Program Overview:
The Center for Art and Design
Mission Statement
Visual and cultural literacy are fundamental to a liberal arts education and necessary for navigating competitive professional environments. The Center for Art and Design promotes visual and cultural literacy through disciplined studio work and research practices, intellectual challenge, and interdisciplinary exchange. The faculty are committed to each student’s ability to see aesthetically, think critically, act creatively, and make lasting contributions as innovative artists, educators, scholars, and leaders.
MA in Studio Art – 30 credits
The Master of Arts in Studio Art Program at The College of Saint Rose challenges students to develop strong creative voices and informed independent aesthetic judgment. Students are expected to understand their studio work in relation to historical precedent, current trends, and contemporary theory.
Objectives:
- To develop and refine an individualized visual language informed by critical concepts.
- To analyze studio work through critiques.
- To become conversant with contemporary ideas in art.
- To prepare and write a thesis on art history, theory, criticism, visual culture, and/or aesthetics.
- To create and exhibit a distinctive body of work at the end of the program.
Prerequisites
- An undergraduate degree in the field of fine arts OR an undergraduate degree in another area PLUS completed courses/experiences equivalent to an art major;
- A fine arts portfolio that shows developed personal imagery and demonstrates competent observational drawing skills.
* Graduate students may be conditionally accepted due to a lack of advanced work in the admissions portfolio. Because this is a studio-focused program, conditionally accepted students must complete 3-6 credits of Post-baccalaureate coursework prior to beginning Advanced Studios at the graduate level. When required, Post-baccalaureate studio courses will replace elective credits. The conditionally accepted student must pass a post-baccalaureate portfolio review before enrolling in Advanced Studios at the graduate level.
Program Contacts:
To email the Art Department Graduate Coordinator,
Jennifer Childress, Art
Program Webpage,
Studio Art M.A.
Program Requirements:
Required Courses:
Art History and Theory (9 credits)
Art Studio Practice (18 credits)
Choose ONE Concentration Area: (15)*
Open Elective (3 credits)
Choose ONE Additional Graduate or Post-Baccalaureate Elective from this list (3):
| | Aesthetics | 3 |
| | Art History | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts | 3 |
| | Art Education | 3 |
| | Studio | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 30
*Post-baccalaureate and Advanced Level Graduate Course Options:
Post-baccalaureate courses are entry-level graduate courses designed for the student who may not have advanced undergraduate coursework in (for example) a particular studio area, outside of their declared studio concentration.
Students who are unconditionally accepted into Graduate art programs have demonstrated competent conceptual and technical skills in their declared studio concentration area. They may substitute one post-baccalaureate studio course for one required advanced studio, in order to integrate new studio areas into their advancing work. Students who have demonstrated strength in two studio areas may be permitted to take coursework in two advanced studio areas. However, a minimum of 9 credits must be taken in one studio area. Permission is required in all cases.
Assessment:
There are two major studio assessment reviews. A formative review (ART 530) occurs upon the completion of 6 credits of advanced studio courses, and a final review takes place during the same semester as the Master’s Exhibition (ART 597). Registering for the Master’s Exhibition will initiate scheduling of the final review.
Internship/Field Experience/Service:
Some internships are available at museums and galleries, and similar venues. Students who wish to include an internship in their program should work with faculty to research the opportunities at least one semester before applying.
Graduate Assistantships are also available (application required) both within the Center for Art and Design and College-wide. CADA assistantships include research, studio, and gallery positions.
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Required Courses
Professional Accreditation:
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs are fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
The specialized accrediting agencies noted below are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation: The Department of Art and Design at The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
General Admission Information
Eligibility for admission to The College of Saint Rose graduate programs is typically based upon the following minimum requirements:
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Submission of a completed application and a Statement of Purpose of approximately 300 words detailing the applicant’s goals for graduate study.
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Evidence of the possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution through submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
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Academic and professional qualifications for graduate study, as indicated by two letters of recommendation.
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A grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), overall and in the undergraduate major.
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Other admission criteria specified by academic programs such as submission of resumes, writing samples, portfolios, test scores, and participation in interviews or admissions workshops.
Applicants to The College of Saint Rose are responsible for completing their applications by submitting all required components. Prospective students may wish to visit our website for online application options and downloadable forms.
See Graduate Admissions section for more information.
Financial Aid
The College of Saint Rose has long been committed to the premise that a quality education should be within the reach of qualified students. To this end, the College serves its student body through a comprehensive program of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. While the basic responsibility for financing education lies with the students and their families, scholarships, loans, and/or assistantships can supplement insufficient family resources. The amount of aid available through the College is limited and is awarded on the basis of academic merit. All financial assistance from the College is subject to adjustment if the recipients are later granted aid from other sources. Financial aid awards are contingent upon students’ maintaining good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress.
See Financial Aid section for more information.
Additional Art Admission Requirements:
- Applicants for all graduate art programs must submit the requirements for general application for graduate study, and the additional art admission requirements, to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) overall and also in the undergraduate major.
- In addition, applicants must submit the following:
- A digital portfolio, comprised of 20 artworks that demonstrate a serious exploration of an idea in current work rather than a portfolio that contains a variety of works. Five of the pieces must include observational drawing.
- Accepted forms for the digital portfolio include: CD, download via weblink service (dropbox, transferbigfiles.com, etc.), or personal website. Still images should be in .jpg format with a minimum resolution of 150 dpi. Moving images should be in .wav or .mp4 format.
- The portfolio should be labeled with the name, address, telephone number of the applicant, and the studio specialization for which the applicant is applying (painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture).
- The following information should be included on a separate written list:
- applicant’s name
- number of each image
- date of each image
- medium of each image
- dimensions of each image
- The essay required for graduate admission should include the applicant’s interest and commitment to making his or her own art.
When reviewing the portfolio, the admissions committee looks for:
- Coherent and conceptually developed work;
- Strong skills in the area of concentration; and
- A proficiency in drawing.
When reviewing the graduate application essay, the admissions committee looks for:
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Graduate-level writing skills; and
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A commitment to personal and conceptual development in art making.
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