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History of Art and Architecture

Undergraduate Program

The History of Art and Architecture concentration offers training in the historical interpretation and critical analysis of the visual arts and architecture. Encompassing material from the widest range of geographic and historical origins, art history is itself a multifaceted discipline embracing many different methods, perspectives and interests. Instruction in critical analysis is aided by the history of art and architecture department’s partnership with one of the world’s greatest teaching museums, comprising the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger, and Sackler Museums, offering students a unique opportunity of first-hand study of original works of art in many media.

The graduate program in the Department of History of Art and Architecture offers a program of instruction that prepares students for teaching the history and theory of art at the college level, for museum work, and for independent research and writing. The department offers instruction in the following broad fields of the history of art and architecture: African, Greek and Roman, East Asian, Islamic, Latin American, Medieval/Byzantine, Modern (eighteenth and nineteenth centuries), Modern (twentieth century) and Contemporary, Renaissance and Baroque (fifteenth through eighteenth centuries), South Asian.

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• PhD Program in History of Art and Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies

The joint program in History of Art and Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies is designed for students interested in enriching their program of study for the PhD in History of Art and Architecture with firsthand knowledge about the Middle East based on literacy in its artistic traditions. As a student in an interdisciplinary program you are a full member of the Department of the History of Art and Architecture cohort, but also have an intellectual home at CMES and access to CMES faculty, facilities, and resources.

Students in the joint PhD Program in History of Art and Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies fulfill all the  requirements for the PhD in History of Art and Architecture  in addition to the language and area studies requirements established by the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies.

Language Requirements

Each student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of English and a European language (French, German, Russian, or Italian). Students must also demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a Middle Eastern language. The expectation is that the student learns the languages necessary to teach and work in his or her chosen field, chosen in consultation with their advisor. Language requirements are fulfilled by a departmental examination that must be passed by the end of the fourth term.

Program of Study in History of Art and Architecture and MES

In the first two years, students must take a minimum of sixteen half-courses. Required courses in the first year include "HAA 310—Methods and Theory of Art History,” and one seminar in another period of art history. In the second year, students must take “HAA 300—Reading and Research,” and one seminar in another aspect of Middle Eastern Studies.

Students must take one course in at least three fields of art/architectural history other than their own, one of which must be in Western art. Non-field-specific courses may be taken in place of one of the three field requirements. In non-field-specific courses, a topic should be studied which promotes extra diversification methodologically and geographically.

A list of current Middle East–related courses is available on this site at the beginning of each semester; the History of Art and Architecture Department courses are available at my.harvard.edu .

General Examinations and Qualifying Paper

Students take a general examination of four parts: two in Near Eastern art (either different periods or different techniques, the scope being determined by the student’s committee), one in another period of the history of art and in Near Eastern studies, and a language examination in Arabic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, or an ancient Near Eastern language consisting of a translation (with dictionary) of one or two passages from a list of sources provided at least a year before the examination, and of a commentary. Detailed information about departmental examinations can be found on the Department of the History of Art and Architecture's website.

Students propose and write a Qualifying Paper in the spring term of their second year. Specific details and deadlines for this requirement are listed on the Department of the History of Art and Architecture’s website.

Dissertation

In the third year doctoral students identify a three-member dissertation committee and topic. The final prospectus should be approved within three months of the general examinations in order for progress toward the degree to be considered satisfactory. Students ordinarily devote three years to research for and writing of the dissertation, and complete it prior to seeking full-time employment. The dissertation will be judged according to the highest standards of scholarship, and should be an original contribution to knowledge and understanding of art. More details on the requirements for the dissertation are available on the Department of the History of Art and Architecture’s website.

Timeline for Student Progress and Degree Completion

• Coursework: One to three years.
• Examinations: General exams must be passed by the end of the third year of study, or sixth term in residence.
• Dissertation Prospectus: Must be approved no later than three months after passing the general examinations.
• Dissertation Defense and Approval: The candidate’s dissertation committee decides when the dissertation is ready for defense. The doctorate is awarded when the candidate passes a defense of the dissertation.
• Graduation: The program is ideally completed in six years.

