Admissions

Applicants are accepted under the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Admission to the Ph.D. is normally limited to applicants with an Honours B.A., or its equivalent, and an M.A., the latter with first class standing in all primary courses. Normally both these degrees should be in Art History, but one or both of those degrees could be in a related subject (such as Art Conservation, Classics, Fine Art, or History). In all cases, the Graduate Committee of the Department 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 Committee will request that deficiencies in preparation be made up in a first year at Preparatory Status. The Graduate Committee will also ask applicants to submit evidence of advanced research skills and the ability to communicate the results in written form.

Degree Requirements

The requirements are set according to the General Regulations specified in the calendar of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs  (Doctoral Degree Programs). Students are required to complete the following sequence:

a. Language Requirements
Evidence shall be required of a reading knowledge of those languages other than English which are deemed necessary for a candidate's particular field of study, as determined by the Art History Graduate Committee. Proof of such ability can be established by language tests or by appropriate coursework, and is required in at least one language other than English before degree completion.

• Year 1
  Three term-length courses in Art History during the first two terms, one of which must be taken with the supervisor, and one of which must be taken outside the area of specialization.
• Year 2

  • Option A: The Field Examinations are normally taken within eight months of completion of the three courses required in the first two terms. They consist of two written Field Essays, completed by an Oral Examination.

  • Option B: The candidate will write one Field Essay, completed by an Oral Examination and complete a substantial internship at a museum or other cultural institution. 

    Upon the satisfactory completion of either Option A or Option B, the candidate will commence  preparing a thesis proposal. 

Thesis

A thesis proposal will be presented to the Graduate Committee upon completion of the above requirements (including Language Requirement). After the proposal is approved, thesis research and writing should commence.

Travel

It should be understood that research for most Ph.D. theses will involve travel and even extended residence outside Kingston. Students are reminded that several Bader Fellowships are available each year to Ph.D. candidates in art history for thesis research in Europe or elsewhere. The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs awards Travel Grants for Doctoral Field Research in an annual competition.