Master of Fine Arts Admission Requirements

The following are the basic requirements for unconditional admission to the graduate program for the MFA degree:

• BFA 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 BA 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 MFA 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.

Application Procedures for the MFA Degree: US 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 and the concentration to which you are applying. 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, the concentration to which you are applying, 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 concentration are:

Graphic Communications

• 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.

Sculpture and Interdisciplinary Practice and Emerging Forms

*Applications to the MFA programs in two areas, 1. Sculpture and 2. Interdisciplinary Practice and Emerging Forms (IPEF) are shared and jointly reviewed by faculty from both areas in order to support student placement in the program best suited to their creative practice and professional goals.

MFA candidates in may submit their work in several formats:

• 20 images of recent work submitted in jpeg format on CD with accompanying image list. Image list should indicate title, year completed, medium and dimensions for each work,
  OR 

  A 10-minute CD or DVD of multimedia, 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 URLs or missing content. 
(To submit a combination of the above please scale accordingly, e.g. 10 images on CD and 5-minute DVD)
• If submitting jpeg images on CD, please also include a print of each image on the CD. Each print should indicate applicant name, title of work, year completed, medium and dimensions.
• One-page Statement of Purpose
• CV, no more than 3 pages in length
• Original works of art will not be accepted for portfolio review.

All applicants interested in either or both areas should mark their application "Sculpture/IPEF.

Painting

• 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.

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.

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 Procedures for the MFA Degree: 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. The completed online application is automatically sent to the University of Houston. Please send 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).  Applicants may pay with a credit card while applying online.

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 and the concentration to which you are applying. 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

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, the concentration to which you are applying, 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 concentration are:

Graphic Communications

• 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.

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 URLs 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

Painting

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

Questions?

Contact:

Jessica Locheed
Graduate Advisor
Instructional Assistant Professor, Art History
University of Houston, School of Art
100 Fine Arts Building
Houston, Texas 77204-4019
713-743-2830
drlocheed@gmail.com