The UCLA Department of Art History offers a two-stage graduate program toward the PhD. Students are not admitted for a terminal master’s (MA) degree. The MA is awarded in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD and is granted with the successful completion of the first stage of the program, typically at the end of the second year, 6th quarter, in residence. Normative time to degree for the PhD is seven years from the term of admission. For students entering with a MA in hand, the normative time to degree is five years from the term of admission.
All students are required to complete the M.A. requirements in the department. The Graduate Review Committee may waive the M.A. requirements, at the time of admission, for students matriculating with a M.A. degree in Art History or adjacent discipline from another institution. Following Academic Senate policy on duplication of degrees, a student who enters the program with a M.A. degree in Art History from another institution is not eligible to receive a second M.A. degree in Art History from UCLA.
Advising
- The student is assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to the program. Each advisor is responsible for the student’s course of study and academic progress and must be consulted at least once each quarter. A change of advisor(s) and/or change in field(s) must be approved by the Graduate Review Committee.
- The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) offers intellectual guidance, approves any exceptions to the program requirements, and adjudicates disputes between a student and his/her advisor. The DGS further serves as Chair of the Graduate Review Committee, which governs the admissions process.
- The Student Affairs Officer (SAO) assists students with all the administrative aspects of moving through the program.
- Each spring quarter, the entire faculty reviews the status of each graduate student to ensure appropriate time-to-degree progress.
- Following this review, every student receives a formal written letter with the faculty evaluation.