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PhD Degree Requirements
The requirements described below are those listed in the Binghamton University Bulletin.
NOTE: To be accepted for candidacy (ABD) by the art history faculty, a student must have met the following criteria:
1. Courses
Completion of the course work described below for the doctoral program, including any additional course work that may have been required by the Art History Graduate Committee.
A minimum of eight graded graduate?level courses (32 credit hours) must be completed with a grade average of B or better, in addition to required registration for dissertation research and preparation. Students who have not taken the required graduate?level seminar in Theory and Methods as part of their Master's degree must also include this in their doctoral program; others may be required to do so by the Graduate Committee. Students must petition the Graduate Committee, through the DGS, for a waiver for this course.
Graduate courses in art history and related subjects (500?600 level), of which at least two (8 credits) must be taken in an area outside the student's major area ofconcentration...................................32 credits
(For courses outside the department and independent studies, students submit a petition to the graduate committee.)
ARTH 500............……………........0-4 credits
ARTH 699..........………………......dissertation registration,
as required to maintain registration after admission to
candidacy.
2. Language Requirements
Doctoral students must pass two examinations demonstrating an ability to read research literature in the student's areas of interest in at least two appropriate languages of scholarship in addition to English. Work in certain fields may require additional languages. (Students continuing from the Master's program at Binghamton are required to pass only one additional examination.)
NOTE: Students may seek a waiver of one or more of the language requirements by petitioning the Graduate Committee in writing, and providing appropriate documentation of their competency in the language(s) in question.
3. Dissertation Committee
In conjunction with the student's supervisor, who chairs the committee, the student chooses two additional members from Binghamton University's graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be a member of the Art History faculty. In extremely rare cases, off-campus specialists in the subject area may be invited to serve, though no honorarium can be offered for such services. This committee is then appointed by the Art History Graduate Committee, who must also approve any subsequent changes.
4. Dissertation Proposal
The Dissertation Proposal is a description of the proposed research project that serves as the basis for the dissertation. The student must submit a formal, written proposal for dissertation research on an approved topic, outlining in detail the problem, method of inquiry, and relevant literature on the subject. The three?member dissertation committee must accept this proposal. The committee must include the supervisor as chair, and at least one additional member from the art history faculty.
5. Comprehensive Examination
Students must pass a Comprehensive Examination before a committee designated by the Art History Graduate Committee. This examination will focus on: i) the circulated dissertation proposal; ii) professional knowledge and practice, based on a familiarity with broad methodological and historiographical questions in the discipline, as demonstrated by syllabi and/or proposals in the student's chosen professional field, as agreed with the chair of the examining committee.
6. Dissertation and Defense
When the final draft has been accepted by the student's supervisor and committee, the dissertation is defended in an oral examination that is open to the public and is conducted by the student's dissertation committee and an external examiner, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The final dissertation must be submitted electronically in accordance with Graduate School regulations (with hardcopy required by the department). An acceptable dissertation demonstrates the student's ability to handle significant problems in the history of art, architecture, visual culture or the built environment in a critical and scholarly manner and makes a contribution to the discipline.
