phd in arts and design

• School Events
• Resources for Current Students
• Job Announcements
• Give a Gift
• Search the website
• Bachelor’s Programs
• Master’s Programs
• Doctoral Programs
• All Our Minors
• Admissions & Funding
• Schedule a Visit
• Student Work
• Faculty Work
• Alumni Work
• Labs & Studios
• Meet Our Students
• University Resources
• Alumni Listings
• Alumni News
• Alumni Profiles
• Alumni Tributes to Faculty
• Land Acknowledgment Statement
• Our Mission & Strategic Plan
• Faculty Directory
• Staff Directory
• Resources for Faculty & Staff

PhD in Art Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Art Education degree is designed for students who want to make a scholarly contribution to the Art Education field.

Allison Rowe, PhD (2021). “Work Like a River” (participatory lecture, 2017). Photo by Larissa Issler

PhD Art Education

At the University of Illinois, faculty and graduate students build a vibrant community of inquiry within the context of a Research 1 university. This community, including faculty whose breadth of interests span topics including contemporary art and visual culture in education, formal and informal learning, cultural policy and urban studies, and teacher training and identity, provides an intellectually stimulating environment for graduate students to stretch themselves intellectually and become world authorities on the particular topic of their dissertation.

Some doctoral students receive funding and support as teaching assistants for 4 years, and this funding is conditional upon academic standing. This funding includes a tuition waiver, a salary, health insurance, annual conference funding, plus many opportunities to gain competitive grants. Students complete coursework, consisting of 5 courses in art education, courses in research methodology and writing, courses in a minor that complements individual student interest, and courses that prepare students for the qualifying exam (taken after one year of full-time study) and the preliminary exam (at the conclusion of coursework). Examples of minors include Asian Studies, Art History, New Media, Museum Studies, and Women’s Studies. Following the conclusion of coursework, students write a dissertation that contributes new knowledge to the field of art education. Finally, students defend their dissertation.

During this course of study, there are numerous resources available to graduate students in Art Education, both within our program and across the University of Illinois:

• At our major comprehensive research university, students have access to the broadest possible range of elective courses.
• Visual Arts Research is a scholarly, refereed journal and has been published through the Art Education program for over 40 years. It is edited by Art Education faculty.
• The Everyday Arts Lab offers an excellent local site for graduate research for those interested in arts and social practice.
• With a total of 14 million titles the University of Illinois Library houses the largest collection of any public university in the world. The Ricker Library of Architecture and Art has 120,000 titles and 33,00 serials.
• The Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory is a program that promote conversations among a range of departments in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts by organizing lectures, panel discussions, and conferences, as well as the Modern Critical Theory lecture series.
• The Krannert Art Museum includes an archive of over 8,000 works of art and rotating exhibitions of traditional and innovative art works.
• The Spurlock Museum highlights the diversity of cultures around the globe.
• Illinois is host to the  International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry , which brings a large contingent of art education scholars to campus.
• Regular visiting speakers from other institutions including Kevin Tavin, Amelia Kraehe, David Darts, Olivia Gude, Luis Camnitzer, Matthew Goulish, Marjorie Manifold, and Stephanie Springgay.
• Devoted room for Art Education PhD students including carrels for your use.

Faculty Interests

• Arts-based research
• Community arts education
• Conceptual art practices and theory
• Creative cities
• Cultural globalization
• Emerging curriculum theory
• Performance studies
• Psychoanalysis
• Social practice
• Socially engaged art
• Teacher identity
• Urban education
• Visual culture
• Youth studies

Ask Us a Question

Ellen de Waard  

Laura Hetrick  

Sarah Travis  

Northern Illinois University School of Art and Design College of Visual and Performing Arts

• Make a Gift
• MyScholarships
• Anywhere Apps
• Huskies Get Hired
• Student Email
• Password Self-Service
• Quick Links
• Huskie Link
• School of Art and Design
• Graduate Programs

Ph.D. Art and Design Education

Our doctoral program in art education will help you hone your skills as a researcher and theorist. You'll be prepared to become a teacher or scholar at a college or university. You'll also be ready for leadership positions in a variety of art education settings.

The program will enable you to conduct research on teaching and learning in fine arts and other forms of visual culture. You'll have opportunities to contribute substantial knowledge and exhibit original scholarship.

You'll benefit from:

• Financial support, such as scholarships and assistantships.
• Opportunities to conduct and present research.
• Our strong local community and extended network.
• Access to rich art and design education resources.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in art and design education requires 60 semester hours beyond a master's degree. The program emphasizes research, theory and philosophical development. It also focuses on the application of new knowledge in the visual arts and design education.

Course Requirements

• Core courses: 15 semester hours
• Research methodology: nine semester hours
• Cognate courses: 12-15 semester hours
• Elective courses: 12-15 semester hours

Please note: Some courses are offered online. Contact the doctoral program coordinator for more information.

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of a candidacy examination.
• Completion of a dissertation of original research.
• Successful oral defense of the dissertation.

Read more about program requirements .

Program Highlights

Financial support.

You can apply for scholarships, travel funding, tuition waivers and assistantships. A teaching assistantship will give you experience working with undergraduates. A research assistantship will give you a wide range of experience, from managerial work in a higher education program to providing assistance on a faculty research project.

You can apply for an assistantship by filling out a form when you apply to the program.

Research Opportunities

You'll have many opportunities to conduct and present your research. Our art and design faculty members will mentor you along the way. They are known around the world for their excellence in scholarship, as well as teaching and service. They will also guide your learning in areas such as conference planning, editorial experience and program planning.

Strong Community

Our program has a reputation for building a sense of community among students. We're also known for our networking with potential employers. Our faculty will work with you to ensure both collegiality during the program and employment after graduation.

You'll have opportunities to build your network by attending and presenting at conferences. Some of the conferences our students have been involved with include:

• National Art Education Association Convention
• Illinois Art Education Association Conference
• Art Education Research Institute Symposium
• International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry

You'll have access to resources at NIU that support study and research in art and design education. These include extensive library facilities and the NIU Art Museum. Due to our close proximity to Chicago, you can also make use of major museums and other resources in the area.

You'll have many chances to interact with the extended art education community and build your professional network. For example, we offer a scholar/speaker series that brings national and international leaders in the field to campus.

You'll work closely with our accomplished faculty members. They have published widely and received major awards and grants.

Douglas Boughton Professor of art education Area of focus: Assessment and curriculum

Kerry Freedman Professor of art   education Area of focus: Visual culture and curriculum

Kelly Gross Assistant professor of art education Area of focus: Disability studies and technology

Kryssi Staikidis Professor of art education Area of Focus: Multiculturalism

Shei-Chau Wang Professor of art education Area of focus: Studio pedagogy/cross-cultural curriculum

• How to Apply

We welcome you to apply for admission. You can find admission requirements and application deadlines on the Graduate School website.

View Application Instructions

• M.A. Art (Specialization in Studio Art) / M.F.A. Art and Design
• M.A. Art (Specializations in either Art History Research or Teaching at The Two-Year College Level)
• M.S. - Art and Design Education
• M.S. - Art and Design Education (online)
• Ph.D. - Art and Design Education
• Art History Certificate
• Museum Studies Certificate
• Digital Fabrication Certificate
• School of Art and Design Graduate Programs Handbook

Kerry Freedman , Ph.D Professor and Ph.D Advisor [email protected]

Ann Van Dijk Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator [email protected]

School of Art and Design Jack Arends Building , room 216 815-753-1474

Connect with us on

• Search This Site All UCSD Sites Faculty/Staff Search Term
• Chair's Message
• Continuing Lecturers
• Graduate Students
• Postdoctoral Fellow
• Emeriti Faculty
• In Memoriam
• Visiting Artists
• Academic Advising
• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Annual Schedule
• Academic Opportunities
• Scholarships, Grants & Internships
• Career Paths
• MFA Program
• PhD Program
• Financial Support
• Speaker Series
• Artist In Residence
• Awards & Honors
• EDI Graduate Student Funding
• Academic Personnel
• Compliance and Required Training
• Financial Services
• Human Resources
• Instructional Resources for Faculty
• Miscellaneous

The UC San Diego Visual Arts PhD Program grants two PhD degrees: Art History, Theory and Criticism and Art History, Theory and Criticism with a Concentration in Art Practice . The program embodies the department's commitment to innovative research by embracing the close intersection of art, media, and design practice with history, theory, and criticism, and by offering training in the history, theory, and criticism of a range and mix of areas represented in our MFA faculty, including studio art, film, video, photography, computational media, performance art, public art, design, visual culture, and socially engaged art practice. Regional and cultural frameworks of study include European and Latin American art, Chinese art, nineteenth-century French visual culture, Mesoamerican, Native American, and Indigenous art and material culture, Medieval art and culture, queer and feminist art, material culture, science, technology, and art; and ocean, environmental, and land art.

