Degree Programs

The application deadline for admission to the Bard Graduate Center’s Master of Arts and Doctoral Programs for the 2010–2011 academic year is January 15, 2010.

Download the 2010 Application Form

Applicants to the Master of Arts Program must have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, there are no restrictions as to the applicant’s prior field of study. However, applicants are expected to have had previous study, training, or work experience in the history of art, architecture, decorative arts, history, material culture studies, archaeology, or anthropology. Some preparation in art history is encouraged but not required. Prospective students in the Master of Arts Program should have a reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian.

Doctoral Program applicants are required to hold an MA in either the decorative arts or a related field, such as art history, history, or cultural studies. Students entering the program with an MA from another institution are required to take additional courses as part of their program of study for candidacy for the PhD. Students who have completed the Master of Arts Program at the Bard Graduate Center and who wish to continue study toward the PhD must make a separate application to the Doctoral Program. Students applying to the Doctoral Program should have reading knowledge of two languages from among French, Italian, German, or other languages by petition.

After prescreening by a faculty committee, a number of applicants are asked to schedule interviews with the Graduate Committee. All applicants must be able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English. This ability is assessed by the Graduate Committee, based on an interview—conducted either in person or on the telephone—and a sample of written scholarly work. Students are strongly encouraged to interview in person, if possible. Students with deficiencies are expected to rectify them prior to admission to the program. Some students may be able to correct these inadequacies during the first academic year, but such work is not granted credit.

Open House

Open houses in 2009 will take place on October 26, November 16, and December 6. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 212.501.3019. To make an appointment to speak about the program with Dean Elena Pinto Simon, call the Academic Programs Office at 212.501.3057.

Student Profile

The student body of the Bard Graduate Center comprises recent college graduates; holders of advanced degrees who wish to pursue studies in the history of the decorative arts, design, and museum studies; and people employed in arts-related fields who wish to strengthen their academic background and enhance their professional standing. The Master of Arts Program enrolls 20 to 25 students each academic year; the Doctoral Program enrolls 3. Students come to the BGC from a variety of backgrounds, including art history, history, cultural history, American studies, anthropology, archaeology, visual culture, and women’s studies.

International Students

International students must be proficient in English and should submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) by January 15, 2010. In order to receive visa documentation, foreign students must submit proof that income from all sources is sufficient to cover expenses during the period of residency in the United States. To this end, international applicants must complete a Certification of Finances. Evidence of financial responsibility must be demonstrated by one of the following: affidavit from a bank, certification by parents or sponsors of their ability to provide the necessary funds, or certification by employers of anticipated income.

Part-time Study

Part-time study is available to students in both the Master of Arts and Doctoral Programs. Part-time MA students take the full August Orientation Session in the year they are accepted into the program. All part-time students are required to take a minimum of 6 credits in each fall and spring term. It is not possible to complete degree course work by taking only evening classes, nor is it possible to take just one course a term.