Student Handbook 2021-2022 - Bard Graduate Center
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Student
Handbook
2021–2022
Minton & Co. Fern and Foxglove
Garden Pot and Stand, shape
no. 1056, designed ca. 1851; this
example 1866. Earthenware with
majolica glazes. Joan Stacke Graham
Collection. Photograph: Bruce White.Student Handbook 2021–2022 Academic Programs Bard Graduate Center Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture Revised Summer, 2021
Table of Contents 6 Faculty and Staff 8 Governance 10 General Academic Policies 16 MA Program 22 PhD Program 36 Resources and Policies 38 Research Collections Guidelines 40 Other Institutional Policies
Administrative Offices, Academic Programs, Research Center,
Gallery, and Public Programs
38 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 The New York State Education Department has
Location of all classes, Academic offices, Library, registered the following courses of study leading
VMR, Faculty offices, DML, Object Lab, Public to Bard College bachelor, masters, and doctoral
Programs, Research Center degrees: the bachelor of arts, bachelor of music,
bachelor of science, master of arts in curatorial
18 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 studies, master of arts in teaching, master of
Galleries fine arts, master of business administration in
sustainability, master of music in vocal arts,
Other Offices: 18 West 86th Street, New York, NY master of music in conducting, master of music
10024 in curatorial, critical, and performance studies,
Development, External Relations, Finance and master of science in environmental policy, master
Administration, Director’s Office of science in climate science and policy, master
of education in environmental education, master
Please note that buildings are closed to students, of science and master of arts in economic theory
faculty, and staff on the following holidays: New and policy, and the master of arts, master of
Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, philosophy, and doctor of philosophy degrees
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the in decorative arts, design history, and material
day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day. All other culture. New York State Education Department,
changes to building hours will be sent to students, Office of Higher Education, Office of College
faculty, and staff via email. and University Evaluation, Room 960 EBA, 89
Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234; phone 518-
Academic Programs Office 474-1551. http://www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html
Telephone: 212.501.3019 (events line)
Bard is also a member of the American Council on
Students should familiarize themselves with the Education, American Council of Learned Societies,
regulations and procedures listed in the Student Association of American Colleges and Universities,
Handbook. Bard Graduate Center maintains the College Entrance Examination Board, Commission
right to review and amend policies as required. on Independent Colleges and Universities,
Students, faculty, and staff will be duly informed of Education Records Bureau, and Environmental
any such changes. Be advised that the provisions Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and
of this handbook are not to be regarded as an Universities.
irrevocable contract between the student and
Bard College or its officers and faculty. The College Notice of Nondiscrimination
reserves the right to make changes affecting Bard College is committed to ensuring equal
admission procedures, tuition, fees, courses of access to its educational programs and equal
instruction, programs of study, faculty listings, employment without regard to an individual’s sex,
academic grading policies, and general regulations. gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age,
The information in this handbook is subject to disability, gender identity, sexual orientation,
change without notice. predisposing genetic characteristics, marital
status, veteran status, military status, domestic
Bard College is accredited by the Middle States violence victim status, ex-offender status, or any
Commission on Higher Education, a regional other characteristic protected by federal, state,
accrediting agency approved by the United States or local law. Students, employees, applicants,
Education Department. Middle States Commission and other members of Bard College community
on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor (including, but not limited to, vendors, visitors, and
West, Philadelphia, PA 19104; phone 267-284- guests) shall not be subject to discrimination or
5000. https://www.msche.org/institution/0267/ harassment prohibited by law or otherwise treated
4adversely based upon a protected characteristic.
Similarly, the College will not tolerate harassing,
violent, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct by
its students, employees, or any other member of,
or visitor to, the College community. This includes,
without limitation, sexual harassment, sexual
assault, sexual violence, dating violence, and
domestic violence.
Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Bard College complies with the provisions of
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974. This act assures students attending a
postsecondary institution that they will have
the right to inspect and review certain of their
educational records and, by following the
guidelines provided by the College, to correct
inaccurate or misleading data through informal
or formal hearings. It protects students’ rights
to privacy by limiting transfer of these records
without their consent, except in specific
circumstances. Students have the right to file
complaints with the Family Policy Compliance
Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington,
D.C. College policy relating to the maintenance of
student records is available, on request, from the
Office of the Registrar.
