Report of the Faculty Board of Architecture and History of Art on revision of Part II of the History of Art Tripos

The FACULTY BOARD OF ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY OF ART beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The History of Art Tripos currently has a two-year Part II course with a Preliminary Examination in the first of those two years. The Faculty Board propose that the Part II course now be divided into Part IIA and Part IIB, with an examination for Part IIA of the Tripos replacing the Preliminary Examination in the first year.

2. Under the current structure of the Tripos students who take the two-year Part II course offer two pairs of special subjects in the Preliminary Examination and repeat one of those pairs in the Part II examination in the following year. Because of the intricacies of the examination timetable, the Department of History of Art are only able to offer nine special subjects in any one year. If a special subject cannot be offered in a certain year because of staff changes or because of staff leave, two-year students are prevented, by the need to resit the subject a year later, from selecting this option in their final year. Similarly, if a special subject is to be discontinued in the following year, student enrolments are low. There is a consequent lack of flexibility in the planning of courses and staffing, and much disappointment on the part of students.

3. Although it is recognized that students who take a special subject course for the second time gain in the depth and range of their understanding, the disadvantages of this rigid curriculum are now perceived to outweigh the advantages of retaking the same subject.

4. The Teaching Committee of the Department of History of Art have proposed that the most appropriate solution would be the division of Part II into Part IIA and Part IIB. The new Part IIA would have a similar structure to the current Preliminary Examination, which would be discontinued. The examination would consist of two pairs of special subject papers plus a compulsory paper - the current Paper 1: 'Approaches to the history of art with reference to works of criticism'. This paper is taught in weekly lectures throughout the academical year, supported by fortnightly supervisions. Since the General Board review of the Department in May 2002 the paper has been reformulated so that it is now far more coherent and demanding than previously, and the examination is more stringent. The new Part IIB examination would include two different pairs of special subjects rather than the three currently required, plus a dissertation as now, and a new compulsory paper, Paper 2, entitled 'The display of art' to replace the third pair of special subjects. The new course on the display of art would consist of a lecture course delivered weekly in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms on topics such as art collection and dealing, museology, and the conservation of art and architecture. The lectures would be reinforced by fortnightly supervisions. This paper would be taught by staff in the Department and personnel from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle's Yard, and the Hamilton Kerr Institute. The Department consider that the course would be timely for students beginning to consider their future careers.

5. Provision has still been made for students to transfer to the History of Art Tripos from another Tripos and to take Part II in one year; it is proposed that such students would take the Part IIB course but would be able to choose between Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the examination.

6. The Faculty Board have considered the proposals from the Department of History of Art and are satisfied that the proposals are academically sound and that the existing funding available to the Department is sufficient to cover the cost of the staff required.

7. If the proposed revision is approved, the existing Part II of the Tripos will be examined for the last time in 2005. The new Part IIA will be examined for the first time in 2005 and the new Part IIB will be examined for the first time in 2006.

8. The Faculty Board recommend:

I. That the regulations for the History of Art Tripos be replaced by the regulations set out in the Annex to this Report in accordance with the timetable contained in Temporary Regulation 19.

II. That, with effect from 1 October 2004, the regulations for Affiliated Students (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 173) be amended so as to read:

History of Art

The right to take Part IIA of the History of Art Tripos in the second term after the student's first term of actual residence and to take Part IIB of the Tripos in the fifth term after the student's first term of actual residence, under the same conditions as if he or she had previously obtained Honours in another Honours Examination.

ANNEX

HISTORY OF ART TRIPOS

1. The History of Art Tripos shall consist of three Parts, Part I, Part IIA, and Part IIB.

2. The following may present themselves as candidates for honours in Part I:

(a) a student who has not obtained honours in an Honours Examination, provided that he or she has kept one term and that three complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence;

(b) a student who has obtained honours in an Honours Examination in the year next after so obtaining honours, provided that he or she has kept four terms and that twelve complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence.

3. A student who has obtained honours in Part I of the History of Art Tripos or in another Honours Examination may be a candidate for honours in Part IIA in the year after so obtaining honours, provided that he or she has kept four terms and that nine complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence.¹

4. A student who has obtained honours in an Honours Examination other than Part I of the History of Art Tripos may be a candidate for honours in Part IIB in the year after so obtaining honours, provided that he or she has kept seven terms and that twelve complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence.¹

5. No student shall be a candidate for more than one Part, or for any Part and also for another Honours Examination, in the same term.

6. No student who has been a candidate for any Part shall again be a candidate for the same Part.

7. The Faculty Board of Architecture and History of Art shall nominate such number of Examiners as they deem sufficient for each Part of the Tripos.

8. The Faculty Board shall have power to nominate one or more Assessors to assist the Examiners in any of the subjects in each Part of the Tripos. If required to do so, Assessors shall set papers in the subject or subjects assigned to them, shall mark the answers of the candidates in those papers, shall assess essays and dissertations, and shall advise the Examiners on the performance of candidates in the examination. Assessors may be summoned to meetings of the Examiners for the purpose of consultation and advice, but shall not be entitled to vote.

