If My Bachelor’s Degree Isn’t In Art History, What Would I Need To Do To Prepare To Apply For a Master’s In It?

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Many people pursue a Master’s in Art History after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the same discipline. With that said, some people seek a master’s degree in art history without first obtaining an undergraduate degree in that area of study. You may wonder what you need to apply for a Master’s in Art History without first obtaining a bachelor’s degree in that discipline.

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Satisfy Mandatory Course Work

Every college and university in the United States that has a Master’s in Art History program does have certain specific academic requirements that must be satisfied before a person is admitted to a graduate program. While a person intent on seeking a Master’s in Art History may not need a bachelor’s degree in the same subject, an individual will need to take some specific types of courses to meet minimum admission requirements.

What this means is that even if you aren’t or haven’t completed a bachelor’s program, you will need to make certain you’ve taken any specific courses while an undergraduate that is required by a particular master’s program. Examples of such courses may include art-historical anthropology, visual studies, archaeology, architectural history, film studies, media studies, and similar types of courses.

Undertake an Internship in an Associated Field

If you plan on applying for entrance into an art history master’s program and don’t have a bachelor’s degree in that area you can buttress your chances for admission to participating in an internship in an associated field. People typically seek an internship to add practical or hands-on experience to their resumes while still in school. Doing so makes them more appealing to prospective employers. This includes people intent in making a living in the arts, according to Forbes.

In a similar vein, a person wanting to obtain a Master’s in Art History but lacks a bachelor’s in the area is more appealing to an admissions committee if an internship is undertaken. Such an internship can be in a variety of settings including museums, galleries, specialty publications, academia.

Learn a Foreign Language

Another recommended step to take to prepare to apply for a master’s degree program in art history without a bachelor’s in the discipline is to learn a foreign language. A considerable amount of texts important to work in the art history arena are in Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Latin. Thus, becoming competent in one or another of these languages, or even more than one, can be valuable. This particular can be the case when an individual has not obtained a bachelor’s degree in art history.

Get Suitable Letters of Recommendation

Another tactic you will want to employ when you want to enter a master’s program in art history and lack a bachelor’s degree in the discipline is to focus on obtaining ideally suited letters of recommendation. You will want to make certain your recommendation letter writers address why you’re ideally suited for Master’s in Art History program even though this wasn’t your primary focus as an undergraduate.

Take the GRE On Time

In preparing to apply for a master’s degree in art history without first completing an undergraduate degree in this academic area, take the GRE promptly. You want to make sure the GRE scores are available or arrive before an application deadline. You also need to pay close attention to GRE scores. Getting into a typical Master’s in Art History program typically requires GRE scores at 167 on verbal, 160 on quantitative reasoning, and 5.5 on the essay.

An admissions office staff member at a college or university you’re interested in applying for entry into a Master’s in Art History program can provide at least some assistance regarding what you’ll need to support your application for admission. This is the case in situations in which you’ve not previously obtained a bachelor’s degree in art history.

Related Resources:

What Can I Do With An Art History Degree?

I Want To Be an Art History Major. What Kinds of Classes Should I Take in High School?

Are There Specific Requirements for Applying to College for an Art History Degree?

If I Take the AP for Art History, What Class, Generally Speaking, Will That Give Me Credit for in College?

What Kind of Jobs or Career Path with a Degree in Art History Will I Find?

What Kind of Internships Would Help Me as an Art History Major?