Program Overview

Introduction to the Graduate Program in Art History

The graduate program in Art History at Case Western Reserve University offers an outstanding opportunity for students to pursue advanced study in the field. The program is closely affiliated with the Cleveland Museum of Art, providing students with unparalleled access to the museum's collections and comprehensive art library.

Program Description

The program provides a remarkable environment for the direct acquisition of specialized knowledge and professional curatorial and interpretive experience. Students have the opportunity to work with department faculty and curators from the Cleveland Museum of Art, gaining hands-on experience in the field. The program's areas of strength include:

• Classical art
• Medieval art
• Early modern art
• Asian art
• American art
• Modern and contemporary art

Research Opportunities

Graduate students contribute to cutting-edge scholarship sponsored by the Cleveland Museum of Art, in conjunction with its ongoing exhibition programs and research of its permanent collections. Students also have the opportunity to participate in internships, receiving supervised training in a variety of departments.

Collections Seminars

A new program of collections seminars, launched in 2015, expands student opportunities to learn firsthand about the exhibitions process and other museum research projects. Students work with a curator or faculty member to plan, research, and stage an exhibition or prepare a database or website based on the Cleveland Museum of Art's collections.

Faculty and Mentoring

Department faculty members are active scholars with busy lecture schedules and significant publication records. They produce books, articles, and exhibition catalogues, and serve as guest curators for exhibitions worldwide. Many curators at the Cleveland Museum of Art hold adjunct faculty status, teaching and supervising independent projects and participating on doctoral committees.

Visiting Lecturers and Symposia

The program is enhanced by a series of visiting lecturers, symposia, and workshops sponsored by the Art History and Art department, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the University's Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities. The department's Julius Fund sponsors visits by prominent scholars in ancient, medieval, early modern, and Italian art, while the Buchanan lecture series brings leading scholars and curators to campus.

Student Opportunities

Graduate students at both the doctoral and master's level are encouraged to deliver papers at national and international conferences. The department has established the Edward J. Olszewski Travel Fund to help defray doctoral students' expenses associated with travel to conferences, research libraries, and collections.

Alumni and Career Opportunities

The department's graduates are well-represented in museum professions at institutions such as the Freer/Sackler Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. The program's affiliation with a world-class museum provides students with a unique opportunity to gain professional experience and build a network of contacts in the field.