art and Art History web site and ISIS for information about studio, office, and classroom sites.

The school's newest building and administrative center, Art Building West, opened in 2006. The building contains art history classrooms, the visual resources office, a gallery, a café, the Art Library, an auditorium, a media theater, a computer laboratory, and studios for graphic design, painting, and digital photography. Designed by architect Steven Holl, Art Building West has won numerous awards for its innovative design, including the 2007 American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture.