Grad program
Information

Course and Language Requirements

Department Distribution Requirements:

Graduate study in the history of art and archaeology is carried out under one of three departmental programs: Classical Art and Archaeology, Chinese and Japanese Art and Archaeology, and Western Art. For purposes of distribution, the curriculum is divided into six broad fields: 1) Ancient, 2) Medieval, 3) Renaissance and Baroque, 4) Modern, 5) Islamic, and 6) Chinese and Japanese. Students in the Western Art program will normally take four full semesters of course work totaling 12 courses, including one course in two of the six mentioned areas; students in the Classical Art and Archaeology and Chinese and Japanese Art and Archaeology programs will take a total of 15 courses. One half of all of courses will be at the 400 level or above. Within their particular field of specialization, students are expected to take courses with each faculty member in that particular speciality. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors in selecting classes in other departments or at other institutions (see Section XV).
  • a) Graduate students in our department must not take graduate seminars as a pass/fail course unless these seminars are offered only pass/fail (as is the case in the departments as History and Classics).
  • b) Graduate students in our department may audit courses outside of their field or audit courses within their field beyond the twelve/fifteen mandatory classes.
  • c) Reading courses may NOT be audited.

Degrees

Advanced degrees are conferred five times each academic year in September, November, January, April and June by the trustees of the University. A Master’s Degree is awarded as an incidental degree for which doctoral students may apply after passing the general exam (Western art exam timeframe is spring of second year or fall of third year; for Classical Archaeology, Far Eastern Programs, and Islamic Art and Archaeology exam timeframe is spring of third year). Ph.D. candidates are required to pass the general exam, present an acceptable dissertation, and pass the final public oral examination.

A vote to advance to degree candidacy is made at the conclusion of the General Exam by the faculty present. “To be awarded an advanced degree, the candidate must fulfill the requirements of the department or program concerned and submit an application for the degree to the Office of the Graduate School. When these obligations are met, the degree is recorded on the transcript. For a degree to be conferred at Commencement in June, the student must submit the degree application before deadline established by the Graduate School.” (page 12, Graduate Announcement)

Departmental Language Requirements:

Students are expected to fulfill the language requirement, by examination, as soon as possible after enrolling, standing for at least one exam early in the first term. Language examinations are offered by the German, French and Italian departments each fall semester; other relevant language exams are arranged through the department. The graduate secretary will inform students when the language tests will be held. An examination from another institution does not fulfill the Princeton requirement. Candidates will not be readmitted for a third year (fifth term) of study for the Western Art program, fourth year (7th term) for the Classical Archaeology and Chinese and Japanese Art and Archaeology programs, or to the general examination unless the language requirement has been satisfied.

Candidates whose program includes a language requirement will not be reenrolled for a third year of study, or to the general examination, unless the requirement has been satisfied (quoted from the GSA).

Elementary languages classes do not count toward the twelve/fifteen mandatory/required courses.

Language exam requirements:
  • Western Art Program—German and one other language, normally a Romance language.
  • Japanese Art and Archaeology—Japanese (modern/premodern) and one other language, either Chinese (modern/premodern) or French or German. Chinese Art and Archaeology—Chinese (modern/premodern) and Japanese (modern/premodern).
  • Classical Archaeology Program—Greek, Latin, German, and one romance language.
  • Islamic Art and Archaeology—Arabic, a second Middle Eastern language and French or German.
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    Department of Art & Archaeology
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    Princeton, NJ 08544
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