Although exceptions may be made when other components of the application are strong, art history applicants should have a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 300 and an analytical writing score of at least 5 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. Applicants must hold an M.A. in art history or a related graduate degree and be able to demonstrate proficiency in French or German. Proficiency in a second non-English language relevant to the student's research area is required by the end of the third semester of Ph.D. work.

Applicants whose first or official language is not English and whose previous academic degrees were not earned at an English-language institution must score at least 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). All applicants must have a minimum TOEFL iBT speaking score of 26 and a listening score of 25. An application is not reviewed if scores are lower than the requirements specify. As an alternative to the TOEFL, applicants may take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). They must have a total score of 7.0, with no subscore less than 6.0. In addition, all IELTS test takers, regardless of score, are required to take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation. The Duolingo English Test (DET) with a score of at least 105 also is accepted.