Doctor of Philosophy in Art History

Art history is the systematic and critical investigation of how images, objects, and spaces shape and express the concerns of human societies. At its core is the study of human interaction with things that have been built, painted, carved, stitched, printed, photographed, filmed, manufactured, or digitally coded. We are not only concerned with how and why images and objects came to be, but how they functioned within their specific cultures and continue to affect our world today. At Queen's, we explore art, material cultures, and the institutions of art in a global and multi-cultural context and through a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. The M.A. and Ph.D. programs offer advanced training in the study of visual and material culture from the Middles Ages to the present. The Queen's Art History program is strongly committed to mentoring and to the training of graduate students in a variety of interdisciplinary approaches, methodologies, and issues, including the technical examination of art, gender studies, critical theory, cultural representation, and the relationships among art, literature, and science.

For admission to the Ph.D. program, an Honours B.A., or its equivalent, and an M.A. with an A grade in the primary courses, are required. Normally, both previous degrees should be in Art History, however, the committee will also consider degrees in a related subject (such as Art Conservation, Classics, Cultural Studies, Film, Fine Art, History, Literary Studies, etc.). In all cases, the Art History Graduate Committee will examine the record of courses taken by applicants in both their graduate and undergraduate programs in order to establish that they have sufficient preparation in the History of Art. The application process includes both online and offline elements listed below. Successful applicants will be chosen by the graduate committee, and will receive an offer of admission from the School of Graduate Studies.
Proof of reading knowledge of one language other than English, normally in the form of a test passed at the M.A. level is required at the time of application.
A writing sample (e.g. art history essay), submitted to the Graduate Assistant.
A current CV must be sent as electronic copy directly to the Graduate Assistant.
A brief Statement of Purpose (500-600 words), outlining the applicant's specific area(s) of research and career goals. This should include a statement of why they believe the Department of Art at Queen's is an appropriate place for their doctoral studies. This must be submitted as part of the online application.
Two current academic letters of reference

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) - score of 7 on the academic module , TOEFL iBT - 88 overall: 24 Writing, 22 Speaking, 22 Reading, 20 Listening