9. The questions proposed by each Examiner and Assessor shall be submitted to the whole body of Examiners for approval.

10. The Faculty Board shall have power:

(a) to issue from time to time supplementary regulations defining or limiting all or any of the subjects of examination and determining the scope and character of the papers, and to amend or withdraw such supplementary regulations as occasion may require, due care being taken that sufficient notice is given of any change;

(b) to determine the credit to be assigned to each paper, and to establish guidelines to be followed by the Examiners for assessing candidates' work in the examination and for drawing up the class-lists.

11. Public notice of subjects, special periods, and books prescribed under the following regulations or under any supplementary regulations for the Tripos shall be given by the Faculty Board (a) for Part I, before the end of the Easter Term of the year next preceding the examination to which they apply, and (b) for Part IIA and Part IIB, before the end of the Easter Term next but one preceding the examination to which they apply; provided that the Board shall have the power of subsequently issuing amendments if they have due reason for doing so and if they are satisfied that no student's preparation for the examination is adversely affected.

12. There shall be a separate class-list for each Part. In each list the names of candidates who deserve honours shall be placed in three classes, of which the second shall be divided into two divisions. The names in the first and third classes, and in each division of the second class, shall be arranged in alphabetical order. A mark of distinction may be awarded for special excellence.

Part I

13. The scheme of examination for Part I shall be:

Paper 1.	The objects of art history.
Papers 2 and 3.	The making of art.
Papers 4 and 5.	The meaning of architecture and art.

Papers 3 and 5 shall each consist of reproductions of works of art requiring comment and interpretation.

Each candidate shall offer all five papers and shall submit an essay, as prescribed in Regulation 15, on a subject approved by the Faculty Board relating to some aspect of art or architecture in or around Cambridge.

Parts IIa and IIb

14. The scheme of examination for Part IIA and Part IIB shall be:

Paper 1.	Approaches to the history of art, with reference to works of criticism.
Paper 2.	The display of art.
Papers 3-20.	Such number of pairs of papers on special subjects as the Faculty Board shall announce from time to time in accordance with Regulation 10. There shall be not less than eight and not more than nine pairs of such papers on special subjects. Each pair of papers shall deal with a particular person, subject, or period in the history of art. In each pair of papers, the second paper shall consist of reproductions of works of art requiring comment and interpretation.

15. A candidate for Part IIA shall offer Paper 1 and two pairs of papers on special subjects.

16. A candidate for Part IIB

(a) who has obtained honours in Part IIA of the History of Art Tripos shall offer Paper 2; two pairs of papers on special subjects; and a dissertation of between 7,000 and 9,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board dealing with a particular person, work of art, subject, or period in the history of art;

(b) who takes the examination in the year after obtaining honours in another Tripos shall offer either Paper 1 or Paper 2; two pairs of papers on special subjects; and a dissertation of between 7,000 and 9,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board dealing with a particular person, work of art, subject, or period in the history of art.

17. A candidate shall not offer in any Part of the Tripos a paper that he or she has previously offered in another University examination.

18. (a) Each candidate for Part I shall submit the proposed title of his or her essay for approval by the Faculty Board. Titles shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of History of Art so as to arrive not later than the division of the Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.

(b) Each candidate for Part IIA shall submit a statement of the scheme of papers to be offered in the examination to the Secretary of the Department of History of Art, so as to arrive not later than the second Monday of the Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.

(c) Each candidate for Part IIB shall submit the proposed title of his or her dissertation for approval by the Faculty Board. Titles shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of History of Art, so as to arrive not later than the last day of the Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.

(d) The Secretary of the Faculty Board shall communicate the Board's approval or rejection of a proposed essay or dissertation title to each candidate. When the Board have approved a title, no change shall be made to it or, in the case of Part IIA or Part IIB, to the candidate's scheme of papers, without the further approval of the Board.

(e) The length of an essay or dissertation shall be as follows:

An essay submitted by a candidate for Part I shall be of not more than 5,000 words in length.

A dissertation submitted by a candidate for Part IIB shall be of not less than 7,000 words and not more than 9,000 words in length.

In each case the prescribed length shall include notes and appendices, but not bibliography. Each essay or dissertation shall be printed or typewritten.

(f) (i) Essays shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of History of Art, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, so as to arrive not later than the Friday after the Division of the Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(ii) Two copies of the dissertation shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of History of Art, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, so as to arrive not later than the first day of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

Each candidate submitting an essay or a dissertation will be required to sign a declaration that the work submitted is his or her own work, unaided except as may be specified in the declaration, and that it does not contain material that has already been used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose.

Temporary Regulation

19. The examinations for the History of Art Tripos shall be held under the New Regulations for the first time

for Part I in 2005,

for Part IIA in 2005,

for Part IIB in 2006.

The examinations for the History of Art Tripos shall be held under the Old Regulations for the last time

for Part I in 2004,

for Part II in 2005.

¹ See also the regulations for Affiliated Students.