The Master’s program in Art History at UT Dallas introduces students to a global history of art through close engagement with artworks held in Dallas-Fort Worth collections. In their coursework and independent research projects, students explore a broad range of material across geography, chronology, and medium, building a strong foundation in historiography, theory, and professional practices. 

• Conduct archival, object-based, and digital research at a professional level
• Apply deep knowledge of the field of art history to contemporary practices
• Formulate, develop, and execute long-term research projects
• Communicate ideas effectively in written and oral form for a wide variety of audiences
• Collaborate in interdisciplinary work across institutions

Upon successful completion of the BA in History, students will have attained a broad, critical, humanistic understanding of the world and our place in it, the ability to contextualize events in the present by distinguishing them from past times and places, and the ability to make informed decisions in the public sphere, as well as advanced interpretive and communication skills.

• Experience reading closely, critically, and extensively
• Ability to compile evidence
• Experience advancing arguments and defending them with evidence
• Recognition of nuance and contingency
• Ability to critically evaluate arguments made orally and in writing
• Understanding of legal traditions and other practices of power
• Awareness of the opportunities and challenges of social diversity
• Demonstrated competency in verbal and written communication
• Practice editing and proofreading

Upon successful completion of the MA in History, students will have attained advanced knowledge about the past and advanced skills in the study of and research in History. They will have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue doctoral work in History or to use historical knowledge and skills in a wide variety of professional settings.

• Demonstrated capacity to synthesize and evaluate extensive bodies of information
• Recognizing evidence required to produce new knowledge
• Understanding complex theoretical paradigms
• Ability to critically evaluate arguments made orally and in writing
• Experience analyzing sophisticated, professional-level intellectual discourse
• Experience advancing complex arguments and defending them with evidence
• Ability to produce narratives, including continuity and change
• Ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and accessibility

Upon successful completion of the MA in History of Ideas, students will have attained advanced knowledge and skills for the study of History, Philosophy, and their intersection. They will have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue doctoral work or to use their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of professional settings.

• Demonstrated capacity to synthesize and evaluate extensive bodies of information
• Recognizing evidence required to produce new knowledge
• Understanding complex theoretical paradigms
• Ability to critically evaluate arguments made orally and in writing
• Experience analyzing sophisticated, professional-level intellectual discourse
• Experience advancing complex arguments and defending them with evidence
• Ability to produce narratives, including continuity and change
• Ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and accessibility

Upon successful completion of the PhD in History of Ideas, students will have attained advanced knowledge and skills for the study of History, Philosophy, and their intersection. They will be able to pursue research at a high level of quality and teach in the areas of their expertise at any level.

• Mastery of complex bodies of knowledge
• Advanced research skills
• Ability to produce new knowledge
• Constructing, maintaining, and/or interpreting information databases
• Professional skills and networking
• Verbally defending complex arguments
• Experience constructing extended narratives and arguments
• Understanding how presentation methods should shift according to audience

Upon successful completion of the MA in Humanities, students will have attained advanced knowledge and skills for the study of history, philosophy, literature, visual and performing arts and their intersection. They will have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue doctoral work or to use their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of professional settings.

• Developing persuasive interpretative arguments about the humanities and culture
• Writing clear, convincing scholarly prose
• Thinking critically, analytically, and independently about complexity in humanities and culture
• Ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and accessibility

Upon successful completion of the PhD in Humanities, students will have attained advanced knowledge and skills for the study of history, philosophy, literature, visual and performing arts and their intersection. They will be able to pursue research at a high level of quality and teach in the areas of their expertise at any level.

• Mastery of complex bodies of knowledge
• Advanced research skills
• Ability to produce new knowledge
• Professional skills and networking
• Verbally defending complex arguments
• Experience constructing extended narratives and arguments
• Understanding how presentation methods should shift according to audience

Graduates of the UT Dallas BA in Latin American Studies explore the region through the interdisciplinary study of history; economics, political science, and business; and literature, language and culture. Our students have developed the following skills:

• Reading literary texts, historical materials, and current events closely, critically, and analytically
• Competency in the Spanish language and the cultural, economic, and political history of the Latin American world
• Articulating thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms
• Ability to effectively research and present arguments and evidence with an awareness of the perspective of multiple cultures

Graduates of the UT Dallas MA in Latin American Studies explore the region through the interdisciplinary study of history; economics, political science, and business; and literature, language and culture.

