Graduate Admission Requirements
The following are the basic requirements for unconditional admission to the graduate program for the M.F.A. degree:
- B.F.A. degree in the major field from an accredited institution with an overall 3.00 (B) average on the last 60 hours of course credit. Students with a B.A. degree in Studio Art or with other types of degrees may be accepted into the program with the requirement that additional credit hours be taken.
- Minimum of 66 credit hours in art at the undergraduate and/or post baccalaureate level with a 3.00 (B) average.
- The School of Art evaluates and admits M.F.A. candidates primarily on the basis of work completed in the major area to which the application is made. Therefore, the portfolio, as described below, is the most important part of the application.
- The deadline for applications is February 1. All application materials must be received by that date. All applications are accepted to begin in the fall semester only.
Admission Steps for U.S Citizens
The following material should be sent to:
University of Houston
Graduate Advisor
School of Art
100 Fine Arts Building
Houston, Texas 77204-4019
- A completed Graduate Application form. Online application is available at www.applytexas.org . The completed online application is automatically sent to the University of Houston.
- Non-refundable School of Art Application fee of $25 (a check or money order made payable to the University of Houston). Applicants may pay with a credit card while applying online.
- 2 official transcripts from each college or university attended since high school (sent directly to the School of Art from the school).
- 3 letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work.
- A brief statement of intent expressing your reasons for pursuing graduate study in your area of interest. The statement must be labeled with your name. A resume may be included but is not required. Please note the required materials according to the programs listed below.
-
Portfolio
Portfolio - A portfolio representing your most recent and consistent work, with a minimum of 20 reproductions of original works of art. The portfolio must be labeled with your name, present address, permanent address, e-mail address and phone number. Each image must be accompanied by all relevant information (i.e., size, medium, date, top of image). Specific portfolio requirements according to major are:
Graphic Communication
- 20 examples of current work submitted in cd/digital portfolio in either .jpgs, .eps, or .pdf format. A print out of thumbnails of all images presented with all relevant information for each image must be included.
Photography/Digital Media
- 20 examples of work in any combination of photography, video, multimedia. A media description list indicating the number of the work, title, date completed, medium and dimensions.
- Resume
- Artist statement should be included in both PDF format on the CD-ROM and a paper copy.
Painting and Sculpture
- 20 examples of work on a CD-ROM. Images should be in jpeg format. A printout of the work must accompany the CD, a maximum 4 images per 8 1/2 x 11” page, with a description list indicating title, date completed, medium and dimensions. Video and multimedia work may be submitted on a DVD.
Interdisciplinary Practice and Emerging Forms
- 20 images and / or examples of recent work submitted on
CD-ROM OR
A 10-minute CD or DVD of sound, video, performance, interactive or other time-based work, OR
10 URL's of web-based work. Please note no special accommodations will be made for broken URL's or missing content.
(To submit a combination of the above please scale accordingly, e.g. 10 images on CD and 5-minute DVD) - A sample list describing medium, size, date of completion, title for each work, no more than two pages in length.
- One-page Statement of Purpose
- CV no more than five pages in length
Original works of art will not be accepted for portfolio review.
Portfolio Return: For return of CD's or DVD's include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The appropriate postage must be firmly attached to the return envelope. The School of Art will discard all portfolios that do not include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Application Deadline is February 1. Please note that applications are accepted to begin in the fall semester only.
Admission Steps for International Applicants
Applicants who are not citizens of the United States are considered international students by the University, regardless of residency or immigration status. International applicants must send materials to both the Office of International Admissions and to the School of Art.
Send the following (all necessary forms are included with the International Application) to:
University of Houston
International Admissions
122 E. Cullen Building
Houston, Texas, 77204-2023
U.S.A.
- Completed International Student Graduate Application – online application can be found at www.applytexas.org. Please include all other materials, including the TOEFL Score and all transcripts, required for international application to the University of Houston.
