PhD in Art History - Art Practice in La Jolla United States | University of California, San Diego

The Art History program now offers a specialized Art Practice track, tailored for experienced artists pursuing intensive research while creating studio work alongside their written dissertation. This Art Practice concentration emerged organically from the interconnected nature of history, theory, and creative work within the Visual Arts department. Unlike programs that separate artistic creation from historical study, UC San Diego's Visual Arts department fosters collaboration between practitioners, theorists, and historians to push boundaries across disciplines and methodologies. Students in the Art Practice track meet identical PhD requirements as other concentrations—including language and qualifying exams plus a dissertation proposal—but present their final work as a combination of written analysis and creative output (such as films, exhibitions, or public installations). Ideal candidates are professional artists with research-driven practices seeking to critically examine their work while engaging with a vibrant community of fellow artists and scholars. Applicants should typically have at least three years of professional experience following their master's degree.