Doctor of Philosophy in Art History
Shape the future of art history through global research, critical inquiry, and scholarly leadership.
The PhD in Art History offers advanced, research-driven study of global art and visual culture that culminates in a dissertation that offers original scholarship. Students work closely with faculty experts and benefit from the dynamic, research-rich environment of a large top-tier university.
You will be mentored by faculty who are actively engaged in international research that frequently guides the direction of the field and informs contemporary debate. Through our HESCAH lecture series, you will meet leading scholars from around the world who come to UF every year to present the latest art historical research in public lectures, symposiums, and special small-group sessions for our graduate students. Courses regularly visit UF’s Harn Museum and the University Galleries to learn from artworks in their exhibitions.
The Art History program works closely with the University Galleries to provide opportunities for you to gain experience curating exhibitions, organizing other programming, and producing gallery publications. You may choose to pursue a certificate in Curatorial Studies with a seminar dedicated to curatorial practice and an internship.
We offer a limited number of graduate assistantships for PhD students that cover tuition, provide health insurance, and offer a stipend in exchange for 20 hours of teaching or professional work each week. Students presenting at conferences or traveling to conduct research have been very successful winning internal funding from the College of the Arts, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Humanities and the Public Sphere, Center for European Studies.
The program consists of two years of coursework in your area of focus, a secondary area, and electives outside art history, followed by Qualifying Exams, the defense of a dissertation prospectus, and the completion and defense of the PhD dissertation. Graduates of the program usually pursue careers as curators or faculty at museums, colleges, and universities in Florida and across the U.S.
Applicants will have earned a master’s degree in art history or a closely related discipline. Reading knowledge of at least two foreign languages relevant to your research is required before the Qualifying Exams. We encourage you to pursue the necessary language study before starting the program. The GRE exam is not required.
See full details in the UF Graduate Catalog.