Application
Applicants must hold an undergraduate baccalaureate degree, including the equivalent of 60 credit hours in studio coursework. A portfolio of completed work may be considered in lieu of some studio credits.
In addition to the general application requirements—such as official transcripts and letters of recommendation—M.F.A. applicants must submit a portfolio demonstrating competency in their chosen area of study. All applicants must adhere to the current area-specific requirements outlined on the Graduate Programs page.
The School of Art & Design at the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, offers graduate study in the following four divisional areas:
- Ceramic Art
- Electronic Integrated Arts
- Painting
- Sculpture/Dimensional Studies (with concentrations in glass art or sculpture)
Applicants must clearly indicate the specific M.F.A. program to which they are applying.
All materials must be submitted by January 15 of the application year. (Note: the deadline for Painting M.F.A. applicants is February 15.) Only complete applications will be reviewed by the Faculty Review Committee. The intended area of study must be clearly stated, as application materials and portfolios are reviewed solely by the faculty of the designated program.
M.F.A. students are required to enroll in four consecutive semesters and are encouraged to continue research in the summer between academic years. Only fall admits are accepted.
Accepted applicants must submit a $200 enrollment deposit and return a signed contract by the deadline specified in their acceptance notification. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of admission.
Financial Support
Students admitted to the M.F.A. programs in Ceramic Art, Electronic Integrated Arts, and Sculpture/Dimensional Studies receive:
- A full tuition waiver for the two years of required residency
- A guaranteed assistantship for every semester of the two-year program, unless a student receives an unsatisfactory assistantship evaluation, is placed on probation, or on leave.
Due to the nature of the Painting Düsseldorf program, Students admitted to the M.F.A. program in Painting receive:
Assistantship assignments are assigned by the Dean’s office in consultation with the division chairs at the beginning of each semester.
Degree Requirements
To earn the M.F.A. degree, students must:
- Complete 60 semester hours of graduate coursework over two years of full-time residency
- Successfully present work to the Graduate Committee at the midpoint and end of each semester
- Complete a thesis research project and accompanying final presentation & thesis paper.