Application and Admission to Visual Arts Graduate Programs

Graduate Application Procedure for Visual Arts

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 Clay
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 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 he or she progresses through the paper/project and/or exhibition.

Department of Visual Arts 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/osl/international_ed/AdmissionInfo.html

Applicants should submit the completed application and request official copies of transcripts from all previous college work to be forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions. This 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.

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.

In addition to the University requirements, the Department of Visual Arts requires the following for admission to the Master’s degree programs.

Send all Department of Visual Arts application materials to the following address, attention of the faculty member in your chosen area of concentration:

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

Phone (if needed): 940-898-2530

For Application to the Master of Fine Arts degree program:

NOTE: The GRE is no longer required by TWU Visual Arts for application to the MFA program.

(1) GPA of at least 3.0 in last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
(2) A portfolio of 20 slides of original works in a PowerPoint presentation, PDF file, or file with jpegs on a CD.
      Must be Mac compatible / OS X / MS Office 2008 for Mac
      or PC compatible / Windows XP 2002 / MS Office 2007 for Windows.
      Label the images with title / medium / size / date.
(3) Copy of current transcripts
(4) Brief statement of intent / artist statement
(5) Current vita or resume’
(6) Three letters of reference
(7) An interview with the department chair and/or faculty advisor may be required by phone or in person.

For Application to the Master of Arts (30-hour, 36-hour, and 39-hour degrees) program:

(1) GPA of 3.0 in last 60 hours of undergraduate work
(2) Current transcripts
(3) Brief statement of intent / artist statement
(4) Current vita / or resume’
(5) An interview with the department chair and/or faculty advisor may be required by phone or in person.
(6) MA degree does not require the GRE.
(7) If applying for the M.A. degree with a concentration in
     Graphic Design, Clay, Painting, Photography or Sculpture,
     a portfolio of 20 slides of original works in a PowerPoint presentation or file with jpegs on a CD.
     Must be Mac compatible / OS X / MS Office 2008 for Mac
     or PC compatible / Windows XP 2002 / MS Office 2007 for Windows.
     Label the images with title / medium / size / date.

(8) If applying for the M.A. Art History concentration, submit at least two examples of scholarly research papers in lieu of a portfolio.

(9) If applying for the M.A. Art Education concentration, please go to
     Professional Education / Teacher Education

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. degree programs, the primary concentration advisor and chair of the department determine exemptions and deficiencies and design a program of study.

For the M.F.A. degree program, 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 faculty will take all reasonable care with the portfolios; however, the department is not responsible for lost or damaged discs.

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

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for applications 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. 

Graduate Assistantships / Teaching Assistantships

Deadline application for preference consideration for graduate assistantships is February 15.
Include one letter of recommendation for GA and/or GTA positions.
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

 

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

Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts Degree requirements

Specific requirements  and other information for each program listed below.

Program links and contact information
Send all Department of Visual Arts application materials to the following address, attention of the faculty member in your chosen area of concentration:

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 

Graduate Handbooks for the Department of Visual Arts
Graduate Student MA/MFA Studio Handbook [pdf]
Graduate MA Art History Concentration Handbook [pdf]

Programs and Faculty

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

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

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

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

Painting
Degree Requirements
Gary Washmon
Interim Chair
FAB 107A
940-898-2539
gwashmon@twu.edu 

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

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