5Faculty and Staff
Bard Graduate Center Susan Weber, Founder and Director, Iris Horowitz
Susan Weber, Founder and Director Professor in the History of the Decorative Arts
Ittai Weinryb, Associate Professor, Director of
Academic Programs Doctoral Studies, Editor of “West 86th:
Peter N. Miller, Dean and Professor A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design
History, and Material Culture”
Deborah L. Krohn, Professor and Chair of
Academic Programs Catherine Whalen, Associate Professor
Keith Condon, Director of Admissions and Christian Larsen, Windgate Research Curator
Student Affairs Annissa Malvoisin, Bard Graduate Center /
Laura Minsky, Associate Director of Research Brooklyn Museum Postdoctoral Fellow in
Programs the Arts of Africa
Jen Ha, Coordinator of Research and Academic Soon Kai Poh, Conservation as a Human Science
Events Fellow
Alec Newell, Degree Programs Coordinator Kenneth L. Ames, Professor Emeritus
Jesse Merandy, Director of Digital Humanities/ Pat Kirkham, Professor Emerita
Exhibitions Elizabeth Simpson, Professor Emerita
Dan Lee, Director of Publishing Paul Stirton, Professor Emeritus, Editor in Chief
Katherine Atkins, Managing Editor of “West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts,
Design History, and Material Culture”
Alexis Mucha, Associate Director of Sales,
Marketing, and Rights for Publications
Research Collections
Faculty Heather Topcik, Director of Research Collections
Arjun Appadurai, Max Weber Global Professor Anna Helgeson, Reader Services Librarian
Jeffrey L. Collins, Professor Barbara Elam, Digital Collections Metadata
Librarian and Study Collection Manager
Ivan Gaskell, Professor
Sebastian Moya, Technical Services and
Aaron Glass, Associate Professor Systems Librarian
Freyja Hartzell, Assistant Professor, Editor of Chantal Suklow, Reference and Collections
“West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts, Librarian
Design History, and Material Culture”
Deborah L. Krohn, Associate Professor, Gallery Staff and Office of the Director
Coordinator for History and Theory of
Museums, and Chair of Academic Programs Emma Cormack, Associate Curator
Meredith B. Linn, Assistant Professor Eric Edler, Exhibitions Registrar
François Louis, Professor Alexander Gruen, Chief Preparator
Michele Majer, Assistant Professor Earl Martin, Associate Curator
Jennifer L. Mass, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Izabella (Elwart) Mujica, Executive Assistant to
Cultural Heritage Science the Director
Caspar Meyer, Professor, Director of Masters Laura Microulis, Research Curator
Studies, Editor of “West 86th: Ama Codjoe, Consulting Director of Equity and
A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design Inclusion
History, and Material Culture”
Peter N. Miller, Dean and Professor Department of Marketing, Communications, and
Andrew Morrall, Professor Design
Nina Stritzler-Levine, Professor of Curatorial Amy Estes, Director of Marketing and
Practice, Director of Focus Project Communications
Exhibitions Laura Grey, Art Director
Drew Thompson, Associate Professor Jocelyn Lau, Designer
6Hellyn Teng, Web Manager
Maggie Walter, Coordinator of Marketing and
Communications
Public Programs
Emily Reilly, Director of Public Engagement /
Associate Gallery Director
Carla Repice, Senior Manager of Education,
Engagement, and Interpretation
Nadia Rivers, Coordinator of Public Programs,
Education, and Engagement
Development
Benjamin Krevolin, Chief Advancement Office
Ruth Epstein, Manager of Institutional Giving and
Development
Minna Lee, Associate Director of Development
Madeline Warner, Development Associate
Operations and Administration
Tim Ettenheim, Chief Operating Officer
James Congregane, Director of Facilities
Management and Operations
Chandler Small, Director of Security
Rita Niyazova, Director of Finance
Samantha Baron, Director of Administration
Mohammed Alam, Budget Manager
Miao Chen, Accounting Manager
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson
Dean of Graduate Studies: 845.758.7895
Financial Aid Office: 845.758.7525
International Student Advisor: 845.758.7430
Stevenson Library (information):
845.758.7500 x144
Registrar: 845.758.7458
Student Accounts: 845.758.7520
7Governance
Graduate Committee
The Graduate Committee (GC) is charged with the Joint Committee
formulation of academic policy, curriculum and The Joint Committee is comprised of representa-
program development, faculty recruitment and tives from the students, faculty, and administration.
evaluation, academic evaluation of students, and Any student with a non-academic grievance or com-
consideration of student petitions and proposals plaint should first approach the Graduate Commit-
as detailed below. The Graduate Committee also tee, which receives, investigates, and resolves com-
receives, investigates, and resolves student com- plaints. The Joint Committee serves as an avenue
plaints. If a student is not satisfied with the deci- of appeal and should be utilized only in the event
sion of the Graduate Committee on a non-academic that a satisfactory resolution has not been achieved
matter, he or she may appeal to the Joint Commit- in a student affairs matter. The Joint Committee
tee (see below). In academic matters, the appeals convenes only when necessary to address matters
process ends with the Graduate Committee. The that fall under its jurisdiction, handling complaints
Dean serves as chair of the Graduate Committee. in a timely fashion. Bard Graduate Center assures
that no adverse action will be taken against any stu-
The members of the Graduate Committee for dent wishing to file a complaint. The Dean convenes
2021–22 are: the Joint Committee, and the Vice President for
Susan Weber, Founder and Director Academic Affairs is also a member of the commit-
Peter N. Miller, Dean and Professor tee. In the case of academic complaints, such as
Jeffrey L. Collins, Professor questions of plagiarism, qualifying paper reviews,
Ivan Gaskell, Professor and dismissal from the program, the decision of
Andrew Morrall, Professor the Graduate Committee is final. In other matters,
Caspar Meyer, Professor and Director of Masters decisions made by the Joint Committee are final.
Studies When all internal avenues have been exhausted, the
Aaron Glass, Associate Professor student may wish to investigate the New York State
Deborah L. Krohn, Associate Professor, Coordinator Education Department’s complaint registry.
for History and Theory of Museums, and
Chair of Academic Programs Special note about policies and petitions:
François Louis, Professor
Drew Thompson, Associate Professor Some of the policies and procedures below require
Ittai Weinryb, Associate Professor and Director of approval from the Graduate Committee or its del-
Doctoral Studies egated representatives, based on the submission
Catherine Whalen, Associate Professor of forms or petitions. All required forms are avail-
Freyja Hartzell, Assistant Professor able from the Office of Academic Programs and
Meredith B. Linn, Assistant Professor on the website. A full list appears below, with an
Michele Majer, Assistant Professor indication of where to submit each form. Some pe-
Jennifer L. Mass, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of titions must be signed and approved by an advisor
Cultural Heritage Science in advance of submission. Students must submit
Nina Stritzler-Levine, Professor of Curatorial their petitions to gcm@bgc.bard.edu a week before
Practice, Director of Focus Project Exhibitions the date of the meeting. Petitions not filed by these
Annissa Malvoisin, Bard Graduate Center / deadlines may not be considered. Please consult
Brooklyn Museum Postdoctoral Fellow in the with the Office of Academic Programs if you have
Arts of Africa any questions about petition submissions.
Soon Kai Poh, Conservation as a Human Science
Fellow Audit
Christian Crouch, Dean of Graduate Studies, Consortium Course Registration*
Bard College (ex officio) Dissertation Completion Enrollment*
Doctoral Dissertation Proposal*
8Doctoral Field Exams/Directed Readings Proposal*
Drop/Add
Incomplete
Independent Study*
Internship Forms
Qualifying Paper Proposal *
Travel and Research Funding Applications
*These forms all need go to the GC for approval
and must be submitted to the Office of Academic
Programs as specified above. All other forms go
to the Academic Programs Office.
