Prospective Students - Graduate

Art and Art History

Areas of Study and Research

The MFA program offers concentrations in painting and drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography and media arts (including video and digital art), film, and integrated arts. The MA in art history is offered for those seeking a sound foundation in research methods. The department conducts a visiting artist program, and a visiting scholar program each year, bringing artists and scholars of national and international reputation to the Boulder campus to lead seminars and to work individually with students.

Degrees Offered

MA (art history)
Requires 30 semester hours of approved graduate study, demonstrated proficiency in the core areas of art history, completion of the foreign language requirement, and a successful thesis defense. The length of the program is 2 years.

MFA (studio arts)
Requires 54 semester hours of approved graduate study, providing the serious art student with an opportunity to attain a professional level of excellence as a visual artist, culminating in a thesis exhibition, a written thesis, and successful defense. The length of the program is 2.5 years.

Admission

Graduate School Minimum Admissions Standards
Individual graduate departments may have additional or more restrictive standards by which they evaluate graduate applicants. However, the Graduate School at CU-Boulder has established minimum standards for graduate admission. Applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
   
2. Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record.
   
3. Have adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
   
4. Have at least a 2.75 (2.00=C) undergraduate grade point average. Note: Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average.
   

Art and Art History Admissions Requirements
Applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
2. Have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 for Studio Arts and 3.00 for Art History.
3. Provide GRE scores (500) for MA (art history) program.
4. For the MFA (studio arts) program, provide 20 images (not more, not less) online through SlideRoom. Film/Video applicants must submit DVDs or VHS tapes (DVD preferred), mailed to the departmental graduate program coordinator. Please see the departmental website for specific instructions, mailing address, and link to SlideRoom.
5. For the MFA program, provide an Artist Statement (in addition to the statement of goals and objectives -- item #6 on Application, Part II).
6. Provide three letters of recommendation.

Minimum Standards for Applicants
Strongly recommend at least 12 semester hours of art history courses prior to application for MA in art history.

Financial Support Available
Fellowships, teaching assistantships (MA, art history); and fellowships, GPTI/GA (MFA, Studio).

Application Information and Deadlines   Fall admission Yes Application deadline January 15 International application deadline December 1 Financial assistance application deadline January 15   Spring admission No   Summer admission No

Contact Information

University of Colorado at Boulder
Department of Art and Art History
Graduate Program Assistant
318 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0318
Phone: 303-492-2419
Fax: 303-492-4886
E-mail: finearts@colorado.edu
Website: www.colorado.edu/arts