At Moore, we know that the “next step” of an artist’s path is often composed of several steps, many of which come to fruition with the aid of new opportunities and the strong support of an intimate network of mentors and peers. Our co-educational Graduate Studies programs offer a rich array of opportunities for creative and professional growth and are open to people of all identities who have a passion for and who wish to work in the fields of art education, museums, academia, community and public art, as well as emerging disciplines and institutions.
So what are some of the benefits of going to grad school?
Unlike an undergraduate program where you were assigned projects to complete, graduate programs are independently based. This means you create whatever projects you want and research topics that interest you, kind of like an independent study, but at a more rigorous level. Because of this, most people decide to get their MFA in order to develop their body of work more, or to have the opportunity to focus more on their own studio practice.
On the flipside, some people decide they want to add to their experience (for teaching) or change their field of study entirely and decide to go back to school to learn more skills. Having a master’s degree within your field can also put you at a higher pay scale!
As the Graduate Admissions Counselor at Moore, here are some of my tips and tricks for thinking about grad school and applying.
Research early!
Have a meeting with your favorite professor or mentor and see what programs they might recommend for your interests. Most likely they are already in the same field as you, and know what programs are out there. They may even have connections at a school of interest and can help get you connected to the right people.
Be organized and work on one piece of the application at a time.
If you know the application is due in February (most graduate school applications are due January through March), give yourself mini deadlines, working toward completing the full application. Majority of applications will require your CV, a statement of intent, a portfolio and transcripts from all previous institutions.
Have you been teaching in your field? Or have just completed your BFA? Have you been showing your work? Most likely you have your CV ready to go! Make sure you keep adding to it as you exhibit your work or participate in events.
I highly recommend documenting your work as you go through a BFA program, or your students' work as you are teaching. Photograph work at the end of a project and keep these files on your desktop in a folder. It helps to also note the materials, title and dimensions as well. All this information comes in handy if you are applying to shows or residencies. Put together your best 15 to 20 images and have a mentor or friend look through them with you. Does it help to understand the context of the piece if you include a written description? Does it make sense to include detail shots? You can easily combine two image files together to create one (one detail shot and one full shot).
Your statement of intent should be a written piece stating why you’re interested in continuing your education, why you are choosing that program and why now. It’s a great way to connect your CV and portfolio to give a picture of who you are as an artist.
Did you know Moore has graduate programs? We do!
For art educators who are looking to get their MA and who already have a teaching certificate, our hybrid-format program is 15 months long and combines six-week intensives in the summer with online courses during the school year. If you don’t have your teaching certificate, we also have our MA in Art Education with Certification.
Our Socially-Engaged Art program has both MA and MFA tracks, which give students the opportunity to organize and facilitate their own artistic practices while keeping community engagement at the forefront. Each MFA student also receives a $1,000 research award, which can be used to attend residencies or conferences during the summer period of the program.
Applications received before our February 1 deadline are considered for competitive fellowship and assistantship opportunities. In 2019, we awarded more than $150,000 to support graduate candidates enrolled in our programs and we expect to award even more in the upcoming year.
Are you a Moore alum?
As a graduating student from our BFA program, you have the ability to continue your education for a year and get your master’s degree. We call this the 4+1 program. As a graduate of our undergrad program, you’ll receive a $10,000 fellowship automatically.
We currently offer a MA in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations (this is a great option for Art Education students!).
These programs will allow you to conduct more in-depth research within your chosen fields, while participating in graduate-level conversations with the graduate cohort.
Kate Garman has been with Moore since 2018, following her graduation from Tyler School of Art’s Fiber & Materials Studies MFA program. She works with our graduate students in the Admissions office. To schedule a meeting, email her at kgarman@moore.edu.
