Graduate Programs in Native American Art

Many graduate-level art history programs offer courses in Native American art, but few give students the option to earn a specialized degree in the field. If you want to earn a master's degree or Ph.D. in Native American art history, be sure to select a graduate school with faculty who are experts in Native American or indigenous art. Look for schools that provide proximity to American Indian museum collections and access to Native American cultural resources.
  1. Cornell University

    • Cornell University offers a Ph.D. in art and archeology with a field concentration in Native American and indigenous studies. The program does not offer a terminal master's degree, although an Masters in Art is awarded upon successful completion of the exam required for Ph.D. candidacy. Cornell relies on a special committee system to tailor the graduate program to each student, and students are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary approaches to their major fields.

      Cornell University
      History of Art, Archaeology, and Visual Studies
      GM08 Goldwin Smith Hall
      Cornell University
      Ithaca, NY 14853-3201
      607-255-9861
      cornell.edu

    University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

    • The American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program at UCLA offers a Master of Arts in American Indian studies with an expressive arts concentration in art history. More than half of graduates go on to pursue a Ph.D. or other advanced training. Students in the program benefit from its affiliation with the highly regarded UCLA American Indian Studies Center.

      UCLA
      American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program
      3220 Campbell Hall
      Box 951548
      Los Angeles, CA 90095-1548
      310-206-7511
      ucla.edu

    University of Oklahoma

    • The University of Oklahoma (OU) School of Art offers a Ph.D. in Native American art history. The university is home to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. According to OU's website, both museums have "significant holdings of Native American weaving, pottery, painting, beading and sculpture from Indian nations throughout Oklahoma and the United States." In addition, 39 Native American tribes are recognized in Oklahoma, creating many opportunities for direct study of contemporary tribal culture. Unlike many Ph.D. programs in art history, Oklahoma does not offer a wide variety of fields of study. Instead, the program is highly specialized, with only two specialties: Native American art history, and art of the American West.

      University of Oklahoma
      School of Art
      520 Parrington Oval, Room 202
      Norman, OK 73019
      405-325-2691
      ou.edu

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