Graduate Admissions - MFA in Art
Admission to the MFA program at Bowling Green State University is highly competitive, offering admission to a maximum of 10 outstanding candidates overall in the areas of ceramics, digital art, drawing, glass, jewelry/metals, painting, printmaking, and sculpture every year. Successful applicants should demonstrate an ability to develop creative work through extensive visual and critical research, a strong educational background, and motivation to explore and experiment while focusing on their chosen areas of specialization.
The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal studio degree designed to prepare students to be professional artists. The MFA degree also provides the preparation and appropriate credentials to teach at the college or university level. Students are expected to complete their graduate work of 60 credits by attending school full-time over a two-year period (including summer coursework).
Eligibility
Application requires the presentation of a comprehensive portfolio in addition to general admission procedures. Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the availability of faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
Applicants to the M.F.A. program are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Bowling Green State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Potential applicants who wish to meet with the Graduate Coordinator in advance of application should send 5-10 jpeg images or other digital documentation, along with contact information, to the Graduate Coordinator.
Prerequisites to Graduate Work
Admission to the MFA in Art requires the equivalent of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or 60 hours in art and 12 hours in art history.
Application Procedure
Separate applications must be made to the Graduate School and the School of Art. Each of these units has specific requirements and application procedures that must be satisfied before the applicant can be considered for admission.
Graduate School Admission Requirements:
Applying to the Graduate College
School of Art Admission Requirements:
A complete application consists of the following materials:
- A cover letter that addresses your educational background, goals/objectives, brief personal history, and reason for applying to graduate school at this time. Also include an artist statement (direction of work, influences).
- A portfolio consisting of recent works, preferably from the proposed area of specialization. (see specifications below)
- Corresponding Image List with details of the works submitted (including title, medium, size and year)
- Resume
- Three original recently dated letters of recommendation (sent under separate cover)
- A stamped self-addressed envelope for return of materials
Portfolio Requirements:
Applicants may demonstrate creative ability through video, CD or DVD (Mac & PC compatible). Students can also submit a URL of their work - this should not be in lieu of a portfolio of work submitted directly to the school).
REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL IMAGES:
Submit a maximum of 20 images. Only work completed within the last three years should be included. Preferably at least half of them should be works made in the last twelve months.
- Format images as jpeg (.jpg) files, in RGB (not CMYK).
- Save images at 1280 pixels in longer dimension at 72 dpi. (if the image is vertical, set the height to 1280 pixels @ 72 dpi. If the image is horizontal, the width of the image would be 1280 pixels).
- Individual image file sizes will be between 300 kilobytes (KB) and 3 megabytes (MB) if these pixel size requirements are used. Files larger than 3 MB will not be opened.
- All images should be saved with the following convention: LastnameFirstinitial_image no.(Area of study).jpg [e.g., SmithR_1(Painting).jpg, SmithR_2(Painting).jpg] and so on.
Note: Applications are only reviewed once a year for admission in the fall.
Portfolio, cover letter, resume, recommendations, and SASE are to be sent to:
Graduate Admissions
School of Art
1000 Fine Arts Center
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403-0204
For more information contact:
Stacey Hufford
School of Art
(419) 372-2786
shuffor@bgsu.edu