Name

Anna Ratner Hetherington

School

Columbia University

Degree Program

Seventh year PhD student in Art History and Archaeology with a specialization in European Renaissance Art

Previous Degrees

Master of Philosophy from Columbia University, 2008; Master of Arts in Art History from Columbia University, 2006; Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Psychology from University of California at Berkeley, 2003

Dissertation Title

Melancholy Illusions: From Bosch to Titian

Research Interests

Renaissance art

Hobbies

Executive director of a nonprofit youth leadership organization

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school?

I decided to go to Columbia University for my PhD program in art history and archeology because of the wide-ranging interests of the faculty and the resources available both through the school and within New York City. I also particularly wanted to work with the Renaissance specialists at Columbia.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

Before I applied to Columbia’s PhD program in art history and archeology, I prepared by investing time into meeting the faculty members and current graduate students in the art history department at Columbia University. It is a large department and I wanted to get a sense of it in person.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, doctoral applicants to the art history and archaeology program at Columbia are required to submit GRE test scores. There is no minimum requirement for the GRE scores, yet they are a component of the application process.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I worked very closely with two faculty members, so they were obvious choices when it came to acquiring letters of recommendation. I suspect most faculty members are happy to write letters for their students if they are given plenty of notice and enough information.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in art history?

If you are a prospective PhD student, I would highly recommend that you take time to meet the faculty at every department that you are considering, I think it is good to know who you’re going to be working with for the next 7 years. I also recommend talking to graduate students about their experiences at the department. You want to make sure that the school is a good fit for you.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

Students are expected to complete the art history and archaeology PhD program at Columbia University in 7 years.

Students progress through the PhD program in several stages. The first 3 years are devoted to coursework. After the first year, students are expected to complete a masters thesis, then begin work as a teaching fellow. During their third year, students take an oral examination administered by 3 faculty members, thereby earning their master of philosophy degree en route to their PhD.

After students earn their master of philosophy degree, they begin formulating their dissertation proposal, which they defend as soon as possible so that dissertation research and writing can commence. Students have many opportunities to teach and conduct research for their dissertations while staying at the university or to travel for research. Whatever path they choose, the rest of their efforts are devoted to dissertation research and defense, which usually takes 2 to 3 years.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

My dissertation is entitled “Melancholy Illusions: From Bosch to Titian.” The focus of my research is to examine the ways in which Renaissance artists understood the concept of melancholy and figured it in their works. I am in my seventh year, so I will be defending my dissertation soon.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

The dissertation process is a long one, which is why Columbia University funds its PhD students for up to 7 years. Normally, fifth year PhD students receive a departmental fellowship so that they can concentrate on writing their dissertations. There are also fellowship opportunities available from the university and from outside sources for sixth and seventh year PhD students. But if it takes a student longer than 7 years to complete his or her PhD program, they need to acquire funding independently, which is a nice way of saying that they are on their own.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays a central role in my education. Not only did he suggest appropriate courses for me to take and give advice on my course of research, but he also reads and edits everything I send to him. In my opinion, access to a good advisor is the most important factor to consider when choosing a graduate program.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, we have to pass language exams, orals and a dissertation proposal defense before doing the dissertation defense. Orals are comprehensive exams in which students sit with 3 faculty members that students get to choose. Students generally spend the summer and fall semester of the third year preparing for this exam.

After passing orals, students come up with a dissertation proposal. When it is approved, they are classified as ABD, which stands for “all but dissertation.” At that stage, you do not have any more exams until you defending the dissertation itself.

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the masters level?

The biggest difference between my doctoral and masters work is the level of independence that I have now. I earned both my masters degree and my master of philosophy as part of my doctorate program at Columbia University. When I was building up to my masters degree, the program was heavily focused on completing coursework and teaching undergraduates, so it was relatively structured. Conversely, as an advanced PhD student, I have a lot of freedom. That means I have to rely on intrinsic motivation and self-discipline to keep working on my dissertation.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

Columbia University fully funds its PhD students, so I do not know exactly how much my PhD program would cost me out of pocket. It would be very expensive.

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through a fellowship that includes a teaching requirement. As far as I know, at Columbia University, every PhD student in the art history department receives full funding and a stipend, which is around $23,000 per year. As part of the funding agreement, all PhD students serve as teaching assistants for 2 years. In the fourth year, students get to teach their own class called Arts Humanities. It must be said that teaching that class is an amazing experience and incredibly helpful in preparing to be future faculty.

Most students get by on the school’s funding without taking out too many extra loans. Even though living in New York City is expensive, the school helps by offering subsidized housing, and it is possible to get summer funding. Money is incredibly tight, but most students manage for most of the time without undue hardship.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in art history?

At every phase of my doctoral program, the time commitments are comparable to holding a full-time job. However, there are many students who work many more hours than that. At this stage, it seems like I work nonstop. It is a creative process, so the work is never done, and no vacation is really truly a break when one is trying to finish the writing process.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

It takes a lot of discipline to maintain what I consider to be a healthy work-life schedule and not let graduate school take over my personal life. I have a family, so I try very hard to spend time not worrying about work. A PhD program is demanding, so after you begin your dissertation, it always stays in the back of your mind..

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to have a tenured-track job. However, it is unlikely that I will, considering the extremely limited number of positions.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in art history?

I advise prospective art history graduate students to learn the necessary languages before starting grad school so that your time there doesn’t become consumed unnecessarily with catching up on them.

I also recommend that students take some time off after finishing their undergraduate degrees. If they don’t, the likelihood of getting burned out is much higher. Also, if they take some time to get out in the real world, they will appreciate the graduate school experience more. Also, don’t have unrealistic expectations. Graduate school is nothing like college. It’s a very creative but demanding job with very low pay. You have to really love what you do to do this.