Best Arts Doctoral Degree Programs for 2025 - WeUni

Doctoral Course in Fine Arts

Aichi Prefectural University Of Fine Arts And Music

Japan

Humanities, Fine Arts, Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The Graduate School of Fine Arts has a single doctoral degree program, the Fine Art program that enables interdisciplinary and multimedia researches in five areas of study. The program revolves around creating works and writing theses to receive a doctorate. During the three-year program, students will be instructed for their studies by the Doctoral Program Committee, an organization consisting of faculty members in charge of the program. The Graduate School of Fine Arts will make a continuous effort to strengthen its system to cope with advanced and interdisciplinary researches and actively contribute to the local community and society.

The IDSVA PhD in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory

Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts

Online

United States of America (USA)

Philosophy, Humanities, Fine Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

As a decentralized and indeed deterritorialized institution, IDSVA offers a low-residency, distance-learning PhD program that allows working professionals to keep their faculty posts and curatorial positions and allows them to maintain their family and community obligations.

English

Ph.D. in Film and Digital Media

University of California Santa Cruz Division of the Arts

United States of America (USA)

Arts, Film Studies

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The Ph.D. program in Film and Digital Media challenges the traditionally conceived borders between creative and critical practice. The program enables potential dialogue between creative practice and theoretical knowledge as related forms of intellectual work.

English

PhD in Art History

Università Ca' Foscari Venezia

Italy

Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

This PhD focuses on the analysis and research of artistic evolutions throughout history. Students study artistic movements, cultural trends, and historical contexts that have influenced art in various epochs and regions. The program develops skills to interpret and contextualize works of art, contributing to academic research and the preservation of artistic heritage.

Italian

3 Years

Graduate School of Music – Doctoral Course

Kyoto City University Of Arts

Japan

Music

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Students are expected to acquire either advanced composition or advanced conducting techniques by composing works or by conducting, and studying theory. In order to achieve this, students have to do practical and theoretical research in both areas, because these areas are closely related to each other.

English

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture

Michigan Technological University MTU

United States of America (USA)

Fine Arts, History, Philosophy, Humanities, Cultural Heritage, Journalism, Film Studies, Literature, Arts, Communication

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The shifting technological and media landscape of our globalized world constantly offers up new objects and fresh questions for examination. At Michigan Technological University, we’re training a new breed of scholars who can work across disciplines to grapple with complex cultural realities. Heed the call.

English

Ph.D. in Historical Musicology

University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music

United States of America (USA)

Music, Humanities

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Diversity of approach and breadth of expertise distinguish graduate study in musicology (music history) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our small and flexible program provides a supportive environment to pursue imaginative research grounded in close interaction and cooperation among graduate students and their faculty colleagues.

English

Ph.D. in Music Education

University of South Carolina School of Music

United States of America (USA)

Music Education, Fine Arts, Education, Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The School of Music prepares musicians for professional careers and leadership in music teaching, performance, composition, research, and related fields, offering more than 20-degree programs. With a combination of passion and pragmatism, nurturing and virtuosity, cost and value, depth and breadth of opportunity, the USC School of Music provide a perfect balance of high musical standards, a caring environment vested in student success, and career and musical life preparation.

English

Ph.D. in Media Arts & Sciences

Indiana University Bloomington The Media School

United States of America (USA)

Communication, Design, Arts, Digital Marketing

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The freedom to research your passions. Whether you want to dive more deeply into a current interest or branch out into fresh fields of inquiry, we’ll prepare you for a successful career in academia. Our Ph.D. in media arts and sciences program is one of the top research programs in media and communication, with one of the most productive graduate student research records in the world.

English

Doctorate in Arts, Speciality Plastic Arts

Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University

France

Fine Arts, Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Doctoral training is training in and through research and professional research experience. It leads to the production of new knowledge.

French

Doctor of Arts

Harrison Middleton University

United States of America (USA)

Arts, Humanities

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

In keeping with Harrison Middleton University's commitment to promote excellence in education and its desire to create highly trained scholars and professionals who have a broad, intellectual perspective in the humanities, the university offers a Doctor of Arts program.

English

Musicology (Research)

Cardiff University

United Kingdom

Music, History, Humanities

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

English

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Interior Design

Selinus University of Sciences and Literature

Online

United Kingdom, Italy

Arts, Design

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Students of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Interior Design examine the planning, technical and decorative elements required to design the interiors of residential and commercial buildings.

English

2 Years

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)

James Madison University

United States of America (USA)

Music

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program is the most advanced course of study offered in the School of Music at James Madison University. The program has been designed to make graduates more marketable in higher education by emphasizing pedagogy and literature along with advanced performance or conducting skills.

English

3 Years

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Performing Arts

Selinus University of Sciences and Literature

Online

United Kingdom, Italy

Film Studies, Fine Arts, Arts, Music

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

A research thesis in this specific field should offer an overview of forms of artistic expression, in particular cinema, theatre, music, dance and visual art. Each student will explore how the performing arts reflect the social, political and religious aspects of many cultures and civilizations. In this programme the candidate, through his thesis, should provide a theoretical exposition of the content and processes inherent in the creative and artistic experience of performance.

English

2 Years

Composition (Research)

Cardiff University

United Kingdom

Fine Arts, Creative Writing, Arts, Music

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

English

Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts

The University of Texas at Dallas

United States of America (USA)

Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Film Studies, Arts, Fashion Design, Design, Photography, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Music

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The Ph.D. in Visual and Performing Arts degree program is designed primarily for individuals who wish to conduct advanced research and to teach at the college level and can lead to a wide variety of non-academic careers as well. Visual and Performing Arts is an interdisciplinary program of study, so students take the majority of their coursework in Visual and Performing Arts courses, but must also take two seminars each in both History of Ideas and Literature.

English

4 Years

Doctor of Philosophy in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication

The University of Texas at Dallas

United States of America (USA)

Communication, Arts

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

The Ph.D. program in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (A.T.E.C.) is designed for those who wish to engage in deep scholarship or to develop artistic, cultural, or commercial applications of digital technology and emerging media. With a diverse group of faculty and a curriculum that integrates scholarly study with creative practice, A.T.E.C. cultivates creative scholars, scholarly practitioners, and interdisciplinary researchers.

English

4 Years

18 Best Arts Doctoral Degree Programs for 2025

Doctoral Course in Fine Arts

The IDSVA PhD in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory

Ph.D. in Film and Digital Media

PhD in Art History

Graduate School of Music – Doctoral Course

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture

Ph.D. in Historical Musicology

Ph.D. in Music Education

Ph.D. in Media Arts & Sciences

Doctorate in Arts, Speciality Plastic Arts

Doctor of Arts

Musicology (Research)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Interior Design

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Performing Arts

Composition (Research)

Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts

Doctor of Philosophy in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication

Doctoral Degrees, Arts