Art History Thesis Guidelines
Writing a thesis provides a chance to produce a substantial piece of scholarship with an original argument that goes beyond the constraints of a typical term paper. Some students write a thesis because they would like to use it as a writing sample for graduate school or job applications. Other students pursue a thesis because they want to continue working on a research topic that they began exploring in one of their art history classes. Writing a thesis is also a prerequisite for receiving departmental honors. If you feel passionate about a specific topic and want to refine your skills as an art historian, researcher, and writer through a long-term project, then a thesis may be right for you.
Thesis topics are typically related to a subject that you have already explored in a research paper for an upper-level art history course. Students often begin writing about their thesis topics in the Seminar in Art Historical Research (ARTH4401), a required course for all art history majors that can be taken in the fall of the junior or senior year. The topic must be focused—students generally devote their theses to a single work of art, a small set of works, or an exhibition. If you are considering graduate study in art history or a related field like museum studies or public humanities, you may want to focus on a topic that you would be interested in exploring in your future studies. The best projects draw on skills and experiences that are specific to you, such as foreign-language abilities or expertise in another field from a double major. The most important factor in determining your topic, however, should be your enthusiasm and curiosity about the question guiding the research.
Your thesis should be approximately 6,000 to 10,000 words. Every thesis must include footnotes and a bibliography, which do not count toward the word total. The thesis should be richly illustrated, including images and captions. Exceptions to the length and formatting requirements can be made at the discretion of the Thesis Writing Course instructor.
If you wish to write a thesis, you must enroll in the Senior Thesis in Art History writing course (ARTH4483) during the spring of your senior year. The course provides a structured forum for developing your thesis and sharing feedback with classmates.
Thesis writers in art history present their work every spring at the Senior Symposium, a celebratory event that is open to students, faculty, family, and friends. Symposium presentations are typically a condensed version of the larger thesis (generally around 10 minutes), though they can also focus on just one aspect or section. Preparation for the symposium is built into the thesis writing course.
Preparation for the thesis begins well before the spring thesis writing course. It is a good idea to start thinking about a thesis topic in your junior year. (You may want to consider applying for the University’s research funds for the summer.) By the start of your senior year, you should know whether you plan to pursue a thesis and have a sense of the subject. Students should follow the timeline below during their senior year:
| Sept. to Dec. | Consider writing about your thesis topic in the Seminar in Art Historical Research (ARTH4401). Speak with faculty members with expertise about the topic that you would like to pursue. Register for the thesis writing course for the spring. |
| January | Thesis writing class begins. In addition to working with the instructor for the thesis writing course, you should consult with faculty who have expertise in your topic. |
| March | Complete draft of thesis. Prepare for Senior Symposium presentation. |
| April/May | Submit final thesis. Senior Symposium. |