The Art Practice Concentration degree, which must be applied for at the time of application to the PhD program, follows the same course of scholarly training, research, and writing as the Art History, Theory and Criticism degree, with additional requirements in research-based art practice that span all years of coursework, qualifying, and doctoral research. Two students are admitted to this concentration annually.

Information for Current and Prospective Students

Requirement overview, program requirements.

• Coursework, 88 units

Language Requirement

• Qualifying Materials and Exams

Dissertation and Defense

• For VA77 Only- Art Practice Project and Exhibition

Full Time Enrollment

In order to remain eligible for financial support all graduate students must be enrolled   in 12 units of upper-division (100-199) or graduate level (200 and above) courses each quarter during the regular academic year. Graduate students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to maintain good academic standing. The majority of students will choose to complete the majority of their academic coursework for a letter grade.

Pre-Candidacy

Coursework should be chosen in consultation with the Advisor and should be taken in preparation for the Qualifying phase. During the first three years in the program, students should aim to fulfill the following requirements:

• MA en Route Requirements (if interested and eligible)
• Qualifying Materials and Exams (year 3)

Advancing to candidacy occurs when the student has passed all course, language, and qualifying requirements and is ready to research and write a dissertation. Doctoral candidates, sometimes referred to as “all but dissertation” or ABD, work on their dissertation with Advisor and Committee consultation and feedback for two or more years. During this time, Art Practice candidates additionally produce the required art practice components. Each quarter, most doctoral candidates typically enroll in 8-12 units of VIS 299 and/or 4 units of a 500, in consultation with their Advisor. Candidacy concludes when the candidate completes and successfully defends the dissertation (and, for VA77, the additional Art Practice requirements) and is awarded the doctorate.

Degree Paths

The program consists of two degree paths: Art History, Theory and Criticism (VA76) and Art Practice (VA77), a concentration designed for artists engaged in advanced research who wish to pursue their work in an environment geared to doctoral study, and to produce studio, media, performance or public facing work alongside a written dissertation. See Handbook for further details.

Interdisciplinary Specializations

Students within the PhD program who are interested in the opportunity to undertake specialized research may apply to participate in an interdisciplinary specialization. Students accepted into a specialization program would be expected to complete coursework in addition to those required for their PhD program. The department offers interdisciplinary specializations with the following campus programs.

• Anthropogeny:   for students with an interest in human origins
• Critical Gender Studies:   providing specialized training in gender and sexuality
• Interdisciplinary Environmental Research : for students interested in environmental solutions

Curriculum: VA76 Art History, Theory and Criticism

VA76- 22 courses, 88 units

GENERAL FIELD EMPHASIS

During the first year of study, students declare a general area of study in consultation with their Advisor and with the approval of the Faculty Director. This general field emphasis will be considered as they choose courses and, toward year three, plan their qualifying materials. See the Handbook for general field options.

CORE REQUIREMENTS (8 courses, 32 units)

Required (4 courses, 16 units):

• VIS 200- Methods and Theories
• VIS 204- Rethinking Art History
• VIS 500 (1 course, 4 units)- Apprentice Teaching
• VIS 502- Graduate Teaching in Visual Arts

Breadth (4 courses, 16 units), choose from 4 different areas with 3 different faculty:

• Medieval, Renaissance or Early Modern Art- VIS 251, VIS 252
• Modern and Contemporary Art- VIS 254, VIS 255
• Media Studies- VIS 256
• Meso-American Art or North American Indigenous Art- VIS 257, VIS 260
• Asian Art- VIS 258
• Latin American Art- VIS 259
• Material Culture- VIS 261
• Design Studies- VIS 262

ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS (14 courses, 56 units), choose from the following options:

• Art History Seminars (VIS 230-269), a minimum of 6 MUST be taken for the elective area
• Graduate Research (VIS 299), during 1st year with provisional advisor
• Professional Practice Seminar (VIS 220)
• Art Theory/Practice (VIS 206, VIS 210-219), a maximum of 2 may be taken
• Other Department, a maximum of 3 graduate level courses may be taken 
• Reading Courses (approved undergrad courses), a maximum of 4 may be taken 
• Directed Group Study (VIS 298), a maximum of 1 may be taken
• Individual Studies (VIS 295), a maximum of 12 units may be taken with Advisor

Curriculum: VA77 Art History, Theory and Criticism- Art Practice

VA77- 22 courses, 88 units

CORE REQUIREMENTS (12 courses, 48 units)

Required (9 courses, 36 units):

• VIS 206- Seminar in Art Practice Research
• VIS 207 (repeat 3 times for 12 units)- Working Practice for Art Practice
• VIS 210-219, 1 course from Art Theory/Practice 

Breadth (3 courses, 12 units), choose from 3 different areas with 3 different faculty:

ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS (10 courses, 40 units), choose from the following options:

• Art History Seminars (VIS 230-269), a minimum of 3 MUST be taken for the elective area
• Art Theory/Practice (VIS 210-219), a maximum of 2 may be taken
• Other Department, a maximum of 3 may be taken 
• Reading Courses (approved undergrad courses), a maximum of 2 may be taken 
• Directed Group Study (VIS 298), a maximum of 4 units may be taken

For the VA76 PhD students, competency in reading, understanding, and interpreting texts in two languages other than English is required before advancement to candidacy (Qualifying Exam stage), and competency in at least one language is expected at the time of application to the program. Art Practice Concentration students (VA77) will be required to satisfy competency in one language other than English before advancing to PhD candidacy. The student and their Advisor will jointly determine examination languages. 

The Program’s language requirement may be met in one of three ways: 

• Passing the department’s in-house Language Exam  
• Passing one approved graduate-level language course 
• Passing two approved upper-division undergraduate language courses 
• Passing a two-year sequence of approved undergraduate language courses in a single language  

Required Paperwork

For each language exam or course sequence taken to satisfy a language requirement, a Language Completion form must be completed by the student, the proctor/instructor and submitted to the Student Affiars Manager in order to receive credit for completion of the language requirement. Submitted forms are automatically routed via DocuSign for approval and processing.

In-House Language Exams

In-house Language Exams test ability in reading and comprehension (by translation into English) only, not writing or spoken fluency in the designated language. The exam consists of two short texts, one less difficult to be translated into English without a dictionary, and one more difficult to be translated with a dictionary. The dictionary may be either a printed volume or an on-line resource. One hour is allowed for each section (total test time: 2 hours). The translations may be written on a computer or by hand. Exams are corrected by the faculty member responsible for designing the exam, who also invigilates the test. If adequate reading knowledge is not demonstrated, the student’s Advisor will review with the student and the faculty setting the exam the steps necessary to master the language and a new exam will be scheduled within a reasonable amount of time. 

Students requesting an in-house language examination should consult with faculty responsible for particular languages:

• Chinese and Japanese : Professor Kuiyi Shen 
• French : Professors. Jordan Rose and John Welchman 
• German : Professor Alena Williams 
• Italian : Professor William Tronzo 
• Korean : Professor Kyong Park
• Mayan languages : Professor Elizabeth Newsome 
• Spanish : Professors Elizabeth Newsome and Mariana Wardwell 
• Turkish: Professors Memo Akten and Pinar Yoldas

Individual arrangements for determination of competency will be made for those languages that cannot be tested by department faculty . 

Committee Constitution and Management

About the committee.

This is the group of four faculty who agree to the student’s request for mentorship and evaluation during the qualifying and doctoral years. The Committee is chaired by the Advisor(s). In addition to mentoring and guiding the student’s research, this team serves as the Qualifying Committee and the Doctoral or Dissertation Committee, conducting the Qualifying Exam and the Dissertation Defense. The committee must be formally appointed by Graduate Division in the process outlined below.

Committee Constitution

The Committee Chair is the student’s Faculty Advisor/Co-Advisors and is selected by Year Two through mutual agreement with the student. The rest of the Committee is constituted through request and consent between the student and other faculty, with the guidance and approval of the Advisor(s). 

Makeup of the committee:

• 3 Visual Arts Faculty (including the Chair/Co-Chairs), 1 member may be a non-PhD faculty
• 1 tenured or emeritus faculty from outside the department

For each option, Assistant or Acting-Associate Faculty may serve as a general member or Co-Chair but not as sole Chair. The Graduate Division website has  additional information  about committees and a  Committee Membership Table  which may be helpful in determining what role a faculty member may serve on a committee.

Submitting Your Committee

After faculty have agreed to serve on the Committee, and the Faculty Advisor has approved the list, the student must complete and send the  Committee Constitution form  which will be routed to the Student Affiars Manager for processing.  This form must be approved by the Graduate Division by Week 5 BEFORE the Qualifying Exam .

Changing Your Committee

There are times when committee membership must change after the intial review and approval. All changes to committee membership need to be approved by the Department and then Graduate Division. Committee reconstitution must be completely reviewed and approved by Week 5, the quarter PRIOR to QE/Defense. When changing committee membership:

• Review the Committee Membership requirements 
• Discuss the change in committee membership with the Committee Chair/Co-chairs
• Discuss the change in committee with impacted committee members
• Complete the   Committee Reconstitution form   which will be routed to the Student Affairs Manager for processing.