For more details on these guidelines, see the Middle Eastern Studies section of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) Policies site and the Department of the History of Art and Architecture’s information for prospective PhD students . Admissions information can be found in the Applying to CMES section of this site and on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website .

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Interested in applying to one of our PhD programs? Visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website . Harvard University does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.

Introduction

The Department offers doctoral degrees in ancient history, Byzantine Greek, classical archaeology, classical philology, classical philosophy, medieval Latin, and modern Greek. Our faculty and graduate students take innovative approaches to the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, drawing from fields and methodologies that include archaeology and art history, ancient history, ancient science, comparative literature, digital humanities, historical linguistics, history of rhetoric, literary theory, pedagogy of classical languages, philosophy, textual transmission, classical reception, and performance studies. We consider Byzantium, the Latin Middle Ages, and Modern Greek integral parts of the study of Greek and Roman antiquity. In addition, our affiliate faculty have interests in early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism, Greek law and comparative legal theory, early modern reception of the Classics, and Byzantine history. The department also offers specialized training in such disciplines as papyrology, epigraphy, paleography, and numismatics. The resources of other Harvard departments are open to those interested in other ancient languages and scripts, comparative theories and methodologies, the history of science, the relations of the Greeks and the Romans with other ancient cultures, and the reception of classical culture in subsequent periods.

Classics is an active participant in Ancient Studies , Harvard’s interdisciplinary community of scholars working on the ancient world broadly construed. The department hosts numerous recurrent workshops organized by faculty and graduate students in collaboration with GSAS, the Mahindra Center for the Humanities, and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, among others. We are fortunate to host guest speakers and researchers from all over the world through our workshops and visiting speakers series.

Graduate students can take advantage of Harvard’s world-class library and collections, including Widener Library, which is home to the Smyth Classical Library and the Medieval Studies Library, as well as the Tozzer, Fine Arts, and Harvard Divinity School libraries. The Houghton Library houses Harvard’s magnificent early books and manuscripts collection in addition to a rich archive in the performing arts, while the Harvard Art Museums have renowned strengths in the art, archaeology, and numismatics of Greece and Rome. Other special collections of interest to students include the Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature, the Historical Textbooks collection at the Gutman Library, and the collections of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Our graduate students benefit from the programming, collections, and fellowship opportunities at Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Villa I Tatti.

Professional development plays a key role in the graduate student experience at Harvard. Faculty advisers are available to discuss career opportunities and assist all students in advancing their career objectives in academia or other fields. The department emphasizes the acquisition not only of knowledge, but also of skills—in teaching, in analysis, in research—which will enable its graduates to find a wide range of academic and non-academic careers. Students have access to an array of professional development workshops and resources both within the department and through GSAS. We encourage students to explore career options from the earliest stages of the program. 

The doctoral program typically consists of six years of study. The structure of all PhD tracks follows a broad division between the first two years, primarily focused on coursework, and the following years, which are mostly devoted to teaching and research. B-minus constitutes the minimum passing grade for all requirements, unless otherwise specified. Funding for the duration of graduate study is normally provided by fellowship grants in the first two years, by a dissertation completion fellowship in the final year, and by a combination of tuition grants and teaching fellowships in the intervening years. Candidates who have successfully completed their General Examinations are normally assigned teaching fellowships in undergraduate courses, which include elementary and intermediate language courses,  junior tutorials, literature surveys, and courses taught in translation. Teaching is guaranteed in the third and fourth year. Generous fellowships and study abroad opportunities are available for the summer and the dissertation-writing stages. Grants are available to support students’ participation at conferences, including the annual meeting of the SCS.

The department will not admit applicants for the degree of master of arts (AM) only. However, any student who has completed two years of full-time study (16 applicable courses) will qualify for the degree of AM in their track, which the department will normally recommend upon application by the student. No examinations beyond those required in the courses are mandated.

