Transcript:
Applicants should upload a transcript or record (e.g. web-based transcripts, mark sheets, Relevé de Notes) of any academic work from each university-level institution you have attended for use in review of your application. Uploading a scanned copy of your transcript or academic record will expedite processing and review of your application.
Transcripts that are in a language other than English must be translated into English. The translation must be certified to be an accurate translation of the original and be notarized or otherwise authenticated. Both non-English and translated transcripts should be uploaded.
Curriculum Vitae:
The CV (2 pages maximum) should include education and academic accomplishments, awards and fellowships, internships and professional/teaching experience, and other academic-related activities (conferences, publications, etc.).
Personal Statement:
The statement of academic purpose should be a succinct statement of approximately 2-3 pages (double spaced) describing your past academic work and preparation related to your intended field of study, your plans for graduate study at Columbia, and your subsequent career objectives. If you intend to transfer from a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to do so. If you are not currently attending an academic program, please describe your activities since you were last enrolled. If there has been a break in your educational experience, please include a brief explanation.
Recommendation Letter:
Letters of recommendation should ideally be from professors and scholars who can speak to the applicant's abilities and suitability for graduate study at Columbia. Typically, letters come from art and architectural historians or archaeologists, professors who have taught or supervised the applicant in college or at the Masters level, but a letter from an academic in another discipline, preferably the humanities, would be acceptable. Letters from museum professionals are acceptable. The referee ought to know the applicant well, know his or her work, and know what his or her goals are. The letters of reference are an important component of the application.
Writing Sample:
The writing sample is a very important component of the application. It should be an example of your best scholarly writing. Typically, the writing sample will be an excerpt from an undergraduate senior thesis, a seminar paper, or an article or other published work; it should be a critical or scholarly work in art history or a closely related field that demonstrates the candidate's skills in research and interpretation. The writing sample should be between 10-15 pages (essay and footnotes ONLY) and read as a complete essay.
Note: Applicants can submit up to 10 additional pages to include a bibliography and/or images ONLY.