Committee Management

It is the responsibility of the student, in consultation with their advisor/committee chair, to engage with and request feedback on drafts of written materials and (for VA77) documentation of artwork progress with all committee members during research and writing of their qualifying materials and dissertation. The student also must email final copies of all materials to their Committee prior to their Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Defense. 

Qualifying Exam, Advancement to Candidacy

About the qualifying process.

The Qualifying process occurs throughout Year Three. The student, under the supervision of the Advisor and with the advice of the Committee, prepares two bibliographies (one on the chosen field of emphasis and the second pertaining to the proposed dissertation); writes a qualifying paper and a dissertation prospectus; and takes written and oral examinations pertaining to these documents. The Art Practice PhD additionally requires a practice prospectus and a third bibliography.

Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying Examination has two parts: A Written Examination in which the student writes two essays over five days in response to questions provided by the Committee; and two weeks later,  a 2- or 2.5-hour Oral Examination led by the Committee, during which the student is asked questions and put in dialog about all of the qualifying materials.

Qualifying Timeline

A student must have completed all required course work and passed all language examinations before taking the qualifying examination, which will be held no later than the end of the third year. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student will be advanced to candidacy.

Qualifying Exam Administrative Checklist  

Qualifying Exam Failure

Should a student fail the examination, the Faculty Committee will clarify the weaknesses in the exam, so that the student can prepare to take it a second time. If a second oral examination is warranted, they will have to re-take and pass the exam prior to the end of the Pre-Candidacy Time Limit (or they need an extension approved to continue). They can always take a leave and return but if the PCTL is expired, they will have to advance before returning or an exception to extend the time would be need to be approved prior to retuning. If the student fails the oral examination a second time, their graduate studies in the department will be terminated.

MA en Route

• Five Art History seminars 
• VIS 200 Methods and Theories
• VIS 204 Re-Thinking Art History 
• One Theory/Practice seminar (chosen from VIS 210-219)
• Four breadth courses, from four different breadth areas

We do not offer an MA with an Art Practice concentration. Therefore, Art Practice concentration students must make a formal change in their degree aim to designate Art History, Theory, and Criticism (VA76). This change must take place at least two quarters prior to the Qualifying Exam. 

Note:   Students who wish to receive an MA as part of the Ph.D. program   must apply for master’s degree candidacy by the end of the second week of the quarter in which they expect to receive the degree.   Please see the Graduate Coordinator regarding this process.

Necessary Documents for the Qualifying Exam

• Report of the Qualifying Exam

Necessary Documents for the MA on the Way

• Application for MA (due week two) 
• Final Report for MA 

Best Practices for Completing the Report of the Qualifying Exam and Final Report via DocuSign:

• Ahead of your exam/defense ask faculty to add [email protected] as a “safe sender” so those emails are less likely to go to junk/spam. Although campus IT has taken steps to identify DocuSign as a safe sender, it is still recommended that individual users do so as well.
• At the end of your Exam/Defense ask your committee members to check their email for the DocuSign email with the link to the form and sign while you're all online together. 
• ask the faculty to check their junk folder, spam quarantine, or other spam folders
• next, ask them to log into their DocuSign account using their @ucsd.edu email address and SSO credentials to access the form/s directly (https://docusign.ucsd.edu) *some people have personal DocuSign accounts so ask them to ensure they are logging into the UCSD DocuSign account
• Get verbal confirmation of who has signed and who has not, then follow-up with the Student Affairs Manager to resolve any issues your committee members have with signing the form.
• Once the appropriate form is submitted to the Graduate Division, the appropriate fee will be charged directly to the student’s financial TritonLink account. 

About the Dissertation

Following successful completion of the qualifying examinations, the candidate will research and write a doctoral dissertation under the supervision of their Advisor and with the input of the Committee. Students in the art practice concentration (VA77) will submit a written dissertation that observes the same regulations and conventions as VA 76, except that the length requirement is slightly shorter and there must be one additional chapter devoted to discussion of the art practice. In addition, Art Practice candidates will additionally produce and exhibit a visual component. See the Handbook for details. 

About the Defense

After the committee has reviewed the finished dissertation (and art practice components, for VA 77), the candidate will orally defend their dissertation (and art practice work and exhibition), responding to questions from the Committee in a meeting that may be public (the student may invite visitors), as per university policy. The Dissertation Defense is the culmination of all of your work within the Ph.D. program. Please read all of the information on the Graduate Division's website about " Preparing to Graduate " and make an appointment to speak with the Student Affairs Manager one year prior to when you plan to defend.

Roles and Responsibilities for the Defense

Student will:

• Schedule the Dissertation Defense with their committee. This is normally scheduled for three hours. (You are responsible for reserving a room or scheduling the zoom meeting). 
• Complete the PhD Dissertation Defense Notificaiton form which will notify the Student Affairs Manager of the date and time of the defense. This form is required so that the Final Report paperwork can be initiated and sent to your committee members on the date of the defense.
• Follow-up with your committee, the Graduate Division, and the Student Affairs Manager about any issues surrounding the completion of your degree.

Faculty Advisor will:

• Ensure the   policy   appropriate participation of all members of the committee at the Dissertation Defense. It is also helpful to remind all committee members to sign the forms by checking their inboxes for the DocuSign request to sign the forms. These sometimes end up in a person's spam folder.

Student Affairs Manager will:

• Fill out the Final Report form via DocuSign and route the form the morning of the exam/defense for signature to all committee members, the department chair, and the Graduate Division.
• Follow-up with committee members regarding signatures on the Final Report and general petition forms (if needed).
• Send out the announcement of the defense to department faculty and graduate students.

Additional Information and Tasks

Preliminary Dissertation Appointments with the Graduate Division: Students will schedule their preliminary and final appointments with Graduate Division Academic Affairs Advisors utilizing the online calendaring system they have in place:   https://gradforms.ucsd.edu/calendar/index.php

Committee Management : If you need to make any changes to your doctoral committee please follow the instructions above in the "Committee Management" drawer. 

Embargo Your Dissertation:   Talk to your faculty advisor about embargoing your dissertation. You may want to embargo your dissertation if you are planning to turn it into a book. The embargo will delay the university's publication of your dissertation and prevent other academics from using your research.   https://grad.ucsd.edu/_files/academics/DissertThesisReleaseTemplate.pdf

Necessary Documents for the Dissertation Defense

• Final Report (routed for signature by the Student Affairs Manager)

Best Practices for Completing the Final Report via DocuSign:

• At the end of your Defense ask your committee members to check their email for the DocuSign email with the link to the form and sign while you're all online together. 
• Get verbal confirmation of who has signed and who has not, then follow up with the Student Affairs Manager to resolve any issues your committee members have with signing the form.

Paying Associated Fees:  For students who will need to pay fees (advancement to candidacy, thesis submission fee, filing fee, re-admit fee), they will be charged on the financial TritonLink account once the form is received by the Graduate Division. There is no need for students to go to the cashier’s office.

Grades and Evaluations

Only courses in which a student received grades of A, B, or S are allowed toward satisfaction of the requirements for the degree. Note that a “C” is generally regarded as unsatisfactory within this department. In satisfaction of all program requirements and electives, A, A-, and B+ are regarded as acceptable grades for seminars and courses. Grades of B, B- indicate weaknesses and are cause for concern. Grades of C+ or below are regarded as unsatisfactory and may lead to academic probation. University policy states that any student with more than 8 units of “U” and/or “F” grades is barred from future registration including the next available quarter. It is not recommended that VIS 295/298/299 are taken for a letter grade.

Grade Point Average

A graduate student must maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 (B average) to continue in good standing. A student is subject to dismissal if the overall grade point average falls below 3.0 at any time.

Spring Evaluation

Every Spring quarter, Advisors (in the first year Provisional Advisors) will submit an evaluation of their advisee’s progress to Graduate Division. Students are expected to submit a summary of the past academic year to their advisor. These evaluations serve as an important tool for students and advisors in assessing student progress, while also providing suggestions and goals for students’ successful completion of their projects.   

The Graduate Division will review the evaluations when student/departments are making specific requests for exceptions

The duration of the Ph.D. program is five to eight years. University and departmental regulations stipulate that the maximum tenure of graduate study at UC San Diego or Total Registered Time Limit (TRTL) is eight years; while seven years is the limit for receiving any type of university financial support or a student's Support Time Limit (SUTL). For the Department of Visual Arts, the "normative" time to degree is 6 years. Students are expected to pass their qualifying exam and advance to candidacy in year three, but no later than year four which is the university's Pre-candidacy time limit (PCTL).

To learn more about time limits please visit the Graduate Division website.

Time Limits:  https://grad.ucsd.edu/academics/progress-to-degree/time-to-doctorate-policy.html

You can check your time limit by logging into the Graduate Student Portal.

Graduate Student Portal:  https://gradforms.ucsd.edu/portal/student/

PhD Current Students

Phd handbook.

