Skip to Content

School of Visual Art and Design

  • Three images of books and paintings

Art History Graduate Program

The University of South Carolina offers the only Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art History in the state. Our nine award-winning professors teach advanced courses in the areas of their specialization and advise graduate students pursuing cutting-edge research. Our students can take advantage of Columbia’s numerous galleries, archives, and museums for research, internships, and professional skills development. Graduates of the M.A. in Art History have transitioned to successful careers in a wide variety of sectors, including arts-related occupations, government and nonprofit cultural heritage sites and institutions, and teaching. Many choose to pursue academic careers by continuing their studies at Ph.D. programs.

M.A. in Art History

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art History is a 30 credit, two-year program of study that allows students to work closely with a faculty mentor to pursue in-depth knowledge and research in a specialized area. The requirements for the program are streamlined and flexible, which means our students can take advantage of opportunities to gain practical work experience through internships or further boost their academic credentials with the Museum Management Certificate.

 

Accelerated Master's Track in Art History

If you are a current undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina and have 90 credits and a 3.4 GPA, you may be able to take up to 12 credits towards a master's degree while you’re still an undergraduate student. Participating in the accelerated master's program is a separate process from applying to graduate school, and it does not guarantee admission to graduate school. However, accelerated master’s students who apply to graduate school at UofSC and are accepted are able to start the M.A. in Art History with up to 12 credits already completed. These students complete their graduate coursework earlier, saving time and tuition.

Students who are interested in the accelerated master’s track in art history should speak to their undergraduate advisor. 

Core Faculty

  • Lydia Brandt, Ph.D.
  • Lana Burgess, Ph.D.
  • Peter Chametzky, Ph.D.
  • Brad Collins, Ph.D.
  • Susan Felleman, Ph.D.
  • Andrew Graciano, Ph.D.
  • Abbe Schriber, Ph.D.
  • Anna Swartwood House, Ph.D.
  • Amanda Wangwright, Ph.D. (Area Coordinator)

Museum Management Certificate

Graduate students are eligible to pursue the Museum Management Certificate through the McKissick Museum while enrolled in the M.A. in Art History. This 18-credit certificate program is directed by Faculty Curator and Professor of Art History and Museum Studies Dr. Lana Burgess.  A complementary program for students enrolled in the art history master's program, students in the certificate program complete courses in museum and collections management, curatorial practice, and undertake an internship. Learn more about the Museum Management Certificate.


Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©