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Visual Arts

Admission to Visual Arts Graduate Programs

How to Apply

Graduate Degrees Offered

M.A. in Art with emphasis in Art Education
M.A. in Art with emphasis in Art History
M.A. in Art with emphasis in Graphic Design

M.A., M.F.A. in Art with Studio emphasis in Ceramics
M.A., M.F.A. in Art with Studio emphasis in Painting
M.A., M.F.A. in Art with Studio emphasis in Photography
M.A., M.F.A. in Art with Studio emphasis in Sculpture

The M.F.A. degree is granted through the Federation of North Texas Area Universities.

The Department of Visual Arts graduate curriculum is structured to meet the needs of each individual admitted to the program. A program of study, subject to the approval of the Department of Visual Arts Chair and the Dean of the Graduate School, is developed after consultation with the primary concentration advisor.

Additionally, an advisory committee is appointed after you begin graduate school consisting of the primary concentration advisor, secondary concentration advisor, and one other faculty member. The purpose of the committee is to assist and counsel the student as she or he progresses through the paper/project and/or exhibition.

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the Graduate School is made through the Office of Admissions.
The University requires applicants to complete the online application at http://www.applytexas.org/.

International students should complete the international student application at
http://www.twu.edu/admissions/international.asp

Applicants should submit the completed application (applytexas.org) and request official copies of transcripts from any and all previous community college, two-year associate college, or other 4-year college or university you have studied with to be forwarded directly to the Office of Student Records.

TWU Student Records
P.O. Box 425649
Denton, TX 76204

or via expedited mail to:

TWU Student Records
304 Administration Dr.
Denton, TX 76204 (no Saturday or Sunday delivery)

More information regarding transcripts at: http://www.twu.edu/student-records/

The application process can be quite lengthy and applicants are encouraged to start early.
More information on Admissions can be found at: http://www.twu.edu/admissions/graduate.asp.

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Award Eligibility

Financial Aid

Please go to: http://www.twu.edu/finaid/ for more information on how to apply for financial aid for Graduate School.

Scholarships and Departmental Awards

To be eligible for university and departmental scholarships and awards, all students must apply through the STARS online system. Please follow the link below to submit your application.

STARS Application Online

Students must get a Login name and Password for Pioneer Portal to access the STARS Application. Please follow the link for more information.
Information on How to Create a Pioneer Portal Account [pdf].

Department of Visual Arts Requirements for Application

Master of Arts degree program in Art Education, Art History or Graphic Design
Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degree program in Ceramics, Painting, Photography, or Sculpture:

NOTE: The GRE is no longer required by TWU Visual Arts for application to the MA or MFA program. The Department does require a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, as shown on your transcript.

All Applications for MA or MFA in the Department of Visual Arts must be submitted through SlideRoom.com.
www.twuvisualarts.slideroom.com

SlideRoom.com charges a $15.00 service fee for use of the online application. TWU Department of Visual Arts does not charge any additional fees.

Before you start your application you will need to prepare the following to submit online:

  1. Statement of Intent: 300 words maximum, saved as a .pdf document.
    (For information on writing your statement of intent see this download (pdf))
  2. Artist Statement: 300 words maximum, saved as a .pdf document. (MA/Graphic Design, MA/Studio or MFA/Studio only)
    (For information on writing your artist statement see this download (pdf))
  3. Copies of unofficial or official transcripts from ANY and ALL previous community college, two-year associate college and 4-year colleges and universities you attended previously.
    This should be saved as a single .pdf document to upload.
  4. Vita or Resumé: saved as a .pdf document.
  5. Three (3) references with contact information: email, address and phone number. You will enter this information online and they will be contacted to submit a reference.
    Recommendations should be requested from professors or professionals from faculty or professionals who know the personal and academic qualifications of the applicant.
  6. Two examples of Scholarly Research: two papers of scholarly research combined as one .pdf to be uploaded through SlideRoom.com.
    Please designate the separation of the documents in the single .pdf. Include footnotes, bibliography and images as needed in the document.
    (MA/ Art Education or MA/Art History only)
  7. Digital images of your work: You will be able to upload 20 images minimum with 6 additional details if needed.
    The images need to be 1024px largest side, 5MB maximum size and .jp, .png, or .tif.
    SlideRoom.com has more information on how to upload your images successfully.
    (MA/Graphic Design; MA/Studio; MFA/Studio only)

In addition an interview with the department chair and/or faculty advisor will be required by phone or in person.