9General
Academic
Policies
Academic Advisor versus Incompletes, below), the student may be
Each MA and PhD student is assigned an aca- dismissed from the program.
demic advisor prior to entering the program; for
details, see sections on each degree program All MA students must have a 3.0 overall (cumula-
below. Students are encouraged to meet with their tive) GPA in order to graduate. MA students whose
advisors regularly to discuss and evaluate their cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 at the end of the
academic progress. In addition, MA students are program are not eligible for the degree.
encouraged to consult the Director of Masters
Studies for advice at any time during their program Appeals
of study. PhD students are encouraged to consult Students have the right to appeal grades, or
the Director of Doctoral Studies. The Director of decisions of a faculty member, to the Graduate
Admissions and Student Affairs and the Chair of Committee. In all cases, a student should speak to
Academic Programs serve as additional sources the faculty member first, and then to the Chair of
of academic advice and information to students Academic Programs, and then the Dean, before fil-
in both programs. Subject to the degree-specific ing a petition to the committee. The decision of the
terms below, students may change their academic Graduate Committee is final in all such matters.
advisor by submitting an Advisor Change Request
form to the Office of Academic Programs. Attendance
Students are required to attend all of their sched-
Academic Probation uled classes. Excessive absences (more than two
All students must meet minimum academic per course) and/or tardiness will be reflected in
standards as measured by grade point average the grade awarded. Individual faculty members
(GPA) in order to remain in good academic stand- may specify more stringent attendance policies,
ing. Students whose GPA falls below established of which students should be notified at the first
thresholds in any given term will be placed on aca- meeting of the course. If you are unsure of a faculty
demic probation. For MA students, this threshold member’s attendance policy, you should ask about
is 3.0 (B); for PhD students the threshold is 3.5 (B+). it at the first meeting of the class. Some classes do
Any student who fails more than one course in a not allow any absences. It is the student’s responsi-
single term will be dismissed from the program. bility to find out the absence policy for each class.
Scholarship and fellowship awards may be reduced Audit
or removed by probationary status. Students on A student may audit a course with the permission
academic probation are not eligible to apply for of the instructor. The terms should be discussed
travel and research funding. Students on academic with the instructor at the beginning of the course,
probation are not eligible to apply for or to take a as not all courses allow auditors, and some in-
consortium class. structors may require auditors to contribute to the
class. Students may attend single class sessions
In order to be removed from probation, the student only with the instructor’s consent. Students who
must raise his or her GPA for the following academ- wish to audit a course must submit a registration
ic term above the threshold and may not receive form to the Office of Academic Programs. Upon
any grade below a C. Failure to meet these require- successful completion of an official audit, an R will
ments will result in the student’s dismissal from appear on the student’s transcript. Letter grades
the program. will not be issued for audited courses. A student
may retake a previously audited course for a grade,
If an MA student on academic probation who is but audits may not be converted to a credit-bear-
granted an incomplete fails to submit outstanding ing course once the drop/add period has ended.
work within the period specified on the Petition for Non-matriculated students (including consortium
an Incomplete (maximum 30 days; see Extensions students) are not allowed to audit classes.
10Clearance for the Degree Registration packets, including descriptions of
All students must be available for a review of their courses offered for the academic term, a course
record in order to clear them for graduation. Bard schedule, and a form for students to mark their
College grants degrees only once a year, in May, preferred and/or required courses and alternates,
and the Academic Calendar lists the deadlines will be sent to students in advance of registration.
for filing a request for a degree, if applicable. An advisement gathering is held each term to allow
The Office of Academic Programs reviews and students and instructors to discuss all courses
clears all candidates for the degree. prior to registration. Students must meet to review
their proposed program with their advisor, who
Consortium must approve and sign their registration form.
Students may have the opportunity to take one Signed forms must be submitted by email to
course per term at selected participating graduate registration@bgc.bard.edu between 9 am and 5
programs in New York City for credit toward their pm on the day established for their cohort; forms
degree. Students enroll in these courses only with are processed in the order received. Early and late
the approval of the Graduate Committee, by peti- submissions will bounce back, and paper forms are
tion. The Graduate Committee retains the right to not accepted.
limit the number of students enrolled off-campus,
and thus not all requests are approved. Bard Course Cancellation
Graduate Center currently has arrangements with A course may be cancelled if enrollment is insuf-
the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University; ficient (typically, fewer than 3 students). Final
the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World determination is made by the Chair of Academic
at New York University; the History of Design and Programs.
Curatorial Studies program at Cooper Hewitt/
Parsons, The New School for Design; the Jewish Course Closings
Theological Seminary; Columbia University; and Depending on student interest, a course may fill up
the CUNY Graduate Center. Please note: we do and close during the registration period. Students
not have an agreement with other programs at will be notified when this happens, and they will
The New School, only the Cooper Hewitt pro- be asked to make another selection. Wait lists are
gram; similarly, we do not have an agreement with kept for classes that do fill, and students are noti-
other graduate programs at NYU, only IFA and fied if a place opens. It is a good idea to always list
ISAW. Students in these consortium programs a fifth and sixth class on any registration form with
also have the opportunity to take classes at Bard a note making it clear that these are the alternate
Graduate Center, and register through the Office of choices should a course be closed.
Academic Programs.