The department website and catalog are great resources for students to learn generally about the PhD program and progress towards their degree. There are detailed instructions and robust program information available in the full PhD Handbook. Each student should refer to this resource throughout their academic career.

2023-24 Academic Year

2022-23 Academic Year  

2021-22 Academic Year

How to Apply

• Join our PhD Art History Program (VA76)
• Join our PhD Art Practice Program (VA77)

Mission of the programs

The PhD Program prepares students to become public intellectuals and transformative practitioners in shaping the environment at all scales – from the design of cities, buildings and landscapes, to interiors, products and graphics, to the arts.

Goals of the program

The PhD Program has two goals:

• To educate people who will pursue academic paths or assume leadership roles in professional design, environment and art practices, the public sector and the nonprofit sector.
• To educate people who will emphasize sustainability, innovation, community building, cultural and contextual awareness.

PhD interdisciplinary experience opportunities

The PhD in Design, Environment and the Arts Program in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts strongly believes in the benefits derived from an interdisciplinary experience while at ASU. Consequently, the PhD Program developed several academic connections with other programs at the university. Such connections provide our PhD students with enviable opportunities for interdisciplinary studies and research. For example, many courses offered in these programs are both relevant and available to PhD students. Furthermore, faculty members from these other programs can participate as members of a student's dissertation committee, although they cannot serve as chairs. 

Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Interdisciplinary design and media, phd.

The PhD provides a rigorous, globally aware, practice-based, and human-centered approach to advanced scholarship. It aims to cultivate researcher-designers with a versatile repertoire of methods and a passion for applying those skills to the emerging epistemic perspective of integrated human, technological, and data frameworks within creative collaboration across disciplinary boundaries. The degree is designed to attract entrepreneurial self-starters who seek to break ground and invent new fields through hybrid and integrated approaches to knowledge creation.

The PhD emphasizes four pillars of excellence within a research culture:

• Engaging with the nature of human experience through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to design
• Investigating new forms of digital media and data-driven communication across diverse disciplines
• Articulating how creativity can embrace connections between artistic practices, innovation, entrepreneurship, and research
• Connecting with changing forms of technology and media to foster shared experiences and exchange within local and global communities

The PhD is unique in its focus on practice-based research or scholarship applied to or conducted through making or creation. This is an emerging area that has been applied internationally to a wide range of creative fields and industries, many of which are represented within the College of Arts, Media and Design: music, theatre, design, studio art, games, architecture, journalism, and others. It differs from other forms of knowledge creation in that it rigorously cultivates the creation of artifacts as a mode of producing new knowledge, theories, and methodologies. Practice-based research integrates fields such as creativity and cognition or human-computer interaction to understand how practice operates, to enact that knowledge in practical applications, and to use the acts of creation themselves as a research methodology. PhD students will be encouraged to conduct their research in—and in some cases create—"living labs” embedded in real-world contexts and through on- and off-campus research partnerships.

The PhD degree program is composed of a common core and pathways of specialization. The core is centered around three areas: design research, which provides a methodology for understanding the ways design and media touch every aspect of daily life at every level of society; ethical practice, which engages with the humanistic concerns of design and cultural production; and experiential learning, which offers students the opportunity to produce research and conduct fieldwork with partner organizations.

Specialized pathways, customized according to the program of study as approved by the PhD advisors and vetted by external experts, include:

• Information design and visualization
• Design research
• Creative research

Degree Requirements

Postbaccalaureate entry.

The PhD degree requires completion of at least 48 semester credit hours beyond a bachelor’s degree. Students who enter with an undergraduate degree will typically need five years to complete the program.

Advanced Entry

Students can petition for an advanced entry, which requires completion of at least 28 semester hours. Advanced entry requires an advanced degree (MS, MA, MFA, etc.) or extensive experience aligned with the research direction of the candidate. While students can qualify for advanced entry upon acceptance, the decision for students to continue in the advanced program is made after the first year, where they have to demonstrate that they do not need additional coursework and can complete the program in four years.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying exam is a written and/or oral examination in the primary and secondary research fields that ensures the student is intimately familiar with the relevant scholarly work in their area of concentration. The pedagogical role is not in the examination itself but in the rigorous preparation of the primary and secondary fields by the student, approved by the advisor. Prior to the qualifying exam, the student prepares a document that outlines the selected primary and secondary fields, provides an overview of the current state of research, and assembles a list of relevant literature that will serve as the basis for the examination. The emphasis of the examination (for example, short essays, a lecture presenting a scholarly argument) is to be useful for the dissertation research. Typically, the student takes the qualifying examination during the second year.

Dissertation Proposal Defense

To ensure students complete satisfactory dissertations that are appropriate for their focus area(s), all students are required to submit and defend a dissertation proposal prior to advancing to candidacy. The dissertation proposal is a detailed document outlining the scholarly context, methods, arguments, and activities underpinning the dissertation. It will include a detailed research plan and timeline and is to be approved by the student’s dissertation committee, which the student has to assemble in advance. The student then defends the accepted dissertation proposal in the context of the research seminar, inviting feedback from faculty and other students. The dissertation proposal defense is open to the entire CAMD PhD community and constitutes the last step before degree candidacy.

Degree Candidacy

A student is considered a PhD degree candidate after:

• Successfully completing core and specialization courses with a minimum of a 3.000 cumulative GPA and no grades lower than a B in core courses
• Passing the qualifying exam
• Submitting and successfully defending the dissertation proposal

Advising and Committee Formation

Each entering student will be assigned to a faculty advisor based on their interests who will guide students in completing their core requirements of their degree. Ideally, this person will also serve as their thesis committee chair, but they may transition to another committee chair as they transition into ABD status. As part of this process, in addition to their thesis committee chair, they will also be expected to identify two other readers representing their secondary and, if applicable, tertiary discipline areas. The advisory committee will be responsible for guiding the students through their individual research proposal process, helping them to develop a robust research methodology and clear plan for completion. The advisory committee will also be responsible for identifying an appropriate external expert to consult at key stages of degree progression. The advisors will also guide the students through the thesis project and its written component. Where applicable, committee members will also mentor and support the student through funded research.

Dissertation Defense

Each student will, with the aid of their advisor and committee, define the final product. The research component will typically consist of empirical and/or theoretical scholarship created using a methodology appropriate for the topic and field that is fully integrated with the practice component. The synergy between creative practice and research can take the form of knowledge production through a variety of potential means: production of digital and physical artifacts, software and hardware applications, games, paintings, documentaries, comics, exhibitions, design projects or products, theatrical productions, musical compositions, performances, or other formats. The work will include a written dissertation that can also be paired with other modes of conveyance, such as a documentary, demonstration, performance, or exhibition. A key function of the dissertation will be to contextualize the practical work in contemporary scholarship and discourse, clearly articulating its rationale and contribution to the field. Over the course of their studies, students are expected to produce peer-reviewed submissions based on their work.

The dissertation defense follows a similar format to the proposal defense. Acceptable dissertation models may include long-form (book-style) dissertations, multiple publishable papers, a system build-evaluate model, or other creative formats enumerated above.

Annual review  Individual path (including advisors) Teaching requirement  Qualifying examination Dissertation proposal       Dissertation committee Dissertation defense

Required Coursework

Discipline-specific coursework.

A minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework beyond the undergraduate degree is required. A minimum 3.000 cumulative GPA and no grades lower than a B in core courses are required.

A minimum of 28 semester hours of coursework beyond the graduate degree is required. A minimum 3.000 cumulative GPA and no grades lower than a B in core courses are required.

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2023-24 Undergraduate Day PDF

2023-24 CPS Undergraduate PDF

2023-24 Graduate/Law PDF

2023-24 Course Descriptions PDF

School of Art

• Graduate Programs
• Ph.D. in Fine Arts

School of Art Fine Arts Doctoral Program (Art)

Fine arts doctoral program (art).

The Art track of the Fine Arts Doctoral Program centers on art praxis, which we define as theoretically informed action aimed at creating change in academic, social, and community contexts. We have chosen the word "praxis" instead of "practice" to signal a different relationship to theory than assumed by the theory-practice binary, and to indicate a fundamental difference between MFA programs in studio practice and the PhD. For Aristotle, praxis meant an action that is valuable in itself, as opposed to that which leads to creation, and for scholars of modernity from Marx to Lefebvre, praxis was, and remains, infused with an ethical and political imperative, and designated a more grounded and intentional mode of social and political transformation.

The Art track is part of a College-wide Fine Arts Doctoral Program , which includes students focusing on music, theatre, dance, and visual art. All areas of the Fine Arts Doctoral Program require a series of core courses that bring together students from across the College for innovative interdisciplinary and collaborative inquiry. These core courses support the art area's commitment to blurring disciplinary boundaries through original modes of investigation.

Students conduct interdisciplinary research integrating methodologies from a home discipline related to Art with methodologies from disciplines of Music, Theatre, and Dance housed at other Schools in the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts or the University at large. Such interdisciplinarity is not simply additive, but transformative, blurring the chosen disciplines and even fundamentally altering them.

