The School of Visual Studies offers graduate degrees in Visual Studies that blend disciplinary training in the history of art, material culture, and media studies with a commitment to public humanities. Through a combination of coursework; outreach, research, and teaching opportunities; and interdisciplinary collaboration with scholars in other fields and professional programs, the MA and PhD prepare students for careers in a variety of educational institutions, cultural organizations, and the creative economy generally.
In the Doctoral Program students deepen their exploration of art history and demonstrate their ability to carry out original scholarship. The department advises doctoral students in the following areas of study: late medieval and modern European and American art and culture; material culture; patronage and collecting; gender and the arts; and the social history of art. Doctoral coursework draws from historical and theoretical studies in the SVS, and students are also encouraged to take courses in other graduate programs such as English, History, Women’s and Gender Studies, as appropriate to the students’ interests. Students may also elect to combine their Visual Studies degree with one of several graduate certificates, for example those offered in Digital Humanities, Public Engagement, or a minor in Museum Studies.
Area resources include our excellent Ellis Library, steps away from Swallow Hall, the comprehensive collections of the Museum of Art and Archaeology, the archival and museum resources at the Center for Missouri Studies, and a vibrant arts community on campus and in the broader community. The cost of living in Columbia is uniquely affordable given its diverse and progressive cultural advantages. Columbia is home to three colleges, a dynamic live-music scene, numerous cafes and bars, the annual True/False documentary film festival. World-class museums in Saint Louis and Kansas City are less than a two-hour drive from campus.
September 2025
College of Arts and Science
317 Lowry Hall,
COLUMBIA,
Missouri,
65211, United States
The department accepts as candidates for the Ph.D. students who have earned an M.A. or its equivalent in art history, media studies, or related fields of the humanities and social sciences, either from the University of Missouri-Columbia or from an institution recognized by the University. An M.A. thesis is a prerequisite for the Ph.D. in both art history and classical archaeology. The Doctoral Program Committee determines the acceptability of work completed elsewhere.
Students completing an M.A. degree in the School of Visual Studies who want to continue for the Ph.D. must be accepted for advising by a faculty member on the doctoral faculty. Such students should submit a statement of purpose and a current CV to the School by the January 18 deadline. If students are formally admitted by the faculty, they submit a “Change of Program, Degree, Emphasis or Advisor Form†to the Graduate School.
Non-native English speakers must score 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 6.5 on the Academic IELTS, PTE score of 59 and Cambridge C1 Advanced score of 180
Application Deadlines: Fall: January 18
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.