Apply to the PhD Program
Although the Department of History of Art offers both the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees, the MA is awarded in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD. The department does not admit students who wish to work solely toward the master's degree. Successful applicants will receive full funding for the graduate program.
The OSU Graduate and Professional Admissions office administers the online application. Applicants may access it and pay the associated fee on the application website. Any questions about application completion status should be directed to gpadmissions@osu.edu. You may also check on your application status by visiting appstatus.osu.edu. Other questions can be directed to History of Art.
The application deadline is November 5, 2026 by midnight. The History of Art department admits for entry in the Autumn semester only.
The PhD program is designed to be completed in six years. The first two years are devoted to intensive coursework and to the fulfillment of the writing requirements for the MA degree (either a thesis or two qualifying papers). Years three and four are devoted to additional coursework, to studying for and taking the candidacy exams, and to preparing the dissertation prospectus. The fifth and sixth years are devoted to researching and writing the dissertation.
Launched in 2025, the Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice is new opportunity for PhD students to complete a certificate alongside their graduate degree. The 14-16 credit hour certificate trains graduate students in the theory and practice of curatorial work and exhibitions in art museums, galleries, and other contemporary art exhibition spaces.
Students are often admitted to our PhD program after having completed a BA in History of Art. But our department embraces interdisciplinary approaches and welcomes applications from students with degrees in other fields. It is expected, however, that students will have sufficient background in History of Art to begin coursework at a graduate level upon entering the program. Normally, a student with a degree from another institution will be accepted as having preparation in the field equivalent to that offered at Ohio State University.
A GPA of at least 3.3 in all undergraduate work and 3.5 in all graduate work is typically expected. Other factors may be taken into consideration, especially previous research experience in History of Art, internships/externships, work in museums or galleries, experience in studio art, and degrees in cognate fields. In the case of international students, TOEFL/Duolingo scores are also required.
An applicant to the M.A./Ph.D. program with a Bachelor's degree will be admitted into the M.A. program and will need a Pass and Transition designation by their committee to successfully transition to the PhD program. Students entering with the M.A. begin directly in the Ph.D. program.
Students typically enter the program with a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language appropriate to the field of specialization. A second foreign language is undertaken as part of graduate coursework. Proficiency in a foreign language may be demonstrated by:
- One year’s coursework or equivalent learning at accredited institution (can be completed via summer language programs outside the university)
- Proficiency examinations or other equivalencies acceptable to the Graduate Studies Chair and the students’ advisor.
In studying the cultures of many regions and eras, the department of History of Art believes that the best art history depends on a wide variety of approaches and vantage points. Our department is thus committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and diverse learning environment, where all persons and perspectives may contribute to our joint intellectual enterprise.
- Transcripts
- Scanned copies of official paper transcripts issued by your institution’s registrar. You must include scanned copies of transcripts from ALL institutions where college credit was earned. You will be prompted to upload these documents in the online application
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- The online application will email your recommenders after your application is submitted. We understand that recommendation letters may come in after the application deadline because of this. Please let your recommenders know to be ready to upload their letters around your application submission date
- Statement of Purpose
- 1- 2 pages
- The statement of purpose should demonstrate knowledge of key scholarship in the student's field of interest and clearly describe possible further research in that field. Successful statements also identify a potential advisor from the current faculty listed in the People section of the website
- Academic Writing Sample
- A piece or excerpt of academic writing ranging from 15-35 pages in length
- curriculum vitae (CV)
- GRE scores NOT required
- For International Applicants: official TOEFL, DuoLingo, or IELTS Academic test scores (see Additional Instructions for International Applicants dropdown below)
Success at Ohio State depends upon your ability to converse in, write and understand English. The university requires official TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS Academic test scores from all international applicants, except:
- Those who are citizens of, or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher by the time of matriculation from, one of the countries or territories exempt from the English proficiency requirement (see exemptions list).
- Those who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for more than one year by the start date of the first term of enrollment.
Note: If your courses were taught in English but you do not meet either of the above exceptions, you are still required to submit proof of English proficiency.
Please review carefully the Additional Requirements page of the Graduate and Professional Admissions website.
Financial support for graduate students in the Department is provided mostly in the form of Graduate Teaching Associateships (GTAs). If you are awarded a Graduate Teaching Associateship and English is not your first language, you will be required to certify your oral proficiency in English before assuming your associateship duties.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)
Each year we offer a limited number of Graduate Teaching positions to our current and incoming graduate students. Incoming students are guaranteed 4-6 years of GTA funding when they are accepted (depending on whether or not they already have earned their MA prior to their enrollment at OSU). These GTA positions include a fee waiver for tuition and fees, a 100% subsidy of the student health insurance premiums, and a monthly stipend. The teaching assistantships also provide an opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience. The GTA opportunities range from grading and/or leading “recitation” sections for a large lecture course taught by a faculty member to being the co-instructor or instructor of record for a class of one’s own. Assignments rotate every semester and are based on the student’s ability, level of experience, and class schedule.
University-Wide Fellowships
The History of Art Department is allowed to nominate 2-3 of its most promising applicants in the University Fellowship competition which is administered by the Graduate School. These prestigious awards include both single- and multiple-year fellowships, and are designed to attract those students who bring academic excellence to the department. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the Graduate Studies Committee will determine the nominations for the University Fellowship competition -- applying by the deadline ensures you will be considered for nomination.
Departmental Grants
(The Aida Cannarsa Snow Endowment Fund, The Sara Jane Pyne Memorial Scholarship Fund, and The Cathleen M. Murnane Travel Scholarship Fund)
The Department of History of Art awards $10,000-$15,000 each year to our current graduate students to conduct research and present their work at conferences. Calls for applications for these grants occur twice a year (Fall and Spring). The applications are reviewed by the department’s Graduate Studies committee.
Other University Grants
The College of Arts and Sciences offers the Arts & Humanities Graduate Research Small Grants Program.
The Graduate Research Small Grants Program is designed to enhance opportunities for graduate students in Arts & Humanities to conduct research by offering supplemental financial support of up to $700 once per academic year. Applications may be submitted at any time, but they should be received by the Arts & Humanities office at least eight weeks before the date when the funds are to be used.