Switching Fields: Religious Studies to Art History

[moiraf]

Hello!

 

So I am currently about to be a senior at Butler University; I'm a Religious Studies major and Classics minor. I am planning on making the switch to Art History. Considering an odd academic background (I was a serious ballet dancer and dance major at Butler, a top 5 program, until I got injured) I have very little art history thus far. Butler doesn't offer art history, though I have had a survey class this summer and plan on taking one or 2 more this fall at a different school. I want to eventually complete a doctorate in Art History (focusing on early Christian/medieval/Byzantine art) and become a curator at an institution with a religious art collection. I'm most interested in church decoration, iconography, and other religious art objects. I am gearing up to apply to graduate schools to start in fall 2014. I am mostly looking at masters programs because I am not an art history major. However, I am currently completing an internship at Yeshiva University Museum in New York City, I have docent experience, I have a strong background in religion and want to move into religious art, and I am a good student (3.75 overall and 3.95 major GPA, a few scholarships and academic awards, and I've presented a paper at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research). I am also writing my senior thesis on the unique characteristics of Orthodox Christian iconography (artistic and theological) and I've been researching heavily at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's library this summer. 

 

My question is, does anyone have advice on well-respected programs that I would have a good shot at, either masters or PhD? Or any tips on switching fields/applying to art history grad programs? Currently the list of schools I'm considering is the art history masters programs at Williams, Tufts, UMass, and SUNY Binghamton; the masters of religion with concentration in visual arts at Yale; the art history PhD at Bryn Mawr; the Medieval Studies masters at Fordham; and I have briefly considered Delaware, SUNY Stony Brook, and the masters at UPenn. 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[EloiseGC]

Art History actually has slightly more job options than Religion, so it's a pretty good idea to switch. I would, however, suggest applying to PhD programs instead of MA programs, if you're willing to go the long haul. There are more programs willing to fund you if you go for a full PhD (though there are a handful that still fund MAs), and going into debt for a humanities degree can be pretty rough. It's not like becoming a medical doctor, where you start earning back money quickly upon finding employment.

 

You seem to be a pretty strong candidate. I would suggest applying to Princeton, and maybe Rutgers. Princeton's Index of Christian Art is pretty fabulous, and if you attend Rutgers, you also have access to classes at Princeton. I've also heard Notre Dame has a good Medieval program...You should apply to a few out-of-country schools! Could be an exciting adventure, and lots of access to source material. 

 

Edit: Not knocking those who do take out loans for grad school, just acknowledging that paying back loans can be a total bitch!

Edited July 15, 2013 by Mary Queen of Scotch

[moiraf]

Thanks for the reply! I am aware of the funding situation; most places don't fund MAs, which is precisely why places like Columbia and NYU aren't on my list yet. However, because I have almost no academic art history background, I'm not qualified for most direct admit doctoral programs. That is why I am looking at mostly masters degrees, so I can then be ready for a doctorate once I have some art history under my belt. I guess my question really is, what masters programs are well respected and offer some funding (I know that Williams actually does have funding) or alternatively what PhD programs are more lax on art history prereqs/more interdisciplinary? I have actually looked at both Rutgers and Princeton and contacted people there, who said I needed more art history before applying. I guess we all have our weaknesses, and Butler's utter lack of art history classes is unfortunately mine. Thanks again for any help you can offer! Do you currently attend an art history grad school?

[EloiseGC]

I'll be entering into my program in the fall for my PhD, and I also come from an Art History family. Dad, sister, and mother are PhDs or PhD candidates. 

 

Most places have an 18 hour credit requirement, even for MAs (and especially for those programs that actually fund their MA students). I would just take those few undergraduate classes as a special student (they'll still go on your transcript) at whatever university is closest and then apply the next application season. Take as many in a semester as you can handle, work, save money, get your application materials finalized. 

[sacklunch]

Since your interests overlap quite a bit with religious studies, I would apply to some of the larger divinity schools MA programs with 'open' coursework. Yale's MARc comes to mind, for example. Such degrees would both offer funding and allow you to take courses in multiple departments. Or you may look into the program I am in (Duke, dept. of Religion, MA - two years, but only one course required, and we can take courses in any dept!).

 

cheers

[nodens]

As someone who is an advanced graduate student in the field you're interested in (in a top 10 program), I'm actually going to give you some bad news and suggest that you possibly do another BA in art history proper if you are truly dedicated to this career path. First and foremost the number of curatorships in this field in the US are less than 20, and almost all are firmly taken and will not open any time soon. International collections will hire a national, very rarely an American. If you're aware of those stats and still determined, you will need a degree from the best school possible. Divinity school is a bad idea. This subset of art history does not take it seriously. 

 

If you're still set on MAs, I would suggest something like Williams or UT Austin. They fund some, the names carry weight for terminal MAs. They would be a good stepping stone to a PhD if you're not interested in doing another BA.

[kunstgeschichtedude]

I'll be entering into my program in the fall for my PhD, and I also come from an Art History family. Dad, sister, and mother are PhDs or PhD candidates. 

 

Most places have an 18 hour credit requirement, even for MAs (and especially for those programs that actually fund their MA students). I would just take those few undergraduate classes as a special student (they'll still go on your transcript) at whatever university is closest and then apply the next application season. Take as many in a semester as you can handle, work, save money, get your application materials finalized. 

"I also come from an Art History family." That sounds like a dream come true! Can I please join your family!? Science and medicine people all on my dad's side... Talk about the worst support system for what I'm doing, haha.

[ruru107]

If you are planning on taking a few more art history classes, why not Herron at IUPUI? I had a great experience there.

[JosephineB]

You need to focus more on identifying programs with POIs who match your research interest. I know this field and, save for Bryn Mawr and Penn, your list of schools does not have professors in early xtian/byz/medieval. 

 

This is a hard field to break into because of language requirements. What languages do you have? You need a minimum of 2 years ancient greek and fluency in French and/or German to even be considered for entry into a PhD program in Byzantine art. Italian or Latin might cut it depending on your research interests, but IMHO it would be a waste of money to apply if you don't have reading fluency in French or German (this advice is for everyone!!!!!). 

Edited July 22, 2013 by JosephineB