Application procedure
The Department of Art History is accepting applications to both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs this year.
Applications to both programs are made via the Indiana University Application system.
The deadline for application is January 5. All successful applicants will begin the program in the fall semester.
Deadline: January 5
Questions about the application process? Contact our department staff at arthist@indiana.edu
Required application materials
The following materials are required of each applicant. Submit your application materials by uploading them to the online application form.
Most writing samples are between 20 and 30 pages in length, excluding bibliography, notes, and images; however, there is no minimum or maximum page number. We recommend submitting your strongest piece of writing that demonstrates your ability to make a cohesive argument based on visual evidence.
No! We encourage applications from students who have training in other humanities programs, such as classics, anthropology, archaeology, or other area studies.
The Department of Art History does not consider GRE scores for the M.A. or Ph.D. application.
Transcripts uploaded to the online application portal are not considered official. Official transcripts for any degree that you have previously earned should be emailed directly from the institution to arthist@indiana.edu or mailed to our department at the mailing address in the section below.
There are no special requirements for the personal statement, though we recommend a statement that is 1-2 pages in length (double-spaced). The personal statement is an opportunity to share how you became interested in art history, what types of interests have driven your research, what you hope to gain from graduate study, and where you hope to go next in your career.
Transcripts
We require one copy of your official transcript. If you have earned multiple degrees, you must send official transcripts from every degree-granting institution.
Transcripts must be sent by the originating institution, either electronically to arthist@indiana.edu or via postal service to:
The Department of Art History
Radio/TV Building Room 316
1229 East 7th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405-3501
International students
Applicants who are not US citizens or who have had their previous schooling outside of the United States must follow special application procedures. For information, contact the Office of International Services.
Office of International Services
Ferguson International Center Room 100
330 North Eagleson Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-7513
812-855-9086
Fax: 812-855-4418
ois@iu.edu
English language proficiency exams
Indiana University requires non-native speakers of English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam to demonstrate proficiency in English.
This requirement is waived for applicants who have earned a degree in the United States. A student who has earned a degree outside of the United States is required to submit valid TOEFL or IELTS scores, even if English was the language of instruction at his or her college or university.
A minimum overall TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based exam or 600 on the paper-based exam is required. For the IELTS exam a minimum score of 7.0 is required.
For additional inquiries please contact our Director of Graduate Studies.
Your graduate student experience
Graduate students in our department enjoy a collegial and highly productive community. Close contact with faculty is the standard, enhanced by a rich array of opportunities for professional and personal engagement across the university campus and in Bloomington. Our students have an excellent track record with respect to funding and job placement, and they also supplement their academic work in rewarding ways.
Bloomington is a fun and exciting place to live, offering cultural events, festivals, music, and lots of dining options. Find out what makes our town so special.
Visual culture on campus + beyond
Resources such as the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, the Kinsey Institute, the Lilly Library, the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, among other units on campus, make it possible for art history students to gain valuable experience working with objects and exploring aspects of collections management. You can also join local collectives, some run by students in the School of Art, Architecture + Design, and others undertaken by members of the Bloomington community.
Graduate Art History Association
The Graduate Art History Association, referred to by many as AHA (as in Eureka!), provides a social and academic support network for graduate students within our department.
AHA’s goal is to foster a strong academic environment that encourages graduate students to pursue a variety of sound, creative approaches to art history while engaging meaningfully with peers, faculty, and the greater communities to which we each belong.
In service to this goal, AHA organizes an entirely graduate student-run annual symposium, hosts professional development workshops, and broadly distributes calls for papers and job postings via an active listserv.
AHA works to cultivate a sense of community through peer-mentoring, orientation programs, travel to nearby museums and institutions, and other social events. It is open to all graduate students with an interest in art history.
Life in Bloomington
Bloomington is more than just a good place to work—it’s also a good place to live. The IU Cinema offers world-class programming every year, with offerings that encompass both domestic and international films, from micro-budget independent productions to the blockbusters of previous eras. The Jacobs School of Music has such a deep bench of students, faculty, and visiting artists that literally every day sees a performance of exceptional quality. The Musical Arts Center, IU Auditorium, Student Activities Board, and the First Thursdays Festival all enrich the quality of life on campus.
Beyond campus, Bloomington is a vibrant small city, host of many annual festivals and special events, including the Lotus World Music and Art Festival. You’ll find great places to eat and many venues for entertainment. Sports and recreation enhance the quality of life, with many parks and recreational areas within the city and its surrounding environs. The larger metropolitan areas of Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis are all within a day’s drive.
The College of Arts