Course/Instructor Evaluations
Students need the approval of the Graduate During the last week of each academic term,
Committee before consortium coursework is students have the opportunity to evaluate their
undertaken. First semester MA students, and courses and instructors. Students are encouraged
students on academic probation, are not eligible to be candid and constructive in their comments.
to apply for or take a consortium course. Students Evaluations are not accepted by the administration
may not take consortium courses if substantially after the last week of classes. Copies of student
equivalent courses are offered here. Many con- evaluations are mailed to instructors only after all
sortium courses also require the permission of grades have been submitted.
the instructor. Columbia University requires all
students to demonstrate vaccinations before they Course Requirements
enroll. Students may not take language classes at Course requirements are established by each in-
a consortium institution for BGC credit. structor and may include oral presentations, writ-
ten term papers, other individual or group projects,
Course Registration and/or midterm and final examinations. Students
Students register for courses twice during the must demonstrate an ability to conduct high-level
academic year. Registration is done by cohort scholarly research and to write in accordance with
and by seniority, to give students with the least stringent academic standards. Faculty members
time remaining in the program priority in choos- return term papers, exams, and all other course
ing classes.Registration is generally conducted work directly to students.
in late April or early May for the fall term, and
in late November for spring term. Dates will be
announced each term by the Office of Academic
Programs.
11Disabilities Extensions vs. Incompletes
Students with disabilities that may affect their Bard Graduate Center has two distinct mecha-
academic performance should to speak with the nisms for granting students additional time to
Director of Admissions and Student Affairs at complete coursework assigned during the aca-
the start of their time at Bard Graduate Center. demic term. Neither is automatic, and both require
Students who need special considerations and/or the formal consent of the instructor. These are the
accommodations must negotiate this in advance in only mechanisms for altering coursework dead-
consultation with the Director of Admissions and lines, and both have specific periods of validity and
Student Affairs, the Chair of Academic Programs, expiration dates. It is essential that students un-
and the relevant instructor[s]. No accommodations derstand the differences between them, as failure
can be granted without a prior recommendation to observe the requirements below automatically
based on the review of materials submitted by a removes a student from good standing and may
physician to Academic Programs office. result in dismissal from the program.
Drop/Add An EXTENSION is additional time given by an
The first week of term is a designated drop/add instructor to a student to complete an assign-
week. Students may add or drop a course without ment within a given academic term. It is not to be
penalty during this period by completing a Drop/ confused with an incomplete (I), below, which is
Add slip. The form requires the signature of the only valid after the end of an academic term. An
faculty advisor. The exact dates of the Drop/Add instructor may choose whether or not to grant an
period for each semester are published in the an- extension, and in the interest of fairness to other
nual Academic Calendar. Courses dropped after students who have completed the assignment on
this period are subject to Bard College’s Refund time, faculty members are urged not to grant ex-
Policy as stated on the website (see “Tuition and tensions except under extenuating circumstances.
Fees”; see also “Withdrawal from Course,” below). Unless they have granted an extension, instructors
are not obliged to accept work handed in after the
For students who are considering a class that they due date and may give such work a lower grade,
are not registered for, it is expected that they will including zero credit. The period of the extension
notify the particular faculty member in advance of must be agreed upon in advance with the instruc-
their intention to sit in on their first class. tor, although it is recommended that in no case
should an extension of more than one week be
Many Bard Graduate Center classes have advance given. In no case are extensions valid beyond the
requirements, such as reading assignments, for the end of finals week. Any work outstanding at the
first meeting. When a student writes to a faculty end of term requires an incomplete (see below).
member to let them know they plan to sit in on the
first session, they should ask if there is an assign- An INCOMPLETE (I) is an official designation indi-
ment for the first meeting. Students are expected to cating that a student has been given prior permis-
do all class preparation and to be fully ready for the sion to submit work for a course after the end of a
first class, whether you are enrolled or not. Students given academic term. All extensions expire on the
are welcome to “shop” a class, but they must be last day of exam week, and an incomplete is the on-
prepared to be a full participant in that class. ly mechanism through which work can be accepted
for credit after that day. Incompletes are not auto-
Students may not join a class after the first matic, and students are restricted to one incom-
meeting; if a student is considering two classes, plete per academic term. To obtain an incomplete,
he or she must attend the first session of each. students must fill out a Petition for Incomplete,
which must be signed by the instructor and filed
Enrollment Status Change with the Office of Academic Programs no later than
A student wishing to change from full-time to part- the last day of finals week of the term. Instructors
time status or vice versa must make an appointment are not obliged to grant a student’s petition. If all
with the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs required work has not been submitted by the end
and complete an Enrollment Status Change form. of term, and an incomplete has not been granted,
Please note: although a change from full-time to instructors are obliged to fail the student or award
part-time status will likely reduce financial aid a grade based on his or her partial fulfillment of the
awards, students who enroll part-time and then requirements of the course. It is therefore incum-
move to full-time are not eligible for increased bent on students to discuss their petitions with the
institutional fellowship or scholarship funding. For instructor well in advance of the end of term.
specific requirements and restrictions, see sections
on MA and PhD Programs below.
12Once granted, an incomplete is valid for a maxi- two pages of text (500-600 words) to be translated
mum of 30 days beyond the end of exam week, or by the student in a three-hour sitting, with the aid of
what ever earlier period is specified by the instruc- a printed dictionary (students must bring their own).
tor on the Petition. If work has not been submit- For specific requirements see sections on MA and
ted by this time, the status of I will be changed PhD programs, below.
to the grade F on the student’s transcript, unless
the instructor specifies another default grade Grades
based on the student’s partial fulfillment of the The qualifying paper, the doctoral dissertation,
requirements for the course. This grade cannot be internships, and the August Orientation Session
changed if the student submits the outstanding are graded Pass/Fail. Letter grades are issued for
work after this deadline. Students taking consor- all other courses according to the system below.
tium courses are bound by the policies governing Plus (+) and minus (-) signs indicate a mark in the
Bard Graduate Center incompletes. upper and lower range of each grade range. The
grades A+, D+ and D- are not used. A final course
Financial Aid grade of F cannot be changed by the instructor
Students are eligible for financial assistance in the once assigned.
form of institutional aid and federal loans. Students
should consult with the Director of Admissions and 90-99% = A = excellent
Student Affairs on matters related to their financial 80-89% = B = good
aid packaging. 70-79% = C = pass
60-69% = D = low pass
Institutional Aid below 60% = F = fail
Institutional financial aid awards are made at the
time of acceptance into the program. Aid may Grade point averages (GPA) are calculated accord-
consist of scholarships (tuition remission), fel- ing to the following system:
lowships (stipends), and/or campus employment.