This program is for

• studio artists who want to transform their approach to making into a methodology for research,
• scholars who want to intervene in their home discipline by proposing novel ways of conducting research,
• curators and cultural practitioners who want to do community-engaged projects, and
• educators who want to rethink inquiry and develop meaningful practices organized around art and images that transform engagement through interdisciplinary initiatives.

ad mission s

How to apply.

Interested candidates applying for admission to the Fine Arts Doctoral Program for Fall 2023 can do so through the Texas Tech University Graduate School portal.

A complete application - via the Graduate School application portal - will include the following:

• Official transcripts of all previous college-level study
• Official G.R.E. score report (The GRE score requirement has been waived for Fall 2024-entering applicants)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Current resumé or curriculum vitae
• A scholarly writing sample (10-30 pages of academic writing)
• Art portfolio (optional)
• Statement of intent (800 words maximum; see tips on writing statements of intent). Please indicate in your statement the faculty members in the FADP(Art) program (see below) with whom you would like to work.
• For international students: passport and additional documents that prove your eligibility to study in the United States
• Registration fee

ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS

For acceptance into the doctoral program, the applicant must have completed a master's degree, or its equivalent, with emphasis in some area of the visual arts. Every effort is made to select candidates who show strong scholarship and professional competence.  Applicants who have not taken at least 15 hours of art history, art criticism, art education, arts administration, aesthetics, and/or visual culture courses at the college level may be required to meet the 15-hour minimum in the form of leveling courses taken here at TTU, which will not count toward the 60-hour minimum in the doctoral degree plan.

While the Fine Arts Doctoral Program (Art) takes applications year-round, please take into consideration the following dates:

JANUARY 15th for Fall semester entry, with full financial consideration.

OCTOBER 15th for Spring semester entry, with available/limited financial consideration.

curr icu lum

Degree handbook.

• PhD Handbook

ONLINE CATALOG INFORMATION

Student success, school of art alumni.

Class of 2012

Sara Peso White

Class of 2015

Bryan Wheeler, dissertation: “Painting ‘Section' or Painting Texas: Negotiating Modernity and Identity in the Texas New Deal Post Office Murals.” Lecturer in the School of Art and College of Media and Communication.

Class of 2016

Yuan-Ta Hsu

Lina Kattan, dissertation: “Conflicted Living Beings: The Performative Aspect of Female Bodies' Representations in Saudi Painting and Photography.” Associate Professor of Visual and Performing Arts, University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Class of 2017

Norah Alqabba, dissertation: “Globalization and the Role of the Sharjah Biennale in the Transformation of Saudi Contemporary Sculpture”

Class of 2019

Kimberly Jones, dissertation: “Women in Contemporary Israeli Cinema”

Katharine Scherff, dissertation: “The Virtual Liturgy: An Examination of Medieval and Early Modern Ritual Objects as Media Technology.” Full-time Lecturer at TTU, Art History and Global Art Program, Affiliated Faculty Medieval and Renaissance Studies Center.

Jared Stanley, dissertation: “Working Through Grief: Continuing Bonds in the New Golden Age of American Television.” Division Chair, Division of Art and Design, School of Fine Arts and Communication, Bob Jones University.

Class of 2020 

Niloofar Gholamrezaei, dissertation: “Photographic Images, Distanced Realism, and the State of Being Modern in the Works of Mohammad Ghaffari and Otto Dix.” Assistant Professor of Visual Arts and General Education, Regis College.

Class of 2021

Ahmad Rafiei, dissertation: “Objects in Motion: Global Interactions and Cross-Cultural Exchange from Safavid to Twentieth-Century Iran.” Curatorial Fellow, Toledo Museum of Art, 2021-2024.

Sylvia Weintraub, dissertation: “Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Online: Why Making Matters on Pinterest.”

Assistant Professor of Art Education in the department of Visual and Theatre Arts at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Class of 2022

Corina Carmona, dissertation: “Re-membering a Coyolxauhqui Pedagogy: Creative and Cultural Praxis at the Intersection of Ethnic Studies and Fine Art”

Deepika Dhiman, dissertation: “Using Autoethnography and Visual Storytelling to Examine How Identity is Informed by Social Normative Behavior in India and the United States”

Class of 2023

Kathryn Kelley: “Creatives Engage with Spontaneous Self-Affirmation as a Part of Their Writing Practices”

Quest ions?

Contact the interim coordinator.

Andrés Peralta, PhD Interim FADP Coordinator

Fine Arts- Art Doctoral Program Faculty

Klinton Burgio-Ericson, PhD

Kevin Chua, PhD

Theresa Flanigan, PhD

Rina Little, PhD

Jorgelina Orfila, PhD

Andrés Peralta, PhD

Maia Toteva, PhD

Heather Warren-Crow, PhD

• Like School of Art on Facebook Like School of Art on Facebook
• Follow School of Art on X (twitter) Follow School of Art on X (twitter)
• Follow School of Art on Instagram Follow School of Art on Instagram

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in art and design.

16 degrees at 14 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Art and Design
• PhD 3d Design
• PhD Animation
• PhD Art Curation
• PhD Art History
• PhD Art History and Criticism
• PhD Art Studies
• PhD Art Techniques and Practical Art
• PhD Art Theory
• PhD Art of Specific Cultures and Periods
• PhD Arts and Crafts
• PhD Ceramics Arts and Crafts
• PhD Creative Arts and Design and Illustration
• PhD Design History
• PhD European Art
• PhD Fashion
• PhD Fashion and Textiles Design
• PhD Fine Art
• PhD Glass, Ceramics and Stone Crafts
• PhD Graphic Arts
• PhD Illustration
• PhD Modern Art
• PhD Non-Industrial Design
• PhD Spatial Design
• PhD Textile Design
• PhD Visual Arts

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

PhD Fine Art and Design

Sheffield hallam university.

Course summary Undertake doctoral research in an approved fine art and design topic. Join the vibrant research community in the Culture Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Art and Design MPhil/Phd

University of worcester.

We welcome applications to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees in Art and Design. Research at Worcester has grown Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,475 per year (UK)

PhD Postgraduate research opportunities in Art and Design

Liverpool john moores university.

Excellent research opportunities await at the Liverpool School of Art and Design, enabling you to work at the forefront of developments Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,650 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,325 per year (UK)

PhD Postgraduate Research in Art and Design

University of wolverhampton.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a research degree with the Faculty of Arts. We will be delighted to discuss your area of interest Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,298 per year (UK)

Art and Design PhD

Anglia ruskin university.

Explore your research interests in art and design - from computer games art, to illustration and photography - supported by the expertise Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)
• 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Art & Design PhDs and MPhils

University of portsmouth.

If you're looking to take your skills in art and design into postgraduate research, our research degree programmes can help you achieve Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Research Degrees in Art & Design

Nottingham trent university.

Our Art and Design research is dynamic and imaginative. We have an outward looking research culture, with a strong focus on art and design Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

History of design PhD

University of brighton.

The University of Brighton has an established reputation for pioneering research into art, design and material culture and is a recognised Read more...

MPhil/PhD Art and Design

University of chester.

The Department of Art and Design provides a supportive environment for students who wish to undertake postgraduate research leading to Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD at UCA

University for the creative arts.

MPhil/PhD at UCA at UCA A PhD is an advanced postgraduate qualification that will require you to plan and complete your own focused Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,670 per year (UK)

Art & Design PhDs and MPhils (Distance Learning)

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Derby

We welcome applications for PhD artistic research study in practice and theory. We can offer you an intellectually stimulating environment Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,298 per year (UK)

Art and Design Existing Published or Creative Work PhD

University of sunderland.

A PhD by Published or Creative Work is designed for individuals with an existing portfolio of published work addressing a central Read more...

• 6 months Part time degree: £6,000 per year (UK)

Art and Design - PhD

Birmingham city university.

A PhD in Art and Design will help you create opportunities to develop research skills that support professional practice, research and/or Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)

Ulster University

The Belfast School of Art has established the most mature Art and Design research environment on the Island of Ireland, which REF2021 Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,360 per year (UK)

A PhD is “probably the most internationally transferable qualification” according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. You will Read more...

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,681 per year (UK)

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Summer Session Courses
• Accreditation
• Department of Architecture
• Department of Art History
• Department of Graphic Design
• Department of Landscape Architecture
• School of Music
• School of Theatre
• School of Visual Arts
• Stuckeman School
• Research & Creativity
• Centers and Initiatives
• Performances & Exhibitions
• Event Calendar
• Palmer Museum of Art
• Center for the Performing Arts
• Penn State Centre Stage
• Penn's Woods Music Festival
• Penn State Blue Band
• Schools, Units and Offices

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for arts.psu.edu.

College of Arts & Architecture

Resources For

• Parents and Guardians
• Alumni and Friends
• Academic Advising
• Access and Equity
• Digital Learning
• Sustainability

Helpful Links

• Notes from the Dean
• Buy Event Tickets
• Parking at Penn State
• Plan a Visit
• Careers with A&A

Social Media

Art Education, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Art Education (+Dual Ph.D.)

