Introduction

The Department of Art History at Penn State offers graduate programs of study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in art history. The department offers lecture/discussion courses and graduate seminars on a broad range of topics, from ancient to contemporary art and architecture in Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia. Courses are also offered in museum studies, iconology, and criticism. Courses are taught by eleven full-time faculty members, four affiliate faculty members (who are curators in the Palmer Museum of Art), and two visiting faculty members.

There are about twenty graduate assistantships filled by graduate students in the Department of Art History each year. Qualified incoming graduate students may also be nominated by the department for University Fellowships, Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards, and Graham Fellowships. The department also has funds to help support graduate students in their research and travel expenses related to their theses. Dissertation Fellowships and travel/research grants totaling $58,349 were awarded by the department to thirteen graduate students for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Department of Art History is a co-sponsor of Penn State's Summer Abroad program in Todi, Italy, in which graduate students may choose to participate.