History of Art

DPhil and MLitt in History of Art

Course Code | 000873

The DPhil entails the writing of a thesis of up to 100,000 words which may involve either the finding of new or re-examination of known sources.

The MLitt involves writing a thesis of up to 50,000 words which is usually based on original sources, printed or manuscript.

MSt in History of Art and Visual Culture

Course Code | 000730 

This programme is run within the History Faculty by the Department of the History of Art, and aims to equip students with understanding of a range of methodologies in the history of art, while expanding their knowledge in specific areas.

Combining methodological depth with access to magnificent primary sources, it welcomes students with a range of previous backgrounds in the study of history, history of art and other disciplines.

Over the first two terms, students take a course in the theory and methods of art history; in parallel, they choose a second course from among a number of options for in-depth familiarisation with a specialist area.

Throughout the year students will work towards a dissertation project of up to 15,000 words which they will write up and submit for examination in late May.

• Length of programme: Nine months
• Core and optional courses
• Programme specification

• Outstanding collection of online electronic resources
• Bodleian Library: printed books and western manuscripts
• University Language Centre
• History Faculty Library (lending library)
  
• History Faculty building (IT workstations and common room)
• Sackler Library (Archaeology, Art History and Classics)
  
• Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
  
• Department of the History of Art (with its own visual resources centre)

The core academic staff of the History of Art Department work on subjects from medieval European architecture to modern Chinese art.  Over fifty associated academic staff (e.g. in Anthropology, Classics, History, Oriental Studies, and the Ruskin School of Art) include teachers and researchers across the full global and historical range of art and visual culture. 

Information on Academic Staff Profiles

About a quarter of the History faculty's Masters students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate history career destinations: law, finance, management consultancy, civil service etc.

A recent survey of the destinations of doctoral students who completed theses in 2001 shows that about half are in academic posts in 9 countries; some are working in museums, or as freelance historians; others are primarily in higher administrative positions: in the civil service, university administration, banking, occasionally in publishing or law.

Students in specialised streams such as History of Art are more likely than others to find employment in museums and galleries.