Graduate Admissions
Graduate Programs in Fine Arts
The Department of Fine Arts offers a comprehensive graduate curriculum leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Fine Arts, with concentrations in Studio Art, Art History, and Critical & Curatorial Studies. This guide is a supplement to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS) catalog. For the complete catalog, please check the SIGS website at http://graduate.louisville.edu/
General Admission Information
Admission application deadlines:
- January 15 for fall semester
- October 15 for spring semester
Application Requirements
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission to the program. The Art History M.A. Program specifically requires a minimum score of 550 on the verbal portion of the GRE.
- All M.A. programs in the Department of Fine Arts require a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
- International students must meet all criteria, including the TOEFL examination, set forth in the University’s Graduate Catalog.
Supplemental Application Materials
In addition to the credentials required by SIGS, the department requires students applying to the Art History and Critical & Curatorial Studies Programs to provide a statement of purpose (approximately 500 typed words), and a writing sample (normally an advanced-level Art History paper).
Students applying to the Studio Art Program must submit:
- samples of a coherent body of work (in slide or CD format),
- a 500-word typed artist’s statement relevant to the submitted artwork, and
- a typed statement detailing the applicant’s educational and professional goals.
Applicants to all programs must provide two current, substantive letters of recommendation specific to the program (appended to the SIGS recommendation forms) in which the applicant’s academic and/or artistic achievements and promise are discussed. Candidates normally enter the Master’s Program with the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in Studio Art, Art History, or a related field.
Admission is granted in one of five categories:
- Good standing: This classification is applicable to students who have met all admission requirements.
- Provisional: This classification is for students who have furnished their application and an undergraduate transcript but whose remaining application materials are incomplete. Students in this status must meet all the general academic requirements of the program. Students may not enroll for a second consecutive term in provisional status.
- Special conditions: This classification is for students who have furnished ALL application materials, but whose academic background is slightly below the minimum for the program. Students in this status are expected to meet certain criteria within one-semester.
- Provisional/special conditions: This classification is for students who have both missing credential(s) and academic criteria below the minimum. All credentials must be complete, and academic criteria met in the first semester of study.
- Non-degree status: Students who do not seek an advanced degree may be permitted to enroll in non-degree status. Application credentials must include the application form, $50.00 application fee and an undergraduate transcript showing the award of a baccalaureate degree. Applicants seeking non-degree status are considered on a case-by-case basis. Those seeking non-degree status are therefore strongly encouraged to contact the department to discuss their intentions.
M.A. Studio Art Track
Admission Requirements and Procedures
1. Applicants to this program must fulfill the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. To meet the Graduate School requirements a student must:
❑ Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
❑ Have, in most cases, completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in the intended field of study.
❑ Submit a formal application, application fee, at least two letters of recommendation specific to the program, official transcripts of all college work, and official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the Graduate School.
2. Applicants to the Master of Arts with a concentration in Studio Art must meet the following additional requirements: A bachelor's degree with a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Submit the following materials as part of the application:
❑ A completed Master of Arts Application form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
❑ Samples of a coherent body of work represented in 15 - 20 35mm slides in a slide sheet, or images on CD, accompanied by a typed slide list with artist's name, title of work, size, medium and year.
❑ An artist’s statement relevant to the submitted artwork of no more than 500 typed words.
❑ A statement of no more than 500 typed words detailing the applicant's educational and professional goals in the field of Fine Arts.
3. All application materials required by the Department for the Studio Art Track must be submitted to the Studio Art Graduate Program Secretary, no later than October 15 for spring semester admission and January 15 for fall semester admission. All requests for scholarship aid must be submitted by January 15.
M.A. Art History Track
Admission Requirements and Procedures
1. Applicants to this program must fulfill the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. To meet the Graduate School requirements a student must:
❑ Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
❑ Have, in most cases, completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in the intended field of study.
❑ Submit a formal application, application fee, at least two letters of recommendation specific to the program, official transcripts of all college work, and official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the Graduate School.
2. Applicants to the Master of Arts with a concentration in Art History must meet the following additional requirements: A bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Submit the following materials as part of the application:
❑ A completed Master of Arts Application form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
❑ A statement of about 500 typed words detailing the applicant’s educational and professional goals in Art History.
❑ A writing sample (normally an advanced-level Art History paper).
3. All application materials required by the Department for the Art History Track must be submitted to the Art History Graduate Program Secretary, no later than October 15 for spring semester admission and January 15 for fall semester admission. All requests for scholarship aid must be submitted by January 15.
M.A. Critical & Curatorial Studies Track
Admission Requirements & Procedures
1. Applicants to this program must fulfill the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. To meet the Graduate School requirements a student must:
❑ Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
❑ Have, in most cases, completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in the intended field of study.
❑ Submit a formal application, application fee, at least two letters of recommendation specific to the
program, official transcripts of all college work, and official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the Graduate School.
2. Applicants to the Master of Arts with a concentration in Critical & Curatorial Studies must meet the following additional requirements: A bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Submit the following materials as part of the application:
❑ A completed Master of Arts Application form (available from the Fine Arts Office).
❑ A statement of about 500 typed words detailing the applicant’s educational and professional goals in the field of Fine Arts.
❑ A writing sample (normally an advanced-level Art History paper)
3. All application materials required by the Department for the Critical & Curatorial Studies Track must be submitted to the Critical & Curatorial Studies Graduate Program Secretary, no later than October 15 for spring semester admission and January 15 for fall semester admission. All requests for scholarship aid must be submitted by January 15.
Rudy Pozzatti: a life in print
