MA and MFA Degree Programs

Applicants should note that PhD-granting committees and departments in the Division of Humanities do not administer stand-alone master of arts programs. Students seeking only a master's degree apply directly to one of the three programs listed below. The master of fine arts degree is the final professional degree for visual artists.

Application procedures, information regarding financial aid, and the online application are available in For Prospective Students.

Master of Arts in the Humanities

The Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) provides students with a one-year pragmatic introduction to graduate studies at one of the world's great universities. MAPH is suited for students who wish to expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge within a discipline or across disciplines. The flexibility of the program makes it ideal for those pursuing careers other than university teaching and research, as well as those considering an academic career who have not had the appropriate academic background for direct entrance into a doctoral program.

Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

The Center for Latin American Studies grants the master's degree after one year of study. The curriculum provides students with thorough knowledge of the cultures, history, politics, and languages of the region. The program attracts students who benefit from interdisciplinary training in a highly individualized and flexible program. Students are provided with opportunity to develop and enhance skills and knowledge appropriate for careers related to Latin America or as preparation for further graduate work or professional training. Graduates of the program enter, or return to, careers for which the master's degree is increasingly an entry-level requirement, including secondary and higher education, government, business, and various cultural organizations and nonprofit agencies. Others enter doctoral and professional degree programs with support and advice from Latin American Studies staff and faculty. Students may be admitted to the program in either the Division of the Humanities or the Social Sciences Division and will receive the degree from the division through which they have registered.

Masters of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies offers an interdisciplinary master's degree in such areas as contemporary Middle Eastern studies, Middle Eastern history, Islamic studies, Islamic art and archaeology, and Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, or Turkish language or literature. The program is suitable for students who wish to use their knowledge of the Middle East in careers other than university teaching and research, as well as those considering an academic career who have not had the appropriate academic background for direct entrance into a doctoral program. The curriculum normally requires two years in residence; however, all or part of the language requirement may be met through the language placement examination, reducing the total course requirements. Students may be admitted to the program in either the Division of the Humanities or the Social Sciences and will receive the degree from the division through which they have registered. Students interested in a joint degree in Public Policy should apply to the Division of Social Sciences.

Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts

The Department of Visual Arts, located at Midway Studios, offers a master of fine arts degree for artists working in sculpture, photography, painting, print-making, installation, performance, video, and new media. Admission is based on the quality of an applicant's art work and the applicant's interest in working in an interdisciplinary program within a university. The curriculum of eighteen courses normally requires two years in residence. Art is a cultural product and, as such, students are encouraged to explore not only the specifically artistic issues pertinent to their work, but also theoretical, social, and historical criticism.