1. School of Art and Design
  2. Graduate Programs
  3. M.A. in Art: Art History or Teaching at the Two-year College Level

M.A. in Art: Art History Research or Teaching at the Two-year College Level

Expand your art history expertise and career options by joining our close-knit academic community.

You'll find resources and support as you prepare to pursue advanced research in art history or to teach at a two-year college.

Our alumni teach at colleges and universities around the country. Some are employed in museums, while others study in Ph.D. programs throughout the United States and abroad. When you graduate, you'll be well-prepared for the next step in your professional journey.


Apply for Admission
Explore Campus

At a Glance


30 credit hours


In person


Full time


Start in the fall or spring semester

Career Outlook for M.A. in Art: Art History Research or Teaching at the Two-year College Level

Average mid-career salary for alumni:

Top job titles for alumni:

Top employers for alumni:

Source: Steppingblocks, {{steppingBlocksSourceYear}}

How to Apply

You’ll apply through the Graduate School.

Fall admission:

  • February 1 (priority deadline to be considered for admission with funding)
  • April 1 (final deadline for admission)

Spring admission:

  • September 1 (final deadline for admission)

Initial requests for information may be made by contacting the graduate coordinator at artgradcoordinator@niu.edu.

Application Materials

Step 1: Apply via the Graduate School

Your application will include:

  • Three letters of recommendation provided by academic references, such as university professors, or others who are qualified to speak to your academic skills or experiences in fields related to art history/visual studies
  • Official college transcripts
  • Statement of purpose/goals explaining why you would like to pursue a graduate degree in art history/visual studies generally and why you are applying to NIU in particular
  • Writing sample of approximately 10 pages, such as a college research paper or critical essay on a topic relevant to the study of art history/visual studies that demonstrates your skill in research, analysis, and interpretation
  • CV/resume highlighting skills and experiences relevant to the study of art history/visual studies, such as languages, travel, museum/gallery experience, etc.

Step 2: Apply for Assistantship (Optional)

If you wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship, please fill out the School of Art and Design graduate assistantship questionnaire. In addition, please complete the application for a graduate assistantship (PDF).

Costs and Funding

Our competitive tuition and fees helps ensure an excellent return on the investment of your time and resources. Learn about additional funding opportunities for graduate students.

Assistantships

We offer many opportunities for financial support, including scholarships, travel funding, tuition waivers and assistantships. A teaching assistantship will provide experience working with undergraduate students. A research assistantship will build your skills in areas such as faculty research and managerial work.

You can apply for an assistantship by filling out a form when you apply to the program.

Curriculum and Requirements

You can pursue a Master of Arts degree in art with a specialization in art history research or art history teaching at the two-year college level. You can choose to complete a thesis as part of your degree.

View Program Requirements

We also offer certificates to enhance your art history knowledge:

Whichever path you choose, you'll benefit from the depth and variety of our art history courses.

Faculty

You'll have opportunities to work closely with our art history faculty members, who are known around the world for their excellence in scholarship, teaching and service.

We also welcome talented researchers, curators, artists and filmmakers each year through our Elizabeth Allen Visiting Scholars in Art History series.

More About Our Faculty

Contact Us

Ann Van Dijk
Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator
artgradcoordinator@niu.edu

School of Art and Design
Jack Arends Hall, room 216
815-753-1473