Entering students who do not file a FAFSA, or who A = 4.0
file a FAFSA after the deadline, may not be eligible A- = 3.7
for aid consideration. International students must B+ = 3.3
complete the College Board International Student B = 3.0
Financial Aid Application. Only full-time students B- = 2.7
are eligible for institutional aid, and students must C+ = 2.3
remain full-time in order to receive such aid. MA C = 2.0
students are only eligible for institutional aid for C- = 1.7
two years. Institutional aid is renewed contingent D = 1.0
on the maintenance of good academic standing in F = 0.0
the program and may be canceled or reduced for
students on academic probation. Independent Study
Independent study affords students an
Federal Financial Aid opportunity to earn graduate credit by conducting
Eligibility for financial assistance from the federal independent research in an area of particular
government, usually in the form of loans, requires interest. Students must ask faculty members to
that a student maintain a 2.0 (C) grade point aver- serve as advisors to guide their work and assess
age. Students are advised that all federal loans the project upon completion. Faculty members
have a defined repayment schedule and that once are not obligated to take on independent studies,
an MA student completes coursework, his or her and the responsibility for developing the bibliog-
loans cannot be deferred beyond the grace period raphy and pursuing the proposed study lies with
mandated by federal guidelines. Any questions the student. Students considering independent
about federal loan repayments should be directed studies are advised to consult with the proposed
to the Financial Aid Office at Bard College. faculty member well in advance of the registration
period. Independent studies are proposed in lieu of
Foreign Language Proficiency a class and awarded 3 credits and a letter grade.
All students must demonstrate research profi- First semester MA students may not do an inde-
ciency in a foreign language. Students demonstrate pendent study, and no student may do more than
competence by taking a translation examination. one independent study in a semester. A student
The examinations, offered in August and during the may not ordinarily take both an independent study
fall and spring term, are administered by the Office and a consortium course in the same semester. An
of Academic Programs and consist of approximately independent study petition, completed and signed
13by both the student and the proposed project advi- provided in footnotes, endnotes, or parentheti-
sor, must be approved by the Graduate Committee cal documentation, called in-noting.
in advance of registering for the course.
4. All ideas and data that are not your own
Leaves of Absence must also be attributed in a footnote or end-
Leaves of absence may be granted upon success- note to the particular source from which they
ful petition to the Graduate Committee. For specific were obtained.
requirements and restrictions, see sections on MA
and PhD Programs below. 5. Bibliographies must list all sources you
used for your paper. If you have doubts as to
In extraordinary circumstances, the Graduate whether you are providing adequate documen-
Committee will entertain requests for emergency tation of your sources, be sure to discuss this
medical leaves if temporary health conditions matter with your professor before preparing
make it impossible for a student to complete his your final draft.
or her academic work. Such requests must be
fully documented by attending physicians and can 6. Students may not submit the same or sub-
only be granted by the Graduate Committee. They stantially the same paper, or portions thereof,
are not automatic, and the duration of leave, the for more than one course. In cases of possible
schedule for resuming academic work, and other overlap of topics, students must consult all
financial and logistical arrangements are subject relevant instructors in advance to work out a
to the determination of the Graduate Committee. sensible division and/or secure permission to
reuse or duplicate material or text submitted
The Graduate Committee will also entertain for another course. Failure to secure such
reasonable requests for family leave if changed advance approval will result in the withhold-
family circumstances make it impossible for a ing of credit for any work that is the same or
student to complete his or her academic work in substantially the same as that submitted in
the normal timetable outlined in this handbook. another course.
Students on leave pay a flat “Leave Fee,” and are
not considered active students during this period. Penalties for Plagiarism
Library access may be impacted.
1. Failure in the course in which plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs and loss of financial aid.
To plagiarize is to “steal and pass off [the ideas or
words of another] as one’s own: use [a created pro- 2. Denial of the degree, in the case of plagiarism
duction] without crediting the source . . . present as in a Qualifying Paper or a doctoral dissertation.
new and original an idea or product derived from an
existing source” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). 3. Cases of deliberate deception will result
The faculty of Bard Graduate Center regards in immediate expulsion from the program.
plagiarism, deliberate or inadvertent, as a serious
breach of ethical conduct that carries the most Right of a Hearing
serious of consequences. All students, at both the Any student accused of plagiarism or of writing for
MA and PhD level, must be aware of the following: another’s use may request a hearing before the
Graduate Committee. The student must request
1. All work you submit must be your own this hearing within 24 hours after written notifica-
scholarly production. You must provide clear tion of the charge. The decision of the Graduate
documentation of all sources from which you Committee is final.
derive information and ideas, and the final
arrangement of the material must be substan- Adopted by the Bard Community, May 14, 1952.
tially original. Adapted for the Master of Arts Program of Bard
Graduate Center, August 5, 1994. Updated and
2. When doing preparatory research, you extended to the doctoral program, 2014.
should record a full bibliographical citation for
each of your sources, recording page referenc- Study Abroad/Exchange Programs
es for all notes taken, not just for quotations. Bard Graduate Center has an exchange program
with both the Humboldt University in Berlin and
3. All phrases, sentences, and excerpts that the Royal College of Art in London. Students from
are not your own must be identified with quo- those two institutions (along with the Ecole du
tation marks or indentation, and the sources Louvre) may attend Bard Graduate Center, and
14doctoral candidates from Bard Graduate Center directed to the Chair of Academic Programs. For
may apply to research at either Humboldt or the specific requirements and restrictions, see sec-
RCA. For information and eligibility consult with tions on MA and PhD programs below.
the Chair of Academic Programs. Students register
through Bard Graduate Center and are responsible Travel and Research
for their own housing while abroad, as well as cov- A limited amount of money is available to students
ering the cost of the student visa, if needed. in both the MA and PhD program to assist students
in traveling for research purposes and to pres-
Term Paper Style and Format ent research at academic conferences. Funding
Style must conform to the guidelines published in is competitive and not guaranteed. There are
the most recent edition of The Chicago Manual of three rounds of application considerations each
Style, an online version of which is accessible via academic year, typically in October, December,
the library home page. Endnotes in Bard Graduate and April. Exact dates will be announced by the
Center’s journal West 86th may serve as a model Academic Programs Office along with instruc-
for this style. Spelling should conform to the first tions. Generally, applications are prioritized in the
preferences (American, not British) in Merriam- following order: doctoral dissertation research;
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition, 2003) qualifying paper research; PhD student travel for
and, for words not found there, the unabridged academic conferences; MA student travel for aca-
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary; demic conferences.
