Diversity Statement (Art History)
We are committed to a multicultural academic environment which supports the success of all graduate students.
About
The Art History M.A. is a two-year program. Our courses are taught by a dynamic faculty of internationally recognized scholars. Seminars are small and hands-on learning is encouraged, and there are abundant opportunities to conduct interdisciplinary research in conjunction with other programs. Students have opportunities to teach, conduct research for credit, hold internships for credit, and engage with arts communities on campus and in the region as part of their studies. Access to important museums and a world-class library create a stimulating setting for learning.
Students study the theory and the methodology of art historical research and writing, explore a broad range of specialized fields based on their scholarly interests, and conduct independent research. Multiple opportunities for language training, advanced research, and for collaboration with campus museums and galleries exist. After completing the M.A., our students work in nationally significant museums, galleries, and arts institutions, pursue doctoral work at prestigious universities in the United States and abroad, or teach at community college.
Our Culture
The master’s in art history at UC Davis offers an international approach to Art History, one that balances the discipline’s traditional Western focus with plentiful courses in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American art. We seek to provide students with knowledge of art’s significance in diverse global settings, as well as to develop the critical and intellectual skills necessary to pursue careers or further education in the arts.
Why Art History at UC Davis?
UC Davis offers a rich environment for studying the arts. The campus is ethnically diverse, with especially strong representation from Latinx and Asian American communities. Art History students have opportunities to intern, work, or study in three campus museums:
- the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art,
- the C. N. Gorman Museum of Native American Art,
- and the UC Davis Design Museum.
In nearby Sacramento is the Crocker Museum of Art, which has one of the strongest collections of Northern California art in the nation, including many works by UC Davis professors and alumni. The Sacramento region is home to a number of art centers and commercial galleries, many with connections to UC Davis.
World-class arts institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area are easily accessible, including the
- Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the DeYoung Museum and Legion of Honor),
- the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
- the Museum of the African Diaspora,
- the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and many other art centers and galleries.
Davis is also home to a thriving gallery scene, part of its classic college town ambience. And for downtime, UC Davis is not far from Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, the California coast, and wine country in every direction, all ready for exploration.
Funding
The M.A. program at UC Davis is exceptional in that all students are generously funded. Most of our students graduate with no additional debt incurred while at UC Davis.
Financial Aid and Scholarships / Costs
Requirements
Prospective graduate students are encouraged to direct their questions to our graduate advisor, Rachelle Agundes.
Expected Degree Progress
For First-year Students
- Satisfy the sequence of the two methods courses in first and second quarters (200A in fall, 200B in winter).
- Satisfy any outstanding prerequisites and distribution requirements as early as possible; ideally, have these completed by the end of the first year.
- Aim to take the minimum 3 topical seminars during your first year. Consider these seminars as providing the basis of your thesis paper, as you will select one of these to develop into your M.A. Thesis.
- Research papers written for Independent Study Courses (AHI 299) may also be considered as the basis for the M.A. Thesis.
- Endeavor to complete coursework on time and to satisfy Incompletes within the first weeks of the following quarter.
For Second-year Students
Specific thesis advancement is required for satisfactory progress throughout the second year. Students are responsible for reporting progress to the Graduate Adviser as indicated.
- By end of fall quarter classes—select principal adviser to serve as thesis committee chair and two additional committee members; inform Graduate Adviser of their committee selection; students circulate thesis proposals to their committees.
- No later than beginning of exam week fall quarter—meet with committee to discuss the thesis proposal and distribute a report of the suggestions made at the meeting to committee members (with electronic copy to Graduate Adviser).
- By second week of winter quarter—submit paper to be developed as thesis to committee chair (with electronic copy to Graduate Adviser). Revise in Thesis Colloquium (AHI 200C) and in independent study with committee chair (AHI 299).
- Two weeks before the last Friday in January—submit completed candidacy forms to department office.
- No later than beginning of exam week winter quarter—submit revision of thesis to committee chair (with electronic copy to Graduate Adviser). Obtain committee chair’s comments and determine whether the next draft can be circulated to the committee.
- For a June degree, Graduate Studies recommends circulating completed draft of thesis to committee for final corrections by April 20 (six weeks before the submission deadline). For completion by June 30, submit corrected draft to committee no later than six weeks prior to that date, May 15.
- In seventh and eighth week of spring quarter, prepare for oral presentations, delivered on Friday in ninth week of quarter.
- The deadline to submit thesis to Graduate Studies for June degree is usually the first Tuesday in June. Consult Graduate Studies website for exact date.
- No later than end of spring quarter exam week—all students still working on thesis begin circulating the completed draft of thesis to committee for final corrections (with electronic copy and routing plan to Graduate Adviser).
- Inform thesis committee chair and Graduate Adviser when final thesis is submitted. Submit one unbound photocopy of submitted thesis to Visual Resources Library.
Art History M.A. Handbook
The Art History M.A. Handbook presents information and tools necessary for student’s successful completion of the program.