Art History is a Master Degree program (100% Online) offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 36 units to complete, with a total tuition of $55,836.
Program Overview
The Art History MA degree is designed to give students an advanced understanding of western art history. The program offers specializations in ancient art, medieval art, renaissance art, baroque art, 18th and 19th century art, and pre-war modern art.
The art historical curriculum is paired with three credits of fine art studio classes, which allow our students to become familiar with traditional methods of fine art production including painting, printmaking, and sculpture. This marriage of art history and fine art studies offers a perspective through which art and its historical trajectory can be uniquely evaluated and appreciated.
Students will complete their degree by writing an M.A. thesis, with the support and advisement of an Art History faculty member. The thesis will be written in the student's chosen area of art historical specialization demonstrating independent scholarly research, and highlighting their joint understanding of art and its creative process.
In our Art History Programs, you learn to think critically about the visual arts and visual culture. In classrooms and studios, you sharpen perception, refine visual analysis, and deepen your knowledge of technical processes.
You’ll learn to place art in its full historical context. To assess both the work and the field with a critical, analytical eye. To master research, writing, and presentation at a professional level. This is where insight meets craft and your voice enters the conversation.
What sets this Program apart
Based in the heart of historic San Francisco, the School of Art History is nestled among dozens of world-leading museums, galleries, and archives. This exceptional research environment offers a uniquely rich opportunity to learn from an extraordinary range of images and artists
, and an academic experience where art history meets art practice.
Through a dynamic curriculum that fuses object-based analysis, hands-on studio work, and foreign language study, you’ll build a sharp, immersive understanding of image-making and its histories. You’ll fuse theory and criticism with an interdisciplinary approach, gaining the skills and versatility to pursue careers in museums, galleries, publishing, archives, auction houses, and heritage management.
Online Learning Program. [img data-src="https://bpiqpjsgebtv-u1573.pressidiumcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ArchOnline.webp"]
Admission Requirements and Process
The Academy requires graduate applicants to demonstrate their ability and intent to complete a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Architecture program (M. Arch.). After submitting the application form and application fee, graduate applicants must submit a statement of intent, a résumé, college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, and a portfolio/reel. Upon receiving all application requirements, the department will review and will recommend that the student be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
Students applying to the M.A. Art History program will have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Art History (or equivalent) or have completed a minimum of twelve (12) units in Art History. At least six (6) of these undergraduate Art History units must be at the upper-divisional level and must be passed with a C- grade or higher. Applicants to the MA will also be required to submit a statement of intent, at least one academic letter of recommendation, and a writing sample on an art historical or related topic.
Applicants must submit TOEFL scores or official transcripts demonstrating they have attended an English platform institution for a minimum of 4 years at the high school level or higher. For acceptance to the MA in Art History program, the TOEFL score must be 80 or above.
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be required to make up any deficiencies by enrolling in one to six Graduate School Preparatory classes to be determined by the department director.
NOTE: Architecture and Art History students must submit official college transcripts.
State authorization for online education.
Online education providers are required to seek authorization by many U.S. states and territories to enroll their residents and those physically located in their jurisdictions. Academy of Art University restricts enrollment for applicants in and from areas where online programs are not approved. Current and prospective students are encouraged to consult the university’s State Authorization for Distance Education Status Table to determine whether the Academy is authorized to offer their degree programs in the state where they will be located while taking online courses.
General Requirements
- Art History preparationStudents applying to the M.A. Art History program will have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Art History (or equivalent) or have completed a minimum of twelve (12) units in Art…
- Bachelor’s degreeTranscripts must show completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent; you must submit official or unofficial transcripts from the institution from which you graduated.
- Application and feeSubmit the graduate application form and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- Statement of IntentSubmit an explanation of Graduate School goals and desired outcomes of the graduate degree in a one page, typed essay.
- RésuméSubmit an itemized list of educational and professional experience.
- Portfolio/ReelA body of work representing the chosen discipline is required for class placement in the graduate program; additional materials may be required by the specific departments.
- Department reviewUpon receiving all application requirements, the department will review and will recommend that the student be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory…
Application Process
- 1Meet with an Admissions SpecialistSchedule a meeting with one of our admissions specialists. They’ll guide you to the school and program that best fits your goals and help you navigate the application process.
- 2Apply for admissionSubmit the graduate application form and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- 3Send your supporting documentsSubmit your Statement of Intent, résumé and college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
- 4Submit your portfolio/reelSubmit a body of work representing your chosen discipline; registration for the appropriate classes is based on the skills demonstrated in the portfolio/reel.
- 5Department reviewThe department reviews your application and recommends that you be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
- 6File the FAFSAComplete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov and use Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.FAFSA Code for San Francisco Campus: 007531
Program Schedule
Start dates. Spring 2027 semester starts 2/3/2027 (application deadline 1/25/2027); Summer 2027 starts 6/21/2027 (deadline 6/14/2027); Fall 2027 starts 9/8/2027 (deadline 8/30/2027).
Graduate students must carry a minimum study load of 9 units to be considered as full-time students. Students are expected to attend summer semesters to meet their scheduled completion date.
Our online programs offer immersive classroom experiences both in real time and on demand.
- February 03rd, 2027
- June 21st, 2027
- September 08th, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition. Graduate & Art Teaching Credential tuition for Fall 2026–Summer 2027 is $1,551 per unit for domestic students ($1,857 per unit for international students); tuition is the same for both on-campus and online classes. This 36-unit program’s tuition is $55,836 for domestic students.