Webster’s New Geographical Dictionary (1984); and
Webster’s New Biographical Dictionary. There is Withdrawal from a Course
also a style sheet, which is given out at Orientation. Students may withdraw from a course by submit-
Punctuation should also conform to American, not ting a Withdrawal Slip, which must be signed by the
British, usage. instructor of the course from which the student is
withdrawing. There is no charge to withdraw from a
Transcripts course during the Drop/Add period; after the Drop/
An official transcript will be issued upon written Add period ends, a withdrawal fee applies (consult
request from a student to the Registrar of Bard the Office of Academic Programs for current fees),
College in Annandale-on-Hudson. This request may and students must request special permission
be made by email via transcripts@bard.edu. Grades from the instructor and the Chair of Academic
are not released by telephone or via email. Official Programs. There is no refund for withdrawal after
transcripts are only available through the Bard the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
College registrar’s office. Unofficial transcripts are Students may not drop a course that they are fail-
available from the Office of Academic Programs. ing. Withdrawal from a course will appear on the
student’s transcript with the designation W. Failure
Transfer Credits to follow the formal withdrawal procedure will re-
Subject to the parameters described below, sult in a grade of F in the course. An F designation
students may petition the Graduate Committee to cannot be changed.
transfer relevant credits from other institutions
of higher education for credit at Bard Graduate Withdrawal from the Program
Center. The intent is primarily to acknowledge prior If a student in good academic standing wishes
work in graduate-level courses that overlaps with to withdraw from either the Master of Arts or the
the range of courses offered here or available for doctoral program, the student must notify the
credit through the consortium. No credit is given Academic Programs Office in writing. Any individual
for language courses. who has withdrawn and wishes to reenter the pro-
gram must apply for re-matriculation. This is only
Students wishing to transfer credits are respon- possible for one year after withdrawal. After that
sible for submitting the following documentation time, a student must re-apply for admission.
to the Academic Programs Office at least one week
before the meeting of the Graduate Committee:
1) a description of the course and how it relates
to their program of study; 2) an official transcript;
3) a syllabus or other information detailing topics
covered, readings assigned, and the methods of
assessment; 4) a summary of class time/contact
hours; 5) brief biographies (or a curriculum vitae)
of the instructor[s]; 6) copies of written work
produced. Questions about procedure should be
15MA Program
The degree of Master of Arts in Decorative Arts, will be accepted for administrative purposes.
Design History, Material Culture is awarded upon Students wishing to change their academic advi-
successful completion of 48 credits, which must sors before formal approval of the QP topic must
include the following: submit a signed Change of Advisor form to the
Office of Academic Programs.
– August Orientation Session
– 500/501. Objects in Context: A Survey of the Academic Progress
Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Full-time MA students are expected to complete
Culture and its attendant seminar 510. Writing their course work in four academic terms, plus
Objects (two semesters) the intervening summer, over two years. Full-time
– 502. Approaches to the Object (one semester) students in their first year register for Orientation
– 515. Seminar Series (1 credit) and four courses plus Writing Objects
– Eleven elective courses, two of which must be (13 credits) for the fall semester, and 4 courses (12
designated “pre-1800” and one of which must credits) in the spring semester. Students then reg-
be designated “non-Western” (students may ister for 4 courses (12 credits) for the fall semester
also fulfill this distribution requirement through of their second year, and for 3 courses (9 credits).
an Independent Study or consortium class)
– Digital Project requirement Part-time students must attend all sections of the
– Internship Orientation Session in August of their first year.
– Qualifying Paper; and participation in the end- Thereafter, part-time students are required to take
of-year QP Symposium a minimum of 6 credits (two courses) in each fall
– All students must also pass a foreign language and spring term. Part-time students must take
proficiency exam both Objects in Context and Approaches to the
Object in their first year.
All the above requirements must be fulfilled for
the degree to be granted. If a student fails any of Bard Travel Program
the required/core courses, he or she must repeat Travel conditions permitting, the Bard Travel
and pass that course when it is next offered in Program (an annual faculty-led international study
order to be eligible for the MA degree. All MA stu- trip) is open to all first-year MA students. Partici-
dents must have a 3.0 overall (cumulative) GPA in pation is contingent on a student’s satisfactory
order to receive the MA degree. MA students whose work during the first year, and approval to partici-
cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 at the end of the pate is at the discretion of the Graduate Commit-
program are not eligible for the degree. tee. The Graduate Committee reserves the right to
withhold or withdraw permission based on unsatis-
Academic Advisor factory academic progress or performance, or any
Each student has an academic advisor from the other medical or behavioral conditions that in its
regular faculty, whose signature is required on judgment may impair a student’s ability to partici-
registration forms and some petitions. Entering MA pate safely in and/or contribute effectively to this
students are assigned an academic advisor prior physically demanding experience. Given the nature
to entering the program, and they may choose to of the program, the Graduate Committee must also
retain that advisor for the duration of their stud- be satisfied that all participants will be responsible
ies. However, as students develop their own area and effective ambassadors for Bard Graduate
of specialization and gain formal approval of their Center in all respects. Details about the trips are
Qualifying Paper topic from the Graduate Com- typically announced at the end of fall semester.
mittee, it is typical for the designated QP advisor
to become the academic advisor. Once the QP has While on the program, attendance at all official
been approved, either the signature of the initial activities is mandatory. Students may not ‘opt out’
academic advisor or of the designated QP advisor of events.