TODO FIXME : DRAFT : WORK IN PROGRESS

Elevate your scholarship and the art education profession..

The Ph.D. in Art Education prepares students to become innovative researchers, informed educators, and leaders in higher education, schools, communities, and museums. At Penn State, you’ll enjoy all the resources of a large research university within a close-knit, collegial environment of faculty and fellow students committed to making an impact on the field of art education.

Program Application Deadline

The deadline for applications for AY 2023–24 is January 15, 2023.

To be assured full consideration, please review all details on program and admission requirements, and ensure that you apply by this deadline.

Earn a Ph.D. in Art Education at Penn State

Take your experience and research in art education to the next level. Penn State’s Ph.D. in Art Education–including unique dual-title options that incorporate African American and Diaspora Studies or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies –is ideal if you want to build on your experience in the field through original research projects that make significant contributions to art education theory and practice.

Coursework in art education and related disciplines such as philosophy, curriculum and instruction, sociology, anthropology, and other fields provides necessary theoretical and methodological background for dissertation research. Doctoral students are required to complete 32 credits of graduate coursework (20 of which are to be completed in art education), pass their Qualifying Examination, English Competency Examination, Comprehensive Examination, Final Examination, and submit a dissertation.

Faculty bring a range of teaching, research, and administrative experience from across the country and around the world. The international student body provides students with insight into a range of art teaching practices. You’ll benefit from all the resources of a large research university while studying as part of the collaborative, close-knit community within the Penn State School of Visual Arts.

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies .

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Students who seek admission to the graduate program must make formal application to The Graduate School and admissions committee of the Art Education program. To be admitted without deficiencies, the student is expected to have completed either a baccalaureate degree in art education or a program considered by the admissions committee to provide an appropriate background for the application’s degree objectives. Related programs include work in studio art, art history, art education, education, museum education, etc. Deficiencies may be made up by course work that is not counted as credit toward an advanced degree. Students pursuing graduate degrees may simultaneously take course work leading to teaching certification and art supervisory certification. The students who plan to teach art education at the college level should note that some institutions require professors to hold a public school art teaching certificate and to have had public school teaching experience.

Students with a minimum 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale) and with appropriate course backgrounds will be considered for admission. The most qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Transcripts should indicate high attainment in appropriate academic and creative work. Letters of recommendation should attest to scholarship and ability to work independently. In addition to the above requirements, there are specific requirements for each degree program:

M.S. and Ph.D. Application Materials

• Completed official Penn State Graduate School Application for Admission .
• professional objectives
• how these objectives would be furthered by graduate study,
• the areas in which research and creative work are planned,
• what the applicant hopes to do with the graduate degree he or she is seeking to attain, and
• evidence that the applicant is prepared to undertake graduate level work.
• Submit an example of scholarly writing.
• Submit three (3) letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should attest to the applicant’s scholarship and ability to work independently.
• Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended .
• Submit a Portfolio (optional). Applicants may submit images of their creative works that represent arts-based research or images that illustrate their conception of art.
• Indicate in your Statement of Professional Intent if you would like to be considered for an Assistantship/Fellowship.

M.P.S. Application Materials

• Statement of purpose in pursuing the M.P.S. in Art Education.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Teaching portfolio to include teaching philosophy and a sample of curricular materials developed by the applicant.
• A critical reflective written response to an article provided in the GRADS application site. The response should outline the key arguments made by the author(s), a critical evaluation of the logic and assumptions in the article, and a connection to the applicant’s own instructional or professional experience.
• Curriculum vitae with evidence of professional leadership and service.
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended , including official military transcripts (if applicable). (All college or university transcripts are required regardless of the length of time that has passed, the grades earned, or the accreditation of the institutions attended.)
• International applicants whose first language is not English or who have received a baccalaureate or master’s degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is not English, please refer to GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students .

https://bulletins.psu.edu

Ph.D. in Art Education Handbook

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Art Education (AED) Course List

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of The Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by The Graduate School.

Current Cohort Bios

Dissertations

Aaron Knochel

• Associate Professor of Art Education

[email protected]

814.863.7309

Is the Ph.D. in Art Education right for you?

The Ph.D. in Art Education is for scholars who want to delve deeper into art education research topics. Students in the program conduct original research with the potential to impact art education theory and practice.

The program fosters collaboration, collegiality, and innovation within a close-knit environment where students also enjoy all the resources of a large research university.

Degree Options

Penn State’s Art Education program offers the opportunity to pursue one of two extraordinary dual-title Ph.D. degree options – Art Education + African American and Diaspora Studies, or Art Education + Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Either of these novel, interdisciplinary options will position you to make a lasting impact on the art education profession.

Dual Ph.D. and Diaspora Studies

This dual-title Ph.D. is for scholars who want to delve deeper into art education research topics with a focus on African American life, art, and visual culture. Students in the program conduct original research with the potential to impact art education theory and practice, as well as the field of African American and diaspora studies.

In addition to art education and African American and diaspora studies, course work covers related disciplines such as philosophy, curriculum and instruction, sociology, anthropology, and other fields, providing the necessary theoretical and methodological background for a dissertation. Students must complete 47 credits.

Faculty bring a range of teaching, research, and administrative experience from across the country and around the world. The international student body provides students with insight into a range of art teaching and research practices.

Graduate Bulletin Links

• African American and Diaspora Studies Bulletin page.
• Graduate Studies information related to the dual-title Ph.D. in Art Education + African American and Diaspora Studies.

Dual Ph.D. and Gender Studies

The dual-title graduate degree in Art Education + Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is for students who want to focus on feminist and non-binary perspectives and pedagogy in their art education research.

Coursework in art education, gender and sexuality studies, and related disciplines such as philosophy, curriculum and instruction, sociology, anthropology, and other fields provides necessary theoretical and methodological background for thesis and dissertation research.

Faculty for the dual-title degree program bring a range of teaching, research, and administrative experience from across the country and around the world. The international student body provides students with insight into a range of teaching practices.

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Bulletin page .
• Graduate Studies information related to the dual-title Ph.D. in Art Education + Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Guides + Resources

• Art Education Ph. D. Handbook
• The Graduate School At Penn State

Considering the Ph.D. in Art Education? Consider this.

You’ll make an impact on the discipline through your research.

• Faculty bring experience from across the country and the world.
• Dual-title Ph.D. options layer diverse, interdisciplinary perspectives with Art Ed scholarship.
• Enjoy SoVA’s close-knit environment, along with all the resources of a major research university.
• Program fosters collaboration, collegiality, and innovation.
• Penn State has sponsored the annual Graduate Research in Art Education (GRAE) conference since 2005.

Legal Statements

• Non-Discrimination
• Equal Opportunity
• Accessibility
• The Pennsylvania State University © 2024

Art, Design, and the Public Domain

"Cryosphere" by Keith Hartwig (MDes '18).

One of the remarkable developments in contemporary culture is the convergence of practices that once unambiguously belonged to either art or design, but which today share methods, means and concerns.

Of particular importance are practices that seek to engage with the public and social realm. The phrase “spatial practice” has become a widely-used term to describe a variety of architectural and artistic engagements with the city, society and with aesthetic practice in general. In many ways it defines the new and moving boundary of the design discipline.

The MDes program in Art, Design, and the Public Domain seeks creative and ambitious individuals from all backgrounds and academic disciplines with a keen interest in contemporary urban, aesthetic, political and technological culture with a predilection for intervention, exhibition, and public work. This program also seeks practicing architects, artists, filmmakers and cultural producers wishing to ‘switch gears’ and develop art-related work, with an emphasis on sophisticated thinking, advanced fabrication methodologies and techniques, and aesthetic and social engagement.

This program is designed to both accommodate graduated MFAs or serve in lieu of a traditional MFA program in an orthodox art academy. The GSD has a wide variety of assets in cultural theory, applied computation, fabrication, art-related practice and speculative design. The GSD also shares links with the departments of  Visual and Environmental Studies , Film and Literature, and has innovative new collaborations with international programs in the political and experimental arts. The program strongly welcomes unconventional proposals for study that address emerging issues in (the history of) technology, science, performance, industrial design, typography and all aspects of the changing social and cultural environment.

