The Master of Arts in Art History practicum track is appropriate for students who desire advanced art historical training and credentials for work in the art world, but who do not envision pursuing a doctorate or an academic career. It emphasizes applied learning using the discipline of Art History to understand or promote the value of the visual arts in a variety of cultural, educational, or business settings. Students gain practical training experience through a supervised practicum project that integrates academic training and knowledge with outcomes in areas such as museum education, galleries, or community arts organizations.
MA practicum candidates pursue coursework in tandem with thesis track candidates while developing and completing a practicum project in close consultation with their committee. The degree typically takes one or two years to complete.
Degree Requirements
Coursework
Coursework provides a solid foundation in art history’s methods, critical approaches, and various subfields, while also allowing students to begin honing an area of specialization. Typically, students enroll in [# range] of credits (equivalent to [# range] courses) each quarter.
The program for the MA: Practicum Track degree in art history requires:
- A minimum of 25 numerically graded credits numbered 400 and above and approved by the faculty adviser
- A minimum of 10 credits of ART H 598 (Master’s Practicum). These 10 credits may take the form of the completion of a project, internship, or written case study approved by the faculty adviser. They may but need not be taken all in a single quarter. Students must be registered for at least 2 Art H 598 credits during the quarter in which they complete and defend their practicum project.
- 2 credits of ART H 599 (Reading and Writing Projects) Preparation and public presentation focused on work completed in ART H 598 (Master’s Practicum).
Practicum Project
The practicum is the culminating product of the Art History MA: Practicum Track program, and must evidence the student’s practical or theoretical knowledge of some aspects of art in historical or contemporary situations. Practicum projects are up to the student to define, and the strongest applicants may already have a project idea that is explained in their application statement. For example, practicum projects may take the form of a curatorial, educational, archival, or connoisseurship project in an art museum, gallery, or private art collection. Although the division of Art History does not arrange or offer internships for the practicum, students can seek out internships in approved non-profit arts organizations and arts education programs or complete case studies of the impact and benefits of the practice of, teaching of, and support for the visual arts in business, education, and society in general. The practicum must be comprised of activities carried out after the student’s admission to the program.
Prerequisites
Students should discuss potential practicum topics with their faculty adviser during their first year in the program. When a topic is finalized, students should work out a timeline for completing the proposal. Practicum proposals are usually completed the quarter before students plan to enroll for practicum credits. vStudents must complete all required coursework and receive committee approval of a written proposal (see below) before they may begin taking practicum credits. To obtain registration codes, students must submit a signed ART H 700/598 approval form with their approved proposal attached to the academic adviser for graduate students. In the quarter prior to beginning practicum credits, they must fill out an MA progress form verifying that they have completed all of these prerequisites.
Practicum Committee
MA practicum projects are guided and evaluated by a committee including a minimum of three faculty members. Students consult with the Graduate Program Coordinator and their faculty advisor to establish a committee consisting of a committee chair (typically their advisor), a second faculty member from Art History, and a third from Art History or another unit. Students are responsible for determining the potential committee members' willingness to serve.
The Graduate School does not require notification of the membership of this committee. The committee chair shall keep written records concerning any formal agreements or stipulations regarding the student’s program of study and practicum project.
Before beginning work on a practicum project, the student must receive the Supervisory Committee's approval of a written proposal.
Proposal
Practicum proposals vary in form and/or content depending on the nature of the project and the expectations of the chair and committee members. There is no set format or length. Students should ask their faculty adviser and/or chair for copies of recently approved proposals.
Final Draft Students should expect to produce revised drafts of their project proposals. Once a student’s chair has approved a final draft, it can be submitted to committee members for their review and suggestions, allowing at least 30 days for review.
Defense
The final examination is an oral defense of the candidate's practicum project conducted by the Supervisory Committee. Students are responsible for scheduling the defense in consultation with the committee chair. The defense date must be at least 30 days after the final draft was circulated to the full Supervisory Committee.
The graduate student and at least one Art History faculty member from their committee (or a substitute from the Art History faculty, if necessary) must be physically present at the defense. The Supervisory Committee must certify the results of the final examination by signing hard copies of two forms, generated through the online degree application process: (1) a warrant and (2) a Master’s Supervisory Committee Approval Form. The student is responsible for returning forms bearing the original signatures of all committee members to the academic adviser for graduate students in room 104 of the Art Building.
Degree Application
Students must apply online in MyGrad to the Graduate School for a master’s degree in the quarter in which they expect to graduate; detailed instructions are available on the Graduate School website. Students should submit their degree application as soon as the defense is scheduled. The application for graduation must be completed at least three weeks prior to the defense.
The filing of the online application (warrant) is the responsibility solely of the student, who must be registered for the quarter in which the degree is expected. Master's degree applications are valid for one quarter only; if requirements for the degree are not completed during this quarter, the student must file a new application.
The practicum project must be submitted electronically to the Graduate School by the last day of final examinations of the quarter in which degree requirements are completed. Consult the Graduate School website for formatting requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the Graduate School, the UW Library copyright office, Proquest, and any other guidelines on fair use practices, permissions, and inclusion of images.
Satisfactory Progress Requirements
Art History graduate students must maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their degree program to continue graduate study and research at the University of Washington. Graduate students engage in quarterly progress reviews with their advisor and receive an annual progress evaluation from the art history faculty to ensure they continue to meet all UW Graduate School satisfactory progress requirements.