16Distribution Requirements who do not pass the first diagnostic exam have the
All MA students must satisfy a distribution opportunity for intensive language study before a
requirement in their elective coursework in order second exam is given at the conclusion of orienta-
to complete their degree. Two courses must be tion. Students who do not satisfy the requirement
designated “pre-1800” and one course must be during August orientation have opportunities in
designated “non-Western.” Each semester the the fall and spring semester to sit the language
course listing indicates which classes satisfy exam. All full-time MA students must satisfy the
these requirements. Some classes may offer language requirement before the start of their
conditional satisfaction, based upon a final paper second year in the program (part-time students
or project. Independent Studies and Consortium have an additional year to complete this require-
classes may satisfy distribution requirements, ment). If a student has not satisfied the language
but only if approved by the Graduate Committee. requirement by the appointed time, the faculty will
Students are responsible for keeping track of their recommend a course of action which may include
requirements but may consult with their academic suspension from the program until the requirement
advisors and the Director of Admissions and is fulfilled or reduction in course load from full to
Student Affairs to confirm their status. part-time.
MA students must also complete a “digital project” Internships
requirement. This may be fulfilled at any point All MA students must complete an internship. A
during the program by incorporating a digital student’s required internship is normally under-
component into final course work. This may take a taken in the summer after the first year of study.
number of different shapes including an exhibition Internship forms may be obtained from the Office
design, a web-based project, a digital or interactive of Academic Programs and must be approved prior
aspect to a submitted essay, etc. Students should to undertaking work at a sponsoring institution.
consult with the individual faculty of courses to Students will work with the Director of Masters
discuss whether a proposed project might fulfill Studies in securing an internship. This process
this requirement. Not all classes will offer the takes place in the late fall of their entering year. By
opportunity for a significant digital research the time students register in April for the follow-
project; this requirement may not be fulfilled ing fall, all summer internships should be formally
through the digital work done in Approaches to the approved. There may be opportunities for several
Object. internships. Applications for these may be com-
petitive, in which case they will be decided by the
Enrollment Status Change faculty. Students selected must demonstrate they
A student wishing to change from full-time to part- have appropriate health coverage, and, where re-
time status or vice versa must make an appoint- quired, can cover the cost of a student visa. Limited
ment with the Director of Admissions and Student and competitive funding for internships outside of
Affairs and complete an Enrollment Status Change New York City may be available. Academic Pro-
form. MA students who enroll part-time and then grams will announce any funding opportunities.
move to full-time are not eligible for increased
institutional fellowship or scholarship funding. Internship Proposal
Internship petition forms must be completed by
Financial Aid the student and the internship sponsor and sub-
Financial aid awards are made at the time of mitted to the Office of Academic Programs.
acceptance. Institutional aid is limited and avail- A letter from the host institution must accom-
able to full-time students only, and for two years pany the form. Internships should be approved
only. Aid for the second year is renewed at the by late spring when students register for the fall
same level after a review in the late spring of the semester.
student’s academic performance in the program.
Students must fill out a FAFSA by January 15 for Project Report
financial aid renewal consideration. (See also “Fi- Upon completion of the internship, the student
nancial Aid” in General Academic Policies, above.) must submit to the Director of Masters Stud-
ies a three- to five- page report of the project
Foreign Language Proficiency or work undertaken, together with a copy of any
MA students are required to demonstrate reading written or other document (e.g., an educational
knowledge of French, German, Italian, or Spanish, brochure, docent’s plan, inventory, or website)
or another language by petition. Incoming MA stu- produced during the internship. Generally, this
dents are required to take a foreign language pro- report should cover day to day responsibilities,
ficiency exam during the August orientation. Those major projects undertaken, a reflection on the
17internship’s influence on your academic work, QP is less important for this degree requirement
and a consideration of the experience as profes- than the project’s fitness for improvement through
sional development. In addition, the internship further research, rethinking, and rewriting, as well
sponsor will complete a standardized evaluation as its suitability for demonstrating mastery of aca-
form and submit it to the Director of Masters demic skills. Although the presentation format and
Studies. All internship reports and evaluations scale or focus of research may change between
are due within one month of completion of the the original paper and the QP (such as a switch
internship. among written, digital, or exhibition platforms, or
more detailed attention to one aspect of an existing
Internships are graded on a Pass/Fail basis, as argument), the QP must be substantially based on
recommended by the host institution/supervisor. previously completed coursework. All students are
required to present a brief summary of their find-
Leaves of Absence ings at the end-of-tear QP Symposium, held shortly
MA students in good academic standing who before commencement.
wish to take a leave of absence from the program
must submit a request in writing to the Director of Proposal Process for the Qualifying Paper
Admissions and Student Affairs. A maintenance- Qualifying Papers must be based on a
of-status fee of $110 is charged to those students graded research paper or equivalent digital
on academic leave. This fee is levied per leave project produced in a regular course or in an
request, whether for a semester or a full year. If a independent study with a Bard Graduate Center
student does not return within one academic year, professor. The paper or project to be adapted
she or he is considered to have withdrawn from the as a QP should be selected in consultation with
program and must apply for re-admission. Time the student’s instructors, academic advisor,
spent on an approved leave is not counted toward and the Chair of Academic Programs. Students
the time limit (two years for full-time students and submit a proposal to the Graduate Committee
four years for part-time students) for the comple- for approval. This proposal should be submitted
tion of MA degree requirements. See also “Leaves at the May meeting at the end of year one, or the
of Absence” in General Academic Policies, above. September, October, or November meeting at
the beginning of year two for full-time students.