Affiliated Faculty and Associates

Giuliana Bruno , Emmet Blakeney Gleason Professor of Visual and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dan Byers , Lecturer in Architecture and John R. and Barbara Robinson Family Director,  Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts , Harvard University Pieranna Cavalchini , Tom and Lisa Blumenthal Curator of Contemporary Art,  Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Sarah Herda , Director,  Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies Jeanne van Heeswijk , Artist Jill Johnson , Dance Director & Senior Lecturer, Theater, Dance & Media, Department of Music, Harvard University Annemartine van Kesteren , Curator, Design and City Collection, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli , Curator, Architect, and Partner, OMA David Macy , Resident Director,  MacDowell Colony for the Arts Micaela Martegani , Founder and Director,  More Art Ra’Shaun Nalls , MPA, Director of Community Engagement, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Eve Respini , Barbara Lee Chief Curator,  The Institute of Contemporary Art , Boston Mary Schneider Enriquez , Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Harvard Art Museums Dr. Gregor Sholette , Co-Founder, REPOhistory project, Professor CUNY Alfredo Jaar , Associate Jill Magid , Associate

Research Affiliations

Harvard Art Museums , Cambridge Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts , Cambridge Institute for Spatial Experiments , Berlin The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts , Chicago (curatorial/public programs fellowship) MacDowell Colony for the Arts Institute of Contemporary Art , Boston

Student Work

Food on Mixed Ontology

by Sean Kim (MArch II/ MDes ADPD ’22) and Ge Zhou (MArch II  ’21) Food…

Max Kuo, Instructor

Spring 2020

2020 Design Studies Thesis Prize: Angela Mayrina’s “A Guidebook to an Empty Land: Kalimantan and the Shadows of the Capital”

by Angela Mayrina (MDes ’20) — Recipient of the Design Studies Thesis Prize Indonesia is…

Malkit Shoshan

(e)motion library

by Nashra Balagamwala (MDes ADPD ’21) and Mengfei Wang (MDes ADPD ’20) People worldwide currently…

Cyberfeminism Catalog 1990–2020

by Malinda Seu (MDes ’19) — Recipient of the Design Studies Thesis Prize This is…

Jeffrey Schnapp , Faculty Advisor

Spring 2019

Becoming the projector: an ETUDE for class PUBLIC PROJECTION

by Lins Derry (MDes Tech 20), Delaram Rahim (MDes ADPD ’20), and Iris Xia (MDes…

Krzysztof Wodiczko , Instructor

by Youngjin Song (MDes ’17) and Dohyun Lee (MArch ’20) Flashback is…

Spring 2018

by Keith Hartwig (MDes ’19) This project will reveal the entanglement of cold-producing technologies and…

Memory-Go-Round

by Hanna Kim (MDes ’19), Eric Moed (MDes ’19), Andrew Connor Scheinman (MDes ’19), Malinda…

by Francisco Alarcon (MDes ’18), Rudy Weissenberg (MDes ’18), and Carla Ferrer Llorca (MDes ’17) WE ALL is…

Client ID : NSyuO-fJxYI4DTUf7zWa-osilclb5E7-qmEzyjuu

by Tanuja Mishra (MDes ’17) In this installation, I have alienated myself from my work…

Spring 2017

by Youngjin Song (MDes ’17) We confront. We observe. We choose. We manipulate. We bring. We…

Silvia Benedito and Krzysztof Wodiczko , Faculty Advisors

Through the Looking Glass

Tanuja Mishra (MDes ’17) The internet has grown from its humble origins into a behemoth…

Virtual Tour

Experience University of Idaho with a virtual tour. Explore now

• Discover a Career
• Find a Major
• Experience U of I Life

More Resources

• Admitted Students
• International Students

Take Action

• Find Financial Aid
• View Deadlines
• Find Your Rep

Helping to ensure U of I is a safe and engaging place for students to learn and be successful. Read about Title IX.

Get Involved

• Clubs & Volunteer Opportunities
• Recreation and Wellbeing
• Student Government
• Student Sustainability Cooperative
• Academic Assistance
• Safety & Security
• Career Services
• Health & Wellness Services
• Register for Classes
• Dates & Deadlines
• Financial Aid
• Sustainable Solutions
• U of I Library

• Upcoming Events

Review the events calendar.

Stay Connected

• Vandal Family Newsletter
• Here We Have Idaho Magazine
• Living on Campus
• Campus Safety
• About Moscow

The largest Vandal Family reunion of the year. Check dates.

Benefits and Services

• Vandal Voyagers Program
• Vandal License Plate
• Submit Class Notes
• Make a Gift
• View Events
• Alumni Chapters
• University Magazine
• Alumni Newsletter

U of I's web-based retention and advising tool provides an efficient way to guide and support students on their road to graduation. Login to VandalStar.

Common Tools

• Administrative Procedures Manual (APM)
• Class Schedule
• OIT Tech Support
• Academic Dates & Deadlines
• U of I Retirees Association
• Faculty Senate
• Staff Council

Architecture

Architecture Program

Mailing Address: 875 Perimeter Drive MS 2451 Moscow, ID 83844-2451 Email:  [email protected]  

Phone: 208-885-4409

Fax: 208-885-9428

Urban Design Center

Mailing Address: 322 E. Front Street Suite 390 Boise, ID 83702 [email protected]

Phone: 208-885-6781

Design. Print. Build.

Building Affordable Houses With Wood Waste

Thoughtful Construction

CAA Senior Builds His Future

Etching Innovation

Alumni Develop New Building Technology

Connecting People and Communities

A Breath of Fresh Air

Students Build Outdoor Classroom for Elementary School

Building Blocks of the Future

Team Develops New Sustainable Construction Material

Finding Community

Mariah Soriano Finds and Grows Community Through AAPIA Club Involvement

HAUS Builds the Way

Students Work With Construction Professionals to Solve Industry Hurdles

From the Ground Up

Design-Build Team Digs Deep to Spotlight Sustainability

Something for All Vandals

Designing the Vandal Healing Garden

Design and build a tasting room for a winery in the stunning Snake River Valley. Develop architectural visions for urban centers of the Pacific Northwest during field trips to Portland and Seattle. See the world’s cultural wonders and visit major international firms — in China, Rome and England — during our faculty-led study abroad programs. These opportunities are possible with U of I’s architecture program, which delivers a cutting-edge, socially-conscious, and sustainable design education in the fastest growing state in the nation.

Students can pursue their degree at our main campus in Moscow, with the rolling hills of the Palouse as their backdrop. Or they can seek out professional opportunities in an urban setting at our Boise campus, located in the heart of downtown at the Urban Design Center.

Students can pursue their degree at our main campus in Moscow, with the rolling hills of the Palouse as their backdrop. Or they can seek out professional opportunities in an urban setting at our Boise campus, located in the heart of downtown at the Urban Design Center .

Our architecture program is nationally accredited, so students can pursue their professional degree through our master’s tracks, which provide the training and credentials required to become a licensed architect. Please visit NAAB to learn more about accreditation and licensure.

Fifi Motise

Architecture Exchange Student

• Undergraduate Seamless Professional Degree
• Graduate Professional Degree
• 3+Boise pdf
• 3+Moscow pdf

Architecture BootCamp

June 10 - Aug. 2, 2024

Make a change! Designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in other disciplines, transfer students and community college graduates with A.A. and A.S. degrees.

Design-Build Program

Our design-build program offers students the chance to conceptualize and construct their design ideas while positively impacting communities.

Integrated Design Lab

The IDL is dedicated to the development of high performance buildings in the Intermountain West with emphasis on energy efficiency, building systems and the integration of human factors.

Learn More About the IDL

Our Mission

Part of the College of Art and Architecture , the University of Idaho’s architecture programs begin with a strong artistic foundation that emphasizes design integration and requires students to develop projects from the drawing stage.

We strive to cultivate the next generation of architectural innovators, so both bachelor’s and master’s candidates regularly work in a studio environment—a close-knit, collaboration-based space where students interact with each other and their instructors for several hours each day. To prepare our student body for internships and careers, the studio space replicates a professional environment. Here, students create small buildings, shelters and other structures, work with a range of materials, and learn or refine the technical skills needed to succeed in architecture, as well as in engineering, construction, interior design, set design, and other arts and visual-based fields.

Architecture Degree Programs

The University of Idaho offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Together, they make up a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited program that prepares students to become licensed architects or pursue careers in architecture, community and urban design, energy and lighting, sustainable development, and other related fields. 

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture

Undergraduates prepare to earn a Bachelor of Science in Architecture . By itself, this pre-professional track is not NAAB accredited but allows for a smooth transition to our accredited Master of Architecture program.

To prepare students for graduate-level coursework and non-professional positions in design and architecture, our bachelor’s degree starts with a liberal arts core and introductory arts and architecture courses. This foundation is a stepping stone to upper-level subjects in architectural design, history and theory, environmental controls, structures, construction, and urban theory. In the process, our architecture students are exposed to technical system integration and professional practices, have room to explore their interests through electives, and finish the program with a self-defined capstone project.

Students outside of the program may also supplement their course of study with a 19-credit architecture minor .

Master’s Degrees in Architecture

Graduate students may earn one of two degrees. The Master of Architecture  is ideal for individuals who recently finished a bachelor’s and want to earn their architecture license. The Master of Science in Integrated Architecture and Design  is geared toward those who’ve spent some time in the workforce and are interested in learning more about how design and sustainability principles influence modern building construction.

Our nationally accredited architecture program allows students to pursue their professional degree through our master’s tracks, which provide the training and credentials required to become a licensed architect. Please visit NAAB to learn more about accreditation and licensure.

Graduate students can work toward their degree at our main campus in Moscow, with the rolling hills of the Palouse as their backdrop. Or, they can seek out professional opportunities in an urban setting at our Boise campus, located in the heart of downtown at the Urban Design Center .