The Department of Visual Arts recognizes an undergraduate degree with a major in art from any accredited institution of higher education as the necessary prerequisite for majoring in art at the Texas Woman's University.

For the M.A. in Graphic Design or the M.F.A. in Studio, the graduate committee, with the department chair, determine exemptions and deficiencies and design a program of study.
For the M.A in Art Education, M.A. in Art History or M.A. in Studio, the advisor of the program, with the department chair, determine exemptions and deficiencies and design a program of study.

Preferred Undergraduate Coursework in Studio Arts


For the M.A. in Graphic Design and M.F.A. in Studio Arts, the departmental graduate committee and primary concentration advisor determine exemptions and deficiencies and design a program of study. Normally, an undergraduate major in one of the art areas of concentration consists of minimum work taken in design (6 semester hours), drawing (9 semester hours), painting (3 semester hours), sculpture (3 semester hours), art history (12 semester hours), and a primary area of concentration (12 to 24 semester hours).

The Department of Visual Arts recognizes an undergraduate degree with a major in art from any accredited institution of higher education as the necessary prerequisite for majoring in art at the Texas Woman’s University.

All students are admitted provisionally. All course deficiencies must be completed before the student begins graduate course work.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines for preference consideration to graduate programs in Visual Arts are:
For Fall Semester / February 15
For Spring Semester / October 16
Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for acceptance into the program. Please contact the faculty advisor in that program or the department chair for more information.

Graduate Assistantships / Teaching Assistantships

Application deadline for preference consideration for graduate assistantships is February 15.
Final deadline for application is May 1.
You must fill out an application that can be found at:
http://www.twu.edu/gradschool/applying-for-asst.asp

The completed application must be sent to:
TWU Dept. of Visual Arts
att: Michelle Hays / Department Chair
P.O. Box 425469
Denton, TX 76204  

General Information for Incoming Graduate Students

Graduate Handbooks for the Department of Visual Arts

Graduate Student MA/MFA Studio Handbook [pdf]
Graduate MA Art History Concentration Handbook [pdf]

Scholarships for Incoming Graduate Students

Incoming Graduate applicants can apply for scholarships using the STARS application.

STARS Application Online

Students must get a Login name and Password for Pioneer Portal to access the STARS Application.
Please follow the link for more information.

Information on scholarships that are available to Incoming Graduate Students.

Information on Departmental Scholarships

Specific requirements  and other information for each program listed below.

Program links and contact information
If you need more information on the degree program you are interested in, please contact the faculty member in that concentration area. You will also need to contact the faculty member or department chair to make an appointment for a phone or face-to-face interview before your completed application is approved:

Texas Woman’s University
Dept. of Visual Arts
Attn: (Name of Faculty/Program Concentration)
P.O. Box 425469
Denton, TX 76204

Phone (if needed): 940-898-2530 

Programs and Faculty

Art Education
Art Education Homepage
Dr. Diane Gregory
FAB 203
940-391-4582
dgregory@twu.edu 

Art History
Art History Homepage
Dr. John Calabrese
FAB 102
940-898-2535
jcalabrese@twu.edu

Ceramics
Ceramics Homepage
Colby Parsons
FAB 001
940-898-2541
cparsons@twu.edu

Graphic Design
Graphic Design Homepage
Jana Perez
FAB 106
940-898-2543
JPerez5@twu.edu 

Painting
Painting and Drawing Homepage
Gary Washmon
FAB 107A
940-898-2539
gwashmon@twu.edu 

Photography
Photography Homepage
Susan kae Grant
FAB 303
940-898-2537
Sgrant1@twu.edu 

Sculpture
Sculpture Homepage
Tanya Synar
FAB 008
940-898-2581
tsynar@twu.edu

             

page last updated 5/9/2013 11:53 AM