Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Details on applying to the School of Art and Art History can be found on the School of Art and Art History website. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required The GRE is not required for application to the Museum and Exhibition Studies program.

• English Proficiency Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:

  • Minimum English Competency Test Scores

    Exam	Score	Reading	Listening	Speaking	Writing
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)	4.5	4	4	4.5	4.5
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken prior to January 21, 2026)	80	19	17	20	21
    IELTS Academic	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
    PTE Academic	54	51	47	53	56

• Letters of Recommendation Three required from faculty members or others familiar with the applicant’s education, ability, and experience.
• Personal Statement Applicants must submit a statement of purpose no more than 500 words in length.
• Writing Sample Applicants must submit a writing sample of at least 5 but no more than 10 double-spaced pages.
• Interview Applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview after completing the online application.
• Resume Required.
• Application Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 48.
• Coursework

• Comprehensive Examination Not required.
• Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options Thesis, project, or coursework only (two papers). No other options are available. Students may choose one of the following:
  • Thesis: Must take at least 8 hours in thesis research (MUSE 598). No more than 8 hours of MUSE 598 can be applied toward the degree.
  • Project: Must take at least 8 hours of project (MUSE 597). No more than 8 hours of MUSE 597 can be applied toward the degree.
  • Coursework Only (two papers): Students must submit two substantial papers written in conjunction with core or elective graduate courses. Register for MUSE 590 for 0 hours.

Interdepartmental Concentrations

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include:

• Black Studies
• Gender and Women's Studies