Fees.
- Application Fee: $50 (one-time, nonrefundable)
- Registration Fee: $50 per semester (nonrefundable after the cancellation period)
- Enrollment Fee: $95 for first-term domestic students, charged in lieu of the $50 registration fee ($100 for international students)
- Student Activity Fee: $30 per semester, on-site only; waived for students taking all courses online
- Student Tuition Recovery Fund: $0
- Course fees vary by course; fees may be different for on-campus sections and online sections
- Materials/Supplies: $545 average per semester
Estimated total program cost for a full-time, onsite, domestic student (effective fall semester 2026): application fee $50, enrollment fee $95, registration fees $200, student activity fees $150, estimated course fees $1,285–$3,093, for an estimated $57,616–$59,424 due for the entire program.
Payment options. Academy of Art offers many different ways to help you structure your payments, including interest-free installment plans and pre-payment options. The installment plan enables students to pay their tuition in four separate payments during Fall and Spring and two separate payments for Summer.
Financial aid. Federal aid available to Academy of Art University graduate students includes Federal Work Study, Direct Stafford (unsubsidized) Loans and Direct Graduate PLUS Loans. Complete the FAFSA using Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.
Military and veterans. The Academy processes the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), the Yellow Ribbon Program, Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31), DEA (Chapter 35), Military Tuition Assistance and MyCAA.
Net Price Calculator. Estimate your cost with the Academy of Art University Net Price Calculator: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/academyart
Living expenses. The cost of attendance budget includes the costs of tuition and fees, books, supplies, monthly allowances for room and board, transportation to and from school, and personal expenses such as clothes. Estimates of (Monthly) Living Expenses, 2026-2027:
- Food & Housing: $1,393 (student living with parents); $2,729 (student not living with parents); $4,133 (student living on campus, avg.)
- Personal Expenses: $507; $634; $441
- Transportation: $134; $184; $154
Federal student loan debt. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet:
- Most recent three year cohort default rate, as reported by the United States Department of Education: 2023: 0%; 2024: 0%.
- The percentage of enrolled students in 2023/2024 receiving federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 35%; 2024: 44%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 25%; 2024: 25%.
- The average amount of federal student loan debt of 2023/2024 graduates who took out federal student loans at this institution: 2023: $14,395; 2024: $14,864.
Curriculum
Master of Arts (MA) Degree – Major Classes.
This program is available online.
Unit Requirements.
- Major Coursework: 30 units
- Directed Study: 3 units
- Art & Design Breadth: 3 units
- Total: 36 units
MA Art History Degree Requirements.
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
- Minimum grade of C in all required 36 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirement:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course
Program Learning Outcomes.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Art Historical Knowledge
- Demonstrate advanced specialized knowledge of a specific period or field of art history, including the creative process and related intellectual issues, through a final written thesis.
Research and Analysis
- Research and persuasively analyze/argue an art historical issue and/or theoretical position
- Apply theoretical and methodological approaches to the interpretation of Western art and architecture.
- Conduct independent scholarly research, highlighting a joint understanding of art historical issues and the creative process through a written thesis in the student's chosen area of specialization.
Communication Skills
- Clearly express their ideas through scholarly writing and researched presentations.
Professional Readiness
- Apply acquired specialized as well as broader art historical knowledge and research skills in a variety of contexts (scholarly, educational, curatorial, connoisseurial).
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
The School of Art History trains you to think more deeply about the world connecting past to present, insight to impact. You’ll graduate with the critical eye, research skills, and creative fluency to move into museums, education, publishing, and the broader cultural landscape.
- Gallery Management
- Museum Curation
- Arts Administration
- Education/Research/Teaching
- Archive/Library Management
- Conservation/Restoration
- Academic/Arts Publishing
- Heritage Management
- Auction Houses/Dealing/Appraising
- Arts Journalism
- Corporate Consultancy
Program performance. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet filed with the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (calendar years 2023 & 2024, revised November 25, 2025):
- On-Time Completion Rate: 2023: 23% (3 of 13 students available for graduation); 2024: 13% (1 of 8 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 0% (0 of 3 graduates available for employment); 2024: 100% (1 of 1 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
- Annual salary and wages reported for 2024 graduates employed in the field (1): $65,001 - $70,000: 1.
Graduation and retention rates (university-wide).
- Graduate Students (Full-time): % of all incoming full-time students (503) in Fall 2019 graduated in 5 years: 75%.
- Retention Rates – 2024 Cohort: All incoming full-time graduate students (199) in Fall 2024 re-enrolled in Fall 2025: 81%.
What to expect as a Academy of Art University student
Guest Speakers
Academy Award winners, CEOs, creative directors, and startup founders join us live on campus and online. They share their real experience: the work, the risks, and the path forward. Every student is invited to listen, ask questions, and engage in these conversations.
Student Clubs
Whether you are an on-campus or online student you are welcome to join our student clubs. You’ll meet up, share ideas, and create art together. Sometimes it’s a quick sketch. Sometimes it turns into something big, a collaboration that lasts a lifetime. It’s always fun.
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Academy of Art University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), currently on warning; its accredited status continues during the Warning period.
Approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the San Francisco Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 910 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 83.4% rather than 100%.
Testimonials
Images