• Reading literary texts, historical materials, and current events closely, critically, and analytically
• Competency in the Spanish language and the cultural, economic, and political history of the Latin American world
• Articulating thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms
• Ability to effectively research and present arguments and evidence with an awareness of the perspective of multiple cultures

Upon successful completion of the BA in Literature degree program, UT Dallas students will receive a thorough grounding in literary ideas and methods, competence in particular national literatures, as well as the ability to work across literatures and languages with the following skills:

• Producing sophisticated analyses of literature and culture
• Writing clear, convincing academic prose
• Thinking critically, analytically, and independently about literature and culture

Upon successful completion of the MA in Literature, UT Dallas graduates will be able to enhance their knowledge of and skills at the study of literary works, their forms, ideas, contents and contexts with the following skills:

• Developing persuasive interpretative arguments about literature and culture
• Writing clear, convincing scholarly prose
• Thinking critically, analytically, and independently about complexity in literature and culture

Upon successful completion of the PhD in Literature degree program, UT Dallas graduates will conduct advanced research and to teach at the college level in literature, language, and cultural programs; they will also enhance fully their knowledge and skills:

• Producing new knowledge about literature and culture
• Writing publishable scholarly prose
• Thinking critically, analytically, and independently about complexity in literature and culture and about interpretation as such

Upon successful completion of the BA in Philosophy, UT Dallas students will be able to read, analyze, craft, and communicate ideas and arguments on the basis of a thorough grounding in historical and contemporary traditions in philosophy.

• Analytic and synthetic reasoning
• Professional writing
• Problem-solving
• Ethical decision-making
• Critical thinking
• Close reading and interpretation of texts
• Conduct textual research
• Use textual interpretation to support arguments
• Orally communicating ideas and arguments
• Ability to have interesting, engaging conversations

UT Dallas BA in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) graduates will understand the principles and engage in the methods of visual and performing arts disciplines represented within the curriculum. They will have developed competence in specific disciplines within VPA and be able to communicate effectively across disciplines within and outside of the arts with the following skills:

• Manage long term projects through the application of analytical, critical thinking, and creative skills to interpret creative work, solve problems, make strategic decisions, and demonstrate originality and inventiveness
• Obtain, interpret and use knowledge, facts, and evidence to engage in meaningful and relevant discourse based in principles and theories of the visual and performing arts
• Adapt effectively to new and emerging technologies
• Practice integrity and ethical behavior, act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and respond constructively to feedback
• Interact respectfully with all people and understand individuals’ differences
• Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms, and through creative practice

UT Dallas MA in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) graduates will be able to engage in enhanced understanding, application, practice, and study of the techniques, methods, theories, and forms of the visual and performing arts.

• Use knowledge, facts, and evidence to express independent analytical thinking about complex concepts in the arts, culture, and society through written, creative, and performative means
• Apply advanced performance, analytical, creative, and critical thinking skills in the workplace
• Plan, prepare, and present creative works in appropriate venues
• Adapt effectively to new and emerging technologies

UT Dallas PhD in Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) graduates will conduct advanced research and creative practice in the Visual and Performing Arts. The PhD in VPA will prepare graduates to communicate, teach (collegiate level), research, analyze, and create within their areas of emphasis and expertise.

• Apply new knowledge and perspectives about the arts within culture and society
• Use relevant and appropriate methods to participate in scholarly research and discourse to expand knowledge within their field of expertise
• Compose and publish scholarly works and participate in peer review
• Create and think independently, analytically, and critically, acknowledging complexity in visual and performing arts within cultural contexts and current practices
• Develop leadership skills in the classroom and within the collegiate and local community to engage others in creation, performance, and production of works