The PhD Program in Visual Studies is administered by the Department of Art History. Visual Studies investigates the histories, meanings, and implications of the image, art work, representation, and their media. Wide-ranging, interdisciplinary, and theoretically rigorous in approach, our faculty work across diverse cultures, geographies, and periods, with strong interests in photography, performance, illustration and design histories, archaeology, architecture and the built environment, site-based installation, museum studies and exhibition histories, manuscripts, sculpture, and painting. Our location near Los Angeles allows the program to benefit from Southern California’s many cultural institutions and offerings.
We welcome students exploring new lines of inquiry into the visual and who seek academic community and close mentorship. Students who are admitted into the program, whether with BAs or MAs, enter directly into the PhD program in small cohorts and with multi-year funding packages.
The application deadline is December 15.
Prospective students interested in the Film and Media Studies PhD Program can find more information here.