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Master of Arts
Degree Requirements
MA requirements are those printed in the Binghamton University Bulletin covering the semester in which a student began the program. Graduate students may opt for requirements of a more recent Bulletin, but must notify the DGS in writing, so that their matriculation records may be changed.
1. Courses
A minimum of eight graduate-level courses (32 credits) with regular letter grades and a B average or better, to be distributed as follows:ARTH 500: Theory and Methods of Art History (req. in 1st year)....…4 credits
2. Foreign Language
Seven courses:
including at least six art history seminars
two of which must be in an area outside the student's field of
specialization................................................................................…28 credits
For courses outside the department and independent studies,
students submit a petition to the graduate committee.
Students must pass a reading comprehension examination demonstrating an ability to read research literature in their areas of interest in an appropriate language of scholarship in addition to English. The examination should be taken by the end of the second semester (24 credit hours). Work in certain fields may require additional languages.
NOTE: Language examinations are regularly offered in Italian, German and French. Other examinations are added when requested in writing. Students with competence in languages other than English may petition the DGS to have their language considered as satisfying this requirement. Students should discuss the language of choice with their supervisor. The language examinations are given twice a year, usually during the last two weeks of the semester. Students are required to inform the DGS two weeks in advance of their intention to take the examination and the language in which it will be taken. The examination is three hours in length. The first part (one and one half hours) tests the student's ability to translate the language of choice. The second part (one and one half hours) tests comprehension. Students are requested to read an excerpt in the language of choice and to answer a series of questions. Questions and answers are in English. A dictionary may be used for both parts. Previous examinations may be inspected for examples of content and are on file in the office of the Assistant to the Chair.
Language courses are offered on a semester-by-semester basis by the appropriate language department. Consult with the Administrative Assistant to the Chair for availability of classes.
3. Master's Comprehensive Examination
The Master's Comprehensive Examination has been incorporated into the mandatory seminar on Theory and Methods. All students are required to pass ARTH 500, Theory and Methods, with a grade of B or better. At the discretion of the Art History Graduate Committee, students failing to achieve the required grade may be asked either to repeat the course or, in exceptional cases, to redo the examination assignment.
4. Master's Thesis
Students are required to produce a Master's thesis, finished to a professional standard and approximately 30 pages in length. The paper will be supervised by a selected art history faculty member and refereed by a second reader assigned by the departmental Graduate Committee. The final thesis must be approved by both readers and submitted electronically in accordance with Graduate School regulations (with hardcopy required by the department). Students must be registered for at least 1 credit of Thesis (ARTH 599) during the semester in which the degree is completed.
5. Completion
All MA students must file a "Declaration of Candidacy" form during the semester in which they intend to complete their Master's program. Students should review their record of matriculation requirements with their supervisor, who will also notify the DGS of their intention to complete. The Departmental file should contain all records indicating that the student has passed all required courses and examinations. A completed signature page is required to show that the thesis has been approved by both readers. The Director of Graduate Students has the responsibility of attesting that all requirements have been met, before a degree can be awarded.
