The Master of Arts in Art History offers a broad education in art history including preparation for a Ph.D. degree program. It also prepares students for a graduate library degree with specialization in art history, as well as a variety of positions including community college professor, researcher, museum curator, art administrator, conservator, and visual resource librarian.

Applicants are not required to hold a B.A. in Art History but they should have completed several art history or art theory courses and be able to submit papers to demonstrate their skills in analysis and research. Mastery of foreign languages relevant to the applicant’s desired area of research is highly desirable. Students may select from a wide variety of upper-division and graduate courses in preparing themselves for comprehensive exams and for a final thesis or project. Appropriate areas of for thesis research (dependent upon faculty expertise) include African, Comparative Asian/Western, Islamic, Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, and Contemporary Art, as well as Visual and Cultural Studies, and Design History. A curatorial or educational project may be selected instead of the thesis. The Art History (student) Association presents lectures, workshops, field trips, and an annual Symposium (in its 14th year in 2007) which draws student speakers from norther and southern California campuses; there is an active faculty and student community.