General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Gail Powers; powers@etsu.edu; 423-439-4703
Patricia Mink, Graduate Coordinator
407 Ball Hall
Box 70708
(423) 439-5739
e-mail: mink@etsu.edu
Catherine Murray, Department Chair
121 Ball Hall
Box 70708
(423) 439-4247
e-mail: murrayc@etsu.edu
Department of Art and Design website: http://www.etsu.edu/cas/art/
Faculty:
Don Davis; Anita DeAngelis; David Dixon; M. Wayne Dyer; Mira Gerard; Travis Graves; Mindy Herrin; Vida J. Hull; Scott Koterbay; Patricia Mink; Catherine Murray; Peter H. Pawlowicz; Ralph Slatton; Michael A. Smith.
Department Mission:
The Department of Art and Design is committed to excellence in arts education, teaching students the technical, theoretical, critical, professional, and personal skills necessary to succeed in the visual arts. Achieving the highest quality of academic scholarship and creative research are priorities expected and supported. In service to our community, we seek to promote awareness of the social and cultural significance of the visual arts, within the university, for our region, and the world at large.
ETSU’s Department of Art and Design is an accredited institutional member of National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Additionally, the department holds membership in the College Art Association, the Southeastern College Art Conference, and other professional art organizations.
The Department of Art and Design, within the framework of the College of Arts and Sciences, has the responsibility to provide educational opportunities of high quality in the professional art disciplines.
The department offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in studio art and the Master of Arts (M.A.) in art history or in studio art.
The M.F.A. is a professional degree in studio art with specializations available in the following areas: ceramics, drawing, fibers, graphic design, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The program leading to the degree of M.F.A. has as its goal excellence in the creative production of visual art. The M.F.A. is considered the terminal degree for college or university studio teaching and/or professional work in the field. Each student’s program is developed in consultation with his or her area advisor.
The M.A. degree in Studio Art provides students with advanced training in art for purposes or personal enrichment, for entry into an M.F.A. program, or for art teachers wanting to increase their education. Specializations are available in the following areas: ceramics, drawing, fibers, graphic design, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
The M.A. degree in Art History provides the student with breath and thoroughness in the study of Art History. It is intended as preparation for additional graduate study in pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy degree or as the foundation for careers in related areas.
Program Admission Requirements
Application deadline for fall semester: February 15.
All application materials must be sent to the ETSU School of Graduate Studies, Box 70720, Johnson City, TN 37614.
All candidates for the graduate program are strongly encouraged to arrange a personal interview with the faculty member from the area of the student’s interest of study. To be admitted to the program, the applicant must have:
- An undergraduate minimum average of 3.0 in art on a 4.0 scale.
- Deficiencies may require make-up work without graduate credit.
- Demonstration of a capacity to pursue graduate work in the department.
Master of Arts – The prospective M.A. candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Art.
Art History–The applicant for the M.A. concentration in Art History must take the Graduate Record Exam and have a reading knowledge of one foreign language (French, German, Italian, or another appropriate for the student’s proposed area of study.) A cover letter stating area of emphasis, current C.V., and 3 letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors and/or other individuals conversant in art history, must also be included with the application.
Art–The applicant for the M.A. concentration in Studio Art must submit 15 digital images and the additional materials as listed below for the M.F.A. candidate.
Master of Fine Arts–The prospective candidate for the M.F.A. degree must have a bachelor’s degree with a major in art or equivalent evidence of proficiency. All candidates for the graduate program are strongly encouraged to arrange a personal interview with the faculty member from the area of the student’s interest of study. These include: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, photography, ceramics, fibers, jewelry/metalsmithing, or interdisciplinary.
In addition to the materials required by the School of Graduate Studies, the student should submit the following application materials to the School of Graduate Studies:
- A cover letter to the Graduate Selection Committee with the studio area of emphasis clearly identified.
- Current C.V.—Indicate exhibitions, prizes, work experience, student activities or honors, or other activities.
- Three (3) current letters of recommendation—preferably from former art professors and other individuals conversant in the visual arts.
- Artist’s Statement – no more than 200 words – indicating the focus of the images presented.
- 20 professional quality jpeg images on disc which Is labeled with the applicant’s name. Work should be submitted following a sequence of older to newer work. This portfolio is the primary means of evaluating the potential graduate student in the studio areas.
- Identification Sheet for images indicating title, media, size, and date.
- Materials will not be returned; do not submit original art work.
Review for Admission to Candidacy
Students are not candidates for a degree until they have passed a review process. Review for admission to candidacy will take place after the student has completed a minimum of 12-15 credit-hours in residence.
Admission to candidacy for the degree is based on the recommendation of the prospective candidate’s graduate committee. The committee is composed of three faculty members. The committee will review the student’s work, grades, and progress and make one of the following recommendations:
- Student accepted for candidacy (no restrictions).
- Student not accepted (option to reapply only twice at nine (9) semester hour intervals).
- Student not accepted (no option to reapply).
Return to: