Institute of Egyptian Art & Archaeology

Master of Arts in Egyptology

One of the most important functions of the Institute of Egyptian Art & Archaeology, (hereafter IEAA), is teaching. The faculty and professional staff of the IEAA teach undergraduate, graduate, and Continuing Education classes in Egyptian art, archaeology, history, religion, and language. The graduate-level courses listed below satisfy requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Art History with a concentration in Egyptian Art and Archaeology which is offered by the Department of Art at the University of Memphis.

What can our program do for you?

The Master's degree program with a concentration in Egyptian Art and Archaeology is designed to prepare the student either to continue on to a higher degree or to enter an alternate career path. Whichever the student's choice, the program will assist the student in developing strong skills in analytical thinking, research and writing.

Egyptology students with the M.A. degree in Art History from the University of Memphis have continued on to Ph.D. programs in ancient Egyptian art, history, archaeology, and language at such distinguished institutions as the University of Chicago, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, The Johns Hopkins University, and University College, London. Other of our students have enrolled in programs in related fields such as religious studies, ancient history and museum studies. Yet other graduates have found internships or employment in secondary education, field archaeology, and museums.

"So you want to become an Egyptologist?"

Click here to view the text of a standard letter which answers questions commonly asked by those still in junior high / middle school or high school who are thinking about Egyptology as a career.

Click here to view the text of a standard letter which answers questions commonly asked by undergraduate students who are thinking about applying to graduate school in Egyptology.

The Egyptology Resources web site by Dr. Nigel Strudwick also has a helpful FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page for individuals interested in careers in Egyptology.

Description of the Program

The Master of Arts in Art History with a concentration in Egyptian Art and Archaeology is a rigorous two year program. It is designed to prepare the student to continue on to the Ph.D. in some aspect of the study of ancient Egypt. The student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA ("B" average) to remain in good standing in the program.

At the University of Memphis, full-time students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours per semester. If a student has been awarded a graduate assistantship, three hours of ARTH 7881 (Workshop in Art History for Graduate Assistants) may be included.

Students are required to meet with the Program Advisor before registering for each semester's coursework. The Program Advisor must clear each student prior to registration.

Successful completion of the program requires that the student fulfill a number of requirements. These include:

Completion of two (2) departmental core courses (ARTH* 6123 and ARTH 7130)

Satisfactory completion of at least two semesters of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs

Passing a competency exam in Middle Egyptian hieroglyphs before the start of the second semester
Contact Dr. Corcoran for details regarding preparing this exam and to schedule an exam.

Passing a slide exam on ancient Egyptian art before the start of the second semester

One semester of either ARTH 6111 (Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt), ARTH 6112 (Art and Archaeology of the Old and Middle Kingdoms) or ARTH 6113 (Art and Archaeology of the New Kingdom through Later Periods)

Passing a competency exam in either German or French by the end of the first year
Contact Dr. Corcoran to schedule your exam.

Fulfill all university mandated course requirements

Select a Thesis Committee by the end of the first year of study

Successful completion of the Master's Thesis

Passing a comprehensive examination after submission of the M.A. thesis to the Thesis Committee

Successful defense of the comprehensive exam and the M.A. thesis

* ARTH = Art History

With the guidance of the academic advisor, Dr. Lorelei Corcoran, students are resposible for meeting these requirements in a timely manner.

Click on the underlined words "Program Requirements" to download an Acrobat pdf file created by Dr. Mariam Ayad to help you plan your courses.

For more information about the Requirements of the Program click here.

Egyptology or Degree-Related Classes Offered at The University of Memphis

Primarily in the programs in Art History and History, the University of Memphis offers over two dozen courses relevant to the program in Egyptology. Some of these courses may be taken by advanced undergraduate students while others are reserved for graduate study. These listings are from the on-line undergraduate and graduate bulletins.

Sample Two Year Schedule

The degree in Egyptian Art and Archaeology affords the student the opportunity to tailor their program to their specific interests in Egyptology. The sample semester-by-semester schedule for the two year Master's Program in Egyptology will help the student plan a particular course of instruction.

Thesis Preparation Guide

Links to the on-line thesis preparation guide of the Graduate School at the University of Memphis; the model for formatting your thesis and listing of thesis deadlines.

Graduate School Thesis Preparation Guide

Thesis Deadlines