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Ph.d. in history of art and architecture and middle eastern studies.

The joint program in History of Art and Architecture and Middle Eastern Studies is designed for students interested in enriching their program of study for the Ph.D. in History of Art and Architecture with firsthand knowledge about the Middle East based on literacy in its languages and an understanding of its political and economic realities, its culture and traditions.

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Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

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Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page. 

The First Two Years

During the first two years of graduate study in history at Harvard, candidates must take at least eight letter-graded four-credit courses, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor, and History 3900 Writing History: Approaches and Practices, which is graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Six of the eight letter-graded courses must be in history, and of these six two must be research seminars in history. A minimum grade of B is required in each course. Students are required to take History 3920: Colloquium on Teaching Practices, which is also graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Students take this course in their first year as Teaching Fellows, which is ordinarily their third year of study. For more information, see History 3920hf: Colloquium on Teaching  below.

Candidates admitted to graduate study in history will be required to show a satisfactory reading knowledge of at least two foreign languages. Students who focus on U.S. History may demonstrate reading knowledge in just one language, as long as they can do so at the “proficient” level. They must take at least one departmental language examination just prior to the start of the fall semester in first year of study, and just prior to the start of the second semester that year if more language requirements must be fulfilled. All language requirements must be fulfilled prior to the General Examination. (Refer to “Higher Degrees in History” for a listing of language requirements, and further regulations regarding the timing of the language examinations.)

Policy on Incompletes

It is expected that students will ordinarily complete coursework in the term of enrollment in the course. For the Harvard Griffin GSAS rules regarding Incompletes, see  Grade and Examination Requirements in this handbook.

When applying, students often make quite explicit statements regarding their research interests and the faculty with whom they wish to work. Based on this information, students are assigned a primary advisor with whom they consult from the point of initial enrollment. The primary advisor must approve the student’s plans of study in the first four terms and is often the chair of both the general examination and dissertation committees. Effecting a change of advisors typically involves conversations with both the new advisor and the original advisor. Once an agreement has been reached, the graduate program coordinator must be informed. The advisor must ordinarily be a permanent member of the department.

Master of Arts (AM)

The Department of History admits candidates for the PhD only. The AM is ordinarily awarded to candidates for the PhD after they have met the coursework requirements outlined above, completed two years of academic residence, and have satisfied the language requirements specified for their field of study.

General Examinations

The purpose of the general examination is to expand and deepen students’ general historical knowledge, provide them with the tools to conduct research in history, and prepare them to teach. The examination is composed of four fields. The candidate is examined orally in each field for thirty minutes, so that the entire examination occupies two hours.

Guidelines for constructing fields

• Field definitions are constructed with the guidance of the advisor and individual examiners and are approved by the director of graduate studies. Fields may be defined temporally within regions, nations or empires (e.g., Byzantine Empire, colonial Latin America, China since 1800) or thematically or comparatively (e.g., European intellectual history, comparative empires, diasporic histories, Atlantic slavery, labor history). Within each field, an encyclopedic knowledge of detail is not expected, but the student should demonstrate familiarity with the important problems and substantial mastery of the basic literature in each field.
• Since the purpose of the exam is to achieve breadth of knowledge, the selection of the four fields should be made with the aim of achieving range across time and space. Students are expected to include an early and a modern field (with chronological coverage suitable to the particular or regional frame). It is recommended that all students present a field that includes a region of the world beyond their area of specialization. 
• Students should not present more than two fields in a single national history. 
• Students are permitted to present a field outside the History Department, or even outside of Harvard, comparable in scope to Departmental fields. 
• Any given field may have its own specific requirements and students should work with their advisors to make sure that their choice of fields fulfills them.  

Preparation for Examinations

Candidates prepare for General Examinations both by taking graduate seminars and by arranging for reading courses (History 3010) with the faculty members who will serve as examiners in the four fields. Faculty members may conduct History 3010 either as individual tutorials or as small-group discussions (when several students are simultaneously preparing similar fields for examination). The four fields are prepared with four different faculty members, one of whom is ordinarily the primary advisor.