- Non-refundable Application Evaluation Fee of $75.00. (If payment is coming from outside the U.S., this must be in the form of an American Express money order or a draft from a U.S. bank).
The following material should be sent to:
University of Houston
Graduate Advisor
School of Art
100 Fine Arts Building
Houston, Texas 77204-4019
- Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work.
- A brief statement of intent expressing your reasons for pursuing graduate study in your area of interest. The statement must be labeled with your name.
- A resume may be included but is not required for most programs. Please note the required materials according to the programs listed below.
- Non-refundable School of Art Application fee of $25 (a check or money order made payable to the University of Houston).
-
Portfolio
A portfolio representing your most recent and consistent work, with a minimum of 20 reproductions of original works of art. The portfolio must be labeled with your name, present address, permanent address, e-mail address and phone number. Each image must be accompanied by all relevant information (i.e., size, medium, date, top of image). Specific portfolio requirements according to major are:
Graphic Communication
- 20 examples of current work submitted in cd/digital portfolio in either .jpgs, .eps, or .pdf format. A print out of thumbnails of all images presented with all relevant information for each image must be included.
Photography/Digital Media
- 20 examples of work in any combination of photography, video, or multimedia. Images must be in pdf format and submitted on a CD-ROM. Video and multimedia work may be submitted on a DVD.
- A media description list indicating the number of the work, title, date completed, medium and dimensions.
- Resume
- Artist statement should be included in both PDF format on the CD-ROM and a paper copy.
Painting and Sculpture
- 20 examples of work on a CD-ROM. Images should be in jpeg format. A printout of the work must accompany the CD, a maximum 4 images per 8 1/2 x 11” page, with a description list indicating title, date completed, medium and dimensions. Video and multimedia work may be submitted on a DVD.
Interdisciplinary Practice and Emerging Forms
- 20 images and / or examples of recent work submitted on
CD-ROM OR
A 10-minute CD or DVD of sound, video, performance, interactive or other time-based work, OR
10 URL's of web-based work. Please note no special accommodations will be made for broken URL's or missing content.
(To submit a combination of the above please scale accordingly, e.g. 10 images on CD and 5-minute DVD) - A sample list describing medium, size, date of completion, title for each work, no more than two pages in length.
- One-page Statement of Purpose
- CV no more than five pages in length
Original works of art will not be accepted for portfolio review.
Portfolio Return: For return of CD's or DVD's include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The appropriate postage must be firmly attached to the return envelope. The School of Art will discard all portfolios that do not include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Application Deadline is February 1. Please note that applications are accepted to begin in the fall semester only.
Financial Aid
The University of Houston offers a program of scholarships, grants, loans and employment to assist students who would otherwise be unable to attend the University as well as to encourage students of above average academic ability.
For further University financial aid information, call or write to:
- University of Houston
Scholarships and Financial Aid
31 E. Cullen Building
Houston, Texas, 77204-2010
713-743-1010
Graduate students who are employed half-time (50% FTE) as a Teaching Fellow, Teaching Assistant and/or Instructional Assistant are eligible for the Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowship (GATF). This fellowship covers the tuition costs for 9 credit hours per semester.
In addition, the School of Art and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences also offer scholarships such as George Bunker Graduate Fellowships and Delores Welder Mitchell Scholarships. These are awarded to both current and incoming students based on academic and artistic excellence.
Contact Cathy Hunt, Graduate Advisor, for further information regarding the scholarships and fellowships available for graduate students.
Graduate Tuition
For the current University of Houston tuition and fee schedule, consult the UH website. School of Art courses carry course fees, which are added to the tuition and fees charged by the University.
Questions?
For further information on the graduate programs at the School of Art contact:
- Cathy Hunt, Graduate Advisor
chunt@uh.edu
713-743-2830
School of Art Contact Information
University of Houston, School of Art
100 Fine Arts Building
Houston, Texas 77204-4019
713-743-3001
