PhD in Art with Emphasis in Art History
Home to nine faculty members with specialties that range from Classical Antiquity to Contemporary Visual Culture, the Doctor of Philosophy in Art with a concentration in Art History is committed to training doctoral students broadly while developing significant depth in the student’s field of choice. To that end, graduate-level coursework in Art History is divided between small, advanced lecture courses and intimate seminars on highly specialized topics. Taken as a whole, these courses, when coupled with a required course in historiography and methods, aim to develop researchers of the highest caliber, in full command of the specialized skills required by the discipline of art history.
Graduate Studies Information Sessions
Learn more about our PhD degree in Art History by attending a virtual information session with our graduate studies faculty and staff. Please note—Registration is required to attend this virtual session.
November 12 at 12:30pm EST – register here
Resources
Doctoral students benefit from the concentration’s close ties to the Georgia Museum of Art and the nearby resources of the High Museum and the Contemporary in Atlanta. They also take advantage of significant programming on campus, including a student-run lecture series that brings several outstanding art historians to campus each year. In addition, students benefit from a wide variety of activities organized by students and faculty in the School of Art, most notably the Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series.
Students graduating with a PhD in Art with a concentration in Art History routinely procure jobs at universities and museums and currently hold tenure track and curatorial positions.
Funding
All full-time doctoral students in Art with a concentration in Art History are currently funded and doctoral students are encouraged to apply annually for supplemental funding to support participation in conferences and special travel related to thesis research. Sources include the Willson Center for the Humanities and Arts, the Graduate School, Dodd Scholarships and Awards, and the Art History Area Support Fund. Find more information on graduate funding and research support below.
Contact the Grad Office
More information on our graduate programs in Art History can be found using the links above or by contacting the School of Art Graduate Office.
Last updated: October 10, 2025