Candidates may select a faculty member at the assistant professor level or above and must consult the Graduate Coordinator if proposing to select a faculty member outside the University.

The examination is taken late in the fourth term. Candidates may petition the director of graduate studies for extension to the fifth term. The last possible extension, to the sixth term, requires a petition to the director, subject to the approval of the department. Candidates make examination arrangements with the Graduate Coordinator.

A candidate’s advisor ordinarily chairs the examination committee. The candidate determines the order of fields to be examined. At the conclusion of the examination, the chair will ask the candidate to wait outside the room while the committee deliberates. The candidate will be informed directly after the examination whether they have passed, and the department will follow up with official notification. The grade is final. The overall grade may be requested from the Graduate Coordinator one month after the examination date.

Interpretation of the Final Grade

The passing final grades are Excellent, Good, or Fair, and a plus or minus can be attached to each grade. A candidate can be failed with no bar to reexamination, or failed without the possibility of reexamination. If a student fails the General Examination with no bar to reexamination, then they will be allowed to take the examination a second time in the fifth or sixth term. The mark of Excellent is rare and represents an exceptional performance. A mark of Good shows a solid grasp of the historiography and problems of each field, with no significant weaknesses, although varying (Good Plus to Good Minus) in articulateness. A mark of Fair indicates significant weaknesses in at least some fields, and some difficulty in articulating historiography and problems. The grade does not become public record; it is held internally by the department, not by the Registrar. It is used when assessing departmental nominations for Harvard fellowships, but will not be a part of the candidate’s dossier for applying to academic positions.

History 3920hf: Colloquium on Teaching

Usually taken in the third year, the Teaching Colloquium is a required course for the PhD degree. The course meets several times in both the fall and spring terms, and is led by a senior faculty member and a teaching fellow. The course is an introduction to teaching both at Harvard and beyond, and helps students gain familiarity with a range of techniques and styles of teaching.

Dissertation

As soon as possible after passing the general examination and no later than two terms after passing it, all PhD candidates must identify a dissertation director and dissertation committee, settle on a topic and, with the dissertation director’s approval, present a proposal on the subject of their projected dissertation to their committee members. The committee is composed of the director, who should ordinarily be a permanent member of the department, and two others, one of whom may not be a permanent member. After the fifth term, candidates are expected to present their dissertation proposals in a conference of faculty and graduate students. Beginning in their fourth year, all students may need to present an annual progress report to the members of their dissertation committee and will need to submit a progress report to the department. The Graduate Coordinator requests this information. An unbound copy of the completed dissertation may be requested by members of the dissertation committee. There is no formal deadline students must meet, but the department recommends that students send a final or near-final copy of the dissertation to their committee members approximately four weeks before their defense. The final dissertation manuscript should conform to the requirements described online in the policy pages on dissertations . 

Students are required to defend their dissertations. The defense committee consists of the student’s dissertation committee plus one additional member drawn from the history department, another Harvard department, or outside the University. The defense itself should last approximately two hours. It is open to the intellectual community of faculty and graduate students as well as the friends and family of the student. Once the dissertation has been successfully defended, members of the committee sign the dissertation acceptance certificate. The oral defense is optional for students who entered the program before the 2009–2010 academic year.

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Financial Aid & Fellowships

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences provides a five-year funding package for incoming doctoral students. The package consists of a combination of financial aid and fellowships.

A tuition grant covers the cost of tuition for five years , and depending on where students are in their progress towards the degree, the tuition grant is supplemented with additional funding.

In the first two years , students receive a stipend while they are engaged in coursework. In years three and four , students usually receive teaching fellowships, which are equal to the stipend received in years one and two. In the last year of graduate work students receive a dissertation completion fellowship. In addition to this package, a summer stipend is provided for the first, second, third, and fourth summers that students are in residence.

All see:  Financing Graduate Study (pdf) | Conference Funding |  Department Fellowships & Grants |  External Grants & Fellowships

Harvard Griffin GSAS does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.

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