Transfer Credits (For Digital and Exhibition QP deadlines, see
A maximum of 6 credits from other institutions may below.) Students are encouraged to submit their
be applied toward the Master of Arts degree, upon proposals as early as possible, especially if they
successful petition to the Graduate Committee. wish to apply for travel grant consideration. The
For general provisions, see “Transfer Credits” in proposal provides information about the original
General Academic Policies, above. seminar paper that will be developed into a
Qualifying Paper and revision and expansion
Qualifying Paper strategies. The instructor of the class from which
The Qualifying Paper, submitted near the end of the paper stems typically becomes the advisor
the student’s second / final year, is the capstone for the QP. The Graduate Committee may appoint
project to the MA degree. It is intended to demon- an advisor from the regular faculty in cases of
strate advanced mastery of the scholarly trade by QPs arising from papers originally written for
showcasing the academic skills perfected at Bard a doctoral candidate or other instructors on
Graduate Center. These include but are not limited term appointments. The Graduate Committee
to the identification of an appropriate research also assigns a secondary reader for the QP,
topic; location, analysis, and accurate citation of who may be any member of the faculty. The
relevant primary and secondary sources; construc- student is permitted to suggest a reader, but
tion of a clear and compelling scholarly argument; the final determination rests with the Graduate
correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, format- Committee. The Qualifying Paper proposal form
ting, etc, that conforms to the specific guidelines is available online or from the Office of Academic
below (see “Form of the Qualifying Paper”). Programs.
Because the faculty believe that the quality of Preparation of the Qualifying Paper
academic work is significantly enhanced through Additional research for the preparation of the
rigorous revision rarely possible in the space of a QP may begin during the summer between the
single term, the QP is not a new research project first and second year. There is limited travel
but a reworking and/or expansion of a graded proj- and research funding for these purposes, on a
ect previously undertaken in a BGC course. For this competitive basis; information on how and when
reason, the particular topic, field, or area, of the to apply will be announced at the beginning of
18each academic year by the Office of Academic Qualifying Papers must be arranged in the fol-
Programs. During the fall semester the student lowing order. Pages printed in italics are optional:
works on the QP under the guidance of his or her Title Page, Dedication, Table of Contents,
advisor. The QP must be completed in the spring Abstract, List of Illustrations (with sources), List
semester of the second year (or in the student’s of Tables, Foreword, Preface, Acknowledgments,
fourth semester, in the case of full-time students List of Abbreviations, Chronology, Text of the
who have taken a leave of absence, at a date QP (with footnotes at the bottom of the page,
determined by the Graduate Committee). The if used), Appendices, Endnotes (if used),
QP must be submitted to the Office of Academic Illustrations, Glossary, Bibliography, Index
Programs by the date established each year
(generally in early April). It is strongly suggested Digital Qualifying Papers
that students establish a series of interim Students also have the option of submitting a
deadlines with their advisors to ensure timely digital project in lieu of a conventional QP. Digital
completion and revision of the QP. Students QPs must meet the same rigorous academic
must follow whatever guidelines are set by their and intellectual standards as regular QPs and
QP advisors as to the amount of time required for demonstrate an equivalent mastery of both the
marking the completed draft. If students do not content and tools of advanced scholarship in the
observe these guidelines, advisors may not be human sciences. Because a digital QP may pose
able to provide advice or assistance with the QP significantly greater challenges to prepare and
prior to submission. polish than a traditional QP, students consider-
ing this track must already possess significant
Form of the Qualifying Paper digital skills relevant to the proposed work. They
The text of the QP should be 8,000-10,000 words must also obtain the advance permission and
in length, exclusive of foot- or endnotes, ap- support of relevant faculty and of the Director of
pendices, and bibliography. QPs over this limit the Digital Media Lab and submit a supplemen-
may not be accepted by the Graduate Committee tary proposal form with these signatures and
and are ineligible for awards or prizes. Margins a description of the student’s previous digital
must be 1” at the top and right side, 11⁄4” at the training and software platforms needed to pro-
bottom, and 11⁄2” at the left. Pages should be duce and view the QP. Digital QP proposals must
numbered in the upper right corner: lower case be submitted for consideration by the Graduate
Roman numerals should be used for the front Committee no later than the October meeting
matter, beginning with the first page after the of the student’s third [full-time] semester. The
title page (which is not numbered), and Arabic expectation is that, within the limits of current
numerals should be used beginning with the first technology, digital QPs be able to be viewed and
page of the actual text and continuing through all archived on an equivalent basis as paper QPs.
back matter. The type face should be clear and The particular platform in which the Digital QP
easy to read, the equivalent of Courier 10 cpi or is created will determine the permanent form in
12 point Times Roman; a letter-quality printer which it will be submitted and archived.
should be used. The body of the text should
be double-spaced. Footnotes/endnotes, back Exhibition Qualifying Papers
matter, captions, etc., may be single-spaced. A third option allows students to present their
Students may choose to use either footnotes or research in the form of an exhibition proposal,
endnotes as agreed with their QP advisor. The and to demonstrate practical and theoretical
entire QP must be printed single-sided. expertise in exhibition conception, design, and
display. Like the written QP, the topic will emerge
Citations, bibliographic references, and gen- from a term paper. Word counts may vary with
eral considerations of style should follow those the nature of the exhibition project and may
outlined in the current edition of The Chicago exceed the length of the research paper format
Manual of Style, an electronic version of which with the advisors approval. All those wishing
may be accessed via the library home page. to pursue this option must take the “Exhibition
The form of the title page should conform to the as Medium” course in the fall semester of the
sample attached to these guidelines; Illustra- second year. (The course will introduce students
tions may be in the form of photographic prints, to the key elements of the Exhibition QP that will
high-quality photocopies, or scanned images. Il- form parts of the final submission. It will include
lustrations must include figure numbers keyed to training in and use of Sketch-Up software and
the text, with full captions identifying the source introduce students to concepts and practicali-
of each image. ties of exhibition design.) The finished QP will
comprise: 1. An essay, conceived as a catalogue
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