The Master’s program at the O’Donnell Institute is designed as a rigorous, immersive experience for highly motivated students, admitted on the basis of demonstrated merit and potential.
Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States, or its equivalent at an international institution. Applicants should have a strong undergraduate foundation in art history or a related field, or comparable professional experience. Applicants must meet the UT Dallas Graduate School general admission requirements, and must have achieved at least a 3.6 G.P.A. (especially in upper-division undergraduate work). The strongest applicants will also demonstrate reading proficiency in at least one foreign language related to the desired research focus.
Application Deadline
Visit the UT Dallas Office of Graduate Admissions website for deadlines.
See each year’s Academic Calendar
The Graduate Application Process
Application to the Master’s program is completed online through the UT Dallas Office of Admissions website. Applicants can review file requirements for uploading documents on the Office of Admissions and Enrollment pages. If you have questions while submitting your material for review, please contact Heather Bowling, heather.bowling@utdallas.edu.
The Graduate School application website will request the following documents:
- Application for Graduate Study at UT Dallas (available online). To finalize your application, please submit the $50 application fee (International applications may have additional fees and requirements).
- Transcripts: Applicants are required to submit a copy of an official transcript from each institution from which they have obtained a degree. Applicants who are admitted to the program will be required to submit official transcripts to the Office of Admission and Enrollment before being allowed to enroll.
- Letters of recommendation: Applicants will be prompted by the online application to indicate three recommenders (at least one academic). The recommenders will be sent an email that contains the recommendation form. Each letter should be written by someone who knows your work well and can judge your merit and potential as a graduate student.
- Curriculum Vitae: Your CV should summarize your educational background, including institutions and degrees earned. It should also include a summary of academic and professional positions held (e.g. teaching assistantships or internships), awards and fellowships, and academic publications.
- Statement of Purpose: Describe your preparation and motivation for graduate study in the field of art history, your research interests in your chosen area(s) of study, and your future professional goals. In particular, what are the questions that will drive your study and research, what contribution will your work make to the field, and how will you draw on the research initiatives, academic curriculum, and resources of the O’Donnell Institute? Your statement of purpose should be 1,000-1,500 words long.
- One sample of academic writing: Your writing sample should be in PDF format only and should not exceed 12 MB.
International applicants may be subject to additional requirements. Please visit the Office of Admission and Enrollment website for up to date information.
