Priority Deadline is December 15
Rolling deadline is June 1 if space is available.
- To be considered for financial support, applications must be submitted by December 15.
- Students are admitted fall quarter only.
- As it generally takes several weeks to complete an application, it is strongly recommended that applicants prepare their materials early to ensure completion by the deadline.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the M. A. requires a Statement of Purpose, a Personal History statement, three letters of recommendation, submission of a research paper as a writing sample, official transcripts, TOEFL score of 90 or above (26 in speaking) or IELTS score (minimum of 8), and a Graduate Studies online application with fee by the stated admission deadline. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with potential research advisors (major professors) prior to admission to the program. The GRE is not required for admission to the program.
Prerequisites
Four courses in art history or related fields, at least two of which must be upper division. Related fields include architectural history, visual and material culture/studies, museum studies, landscape architectural history, design history, and film and media studies. These courses should have prepared the candidate in visual literacy and the capacity to formulate rigorous intellectual questions within the discipline of art history. Applicants who do not yet meet the four-course requirement are still welcome to apply. If admitted, however, they must complete the required coursework before the start of the program.
Deficiencies
Students who lack one of the four-course requirements will be required to make up the deficit in addition to the course requirements for the M.A. degree. These courses do not count toward the degree and must be completed before the end of the first year of the program by earning a letter grade of “B” or better.
Online Application Components
- An Application for Admission, with application fee of $105 (U.S. applicants) or $125 (international applicants), which can be paid by credit card or e-check. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted.
- Statement of Purpose submitted online (4000 characters including spaces);
- Personal History Statement submitted online (4000 characters including spaces);
- Three Letters of Recommendation must be submitted online with application. No hard copies accepted. (Letters sent via Interfolio or other Letter Service not accepted.)
- UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. Visit Graduate Studies for detailed information on submitting transcripts.
- One research or term paper submitted online. The writing sample is a 10 to 20-page scholarly paper that demonstrates originality of ideas, familiarity with the conventions of academic research, and writing proficiency.
- TOEFL Score (minimum score of 90 with 26 or above in speaking) or IELTS Score (minimum score of 8) – for international only. GRE scores are not required.
- Fellowship Application submitted online for M.A. applicants applying for fellowship (include with Admissions Application).
Applicants are responsible for making certain the Graduate Program receives all application supporting documents (transcripts, test scores, etc.) no later than the December 15 deadline. View admissions information and apply online.
Notification
The Art History Program’s Graduate Admissions Advisory Committee will submit its recommendations to the dean; final admissions decisions rest with the Dean of Graduate Studies. Official notification of admission or denial will be sent electronically by Graduate Admissions. The processing time takes an average of 12 weeks. No decision can be given out over the telephone. This approval procedure applies to all applicants, including those admitted to UC Davis from another UC campus.
International Student Information
The minimum score required for the TOEFL examination is 90 (with 26 or above in speaking); minimum score required for the IELTS is 8 on a 9 point scale.
Once admitted, University policy requires international graduate students to take the English as a Second Language (ESL) test and the SPEAK test of oral English proficiency before they begin duties as teaching assistants or associate-ins. All international TAs and AIs must meet this requirement and they must pre-register in person at the Center for Excellence in Teaching, 1350 Surge III, in order to take the exam. Click here for more information on the ESL test; see the CETL site for information on the SPEAK test.