Instruction at both campuses is career-focused; the choice, however, comes down to where you see yourself. At the Urban Design Center, students live and study in one of the country’s rising metropolitan areas, where they collaborate with architects, design professionals, and community and business leaders on projects that further define the city’s identity. As well, through the Integrated Design Lab , you’ll be immersed in sustainable practices and have the chance to intern with one of the region’s firms.

In Moscow, graduate students may apply for teaching assistantships, have an array of enriching electives at their fingertips, and can gain real-world experience through our design-build program . Here, you’ll see directly how your own concepts come to fruition, all while connecting with nonprofits and local businesses to positively impact the surrounding community.

Through both locations, you’ll finish our architecture master’s program with a varied portfolio and significant experience under your belt that prepares you to succeed in a full-time role.

Learn More About the University of Idaho’s Architecture Programs

Whether you’re an incoming freshman with an eye for design or have already earned a bachelor’s degree, our accredited bachelor’s and master’s architecture programs prepare you to influence future business, community, and residential structures. To learn more, contact our department by email or by phone at 208-885-4409, or request additional information today .

• Accessibility Options:
• Skip to Content
• Skip to Search
• Skip to footer
• Office of Disability Services
• Request Assistance
• 305-284-2374
• High Contrast
• School of Architecture
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Miami Herbert Business School
• School of Communication
• School of Education and Human Development
• College of Engineering
• School of Law
• Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
• Miller School of Medicine
• Frost School of Music
• School of Nursing and Health Studies
• The Graduate School
• Division of Continuing and International Education
• People Search
• Class Search
• IT Help and Support
• Privacy Statement
• Student Life

• Search Site
• Main College
• College News
• Chair and Admins
• Contact the Department
• Dr Nathan Timpano
• Kyle Trowbridge
• Undergraduate Programs
• Art History
• Ceramics + Glass + Sculpture
• Graphic Design, Illustration + Multimedia
• Painting + Drawing
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Program
• Graduate Requirements
• MFA Application Portal
• Graduate School Homepage
• Graduate Admissions
• Arts +Sciences Home
• University of Miami Homepage
• Emeritus Faculty
• Teaching Assistants
• Art "Good News" Newsletter
• Art Department Galleries
• Lowe Museum
• Online Gallery
• 2023 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition
• 2023 Juried Student Art Exhibition
• 2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition
• 2022 Get Out To Vote Project
• 2022 Incoming Grad Exhibition
• New Works: UMFA 2021
• Artist Lectures
• Art Department Fund
• About the Art Department
• Art Academic Advising
• Exhibitions
• Make a Gift to University/Art Department
• Make a Gift

The Department of Art and Art History offers the following undergraduate degree programs: the B.A. in Art History; the B.A. in Studio Art; and the B.F.A. in one of the following Fine Arts areas – Ceramics, Graphic Design/Multimedia, Painting, Photography/Digital Imaging, Printmaking, or Sculpture.

The graduate degree program includes the M.F.A. in one of five areas of concentration: Ceramics, Digital Imaging-Illustration/Photography, Painting, Printmaking, or Sculpture.

Each of these programs is designed for personal development and career success in the student’s chosen field. For specific requirements related to each program, please visit the Undergraduate Programs or Graduate Program pages.

• 1540 Levante Avenue Coral Gables , FL 33146
• 305-284-2542 305-284-2542
• Academic Calendar
• Alumni & Friends
• Medical Center
• Hurricane Sports
• Parking & Transportation
• social-facebook
• social-twitter
• social-youtube
• social-instagram

Copyright: 2024 University of Miami. All Rights Reserved. Emergency Information Privacy Statement & Legal Notices

Individuals with disabilities who experience any technology-based barriers accessing the University’s websites or services can visit the Office of Workplace Equity and Inclusion .

*Regular Enrollment is defined as 7 or more credits. If you register for 6 or less credits, you will be billed the Less-Than Regular Charge, which is approximately 60% of the Regular Charge.

The cost of the BFA/MA and BFA/MAT Art Education Programs include the tuition and fees listed above, and  one year of tuition and fees at the graduate level . 

Please be aware that certain types of financial aid are pro-rated for enrollment less than 12 credits. Always check with the Office of Student Financial Assistance if you intend to enroll for less than 12 credits.

The academic definition of “full-time enrollment” varies from the billing and financial aid policies as stated above. Full-time students take at least 12 credits per semester; part-time students take fewer than 12 credits per semester. Please see the information on Course Load/Credits in the  Academic Policies  section of the website for more information.

2020-2021 UNDERGRADUATE COST OF ATTENDANCE

The cost of attendance is an estimation of the amount of money it could potentially cost you to go to MassArt for one academic year.  It not only includes your tuition and fees, but also includes an estimate for living expenses, personal expenses, art supplies, and books .

If you apply for  Financial Aid , your cost of attendance will be determined for you and may vary based on your  residency status  and your living arrangements (on-campus, off-campus, or living at home/with relatives). Your cost of attendance is the maximum amount of financial aid you may receive for one academic year.

*For students living off campus, the average cost of room and board and personal living allowance is replaced with a living allowance of $15,700.

*For students living at home/with relatives, the average cost of room and board and personal living allowance is replaced with a living allowance of $4,200.

** Please note: the “average cost of room and board” is the median cost of living in a MassArt residence hall with a meal plan; the actual cost of room and board may vary by room assignment. For detailed information about housing, please visit the  Office of Housing and Residence Life .

HEALTH INSURANCE

Every student enrolled in nine credits or more MUST either enroll in MassArt’s health insurance plan or submit an insurance waiver. Students are charged in the fall for the full academic year. The MassArt  insurance cost for 2020-2021  is $3,306 (billed in the fall).

GRADUATION TUITION AND FEES FY 2020

Graduate course charges accrue on a per-credit basis. The tuition and fees per credit vary with program academic level with a difference between master’s degrees and the TPP Program, but do not vary based on the student’s residency status. The anticipated total program tuition and fees is an estimate based FY 2020 per-credit tuition and fees rates applied to total program credits. 

MassArt’s fiscal year runs from the start of the summer term through the end of the spring term.

*Additional fees charged for specific programs, courses and for late Thesis completion are not included in the listed per-credit fee and anticipated total program tuition and fees.

Tuition Waivers Please note that Continuing Education, Certificate, and Graduate courses and programs are not state supported. If you believe you are eligible for a tuition waiver, please submit documentation of the applicable tuition waiver such as a completed and signed tuition waiver form to the PCE or Graduate Program office for review. 

PROGRAM CREDITS

• MFA (fine arts majors):  30 credits per year  
• Graduate Postbaccalaureate Program Design, Photography:  24-29 credits in 1 year  
• MFA: Fine Arts Low-Residency:  25 credits year 1, 26 credits year 2, 9 credits year 3  
• M.Arch Track 1:  42 credits year 1, 45 credits year 2, 15 credits year 3  
• M.Arch Track 2:  45 credits year 1, 15 credits year 2  
• MDes:  30 credits per year  
• MFA: Design (Dynamic Media Institute):  2-year track, 30 credits per year; 3-year track, 18 credits per year, with an additional 6 elective credits over the course of the program  
• BFA/MA  and  BFA/MAT:  30 credits in 1 year  
• MAT:  18 credits per year  
• MEd:  21 credits year 1, 9 credits year 2  
• TPP:  12 credits per year

ADDITIONAL FEES

• Photography Student Ink Fee  - $600 charged in the fall and spring terms to students who are enrolled in the MFA Photography and Post-Baccalaureate Photography programs ($1200 in an academic year)
• Art Education Student Teaching Supervision Fee  - $750 charged to students each term they are enrolled in a Student Teaching Practicum course. This applies to the art education programs that require this course: BFA/MA, BFA/MAT, MAT, and TPP
• M.Arch Thesis Continuation Fee  - $500 charged to M.Arch students working to complete the Thesis in a term after enrollment in the final thesis course

Certificate

The cost of tuition for all certificate programs is $450 per credit in academic year 2020-2021. Fees are additional and range from $220 to $330 per class.

COST BY PROGRAM

Fashion design.

Fashion Design Certificate tuition including course, credit and fees:

• The Fashion Design Certificate consists of 10 courses, totaling 29 credits
• The credit cost for fiscal year 2021 (starting Summer 2020) is $450 per credit
• The fees per class vary between $220 and $330
• The total cost for the program including fees, but not including materials, is approximately $16,000 as of Fall 2020*
• Students typically take 6 credits per semester

*Tuition cost is subject to increase based on yearly credit and fee rates. 

FURNITURE DESIGN

Furniture Design Certificate tuition including course, credit and fees:

• The Furniture Design Certificate consists of 10 courses, totaling 29 credits
• The credit cost for fiscal year 2021 (Starting Summer 2020) is $450 per credit

*Tuition cost is subject to increase based on yearly credit and fee rates

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Graphic Design Certificate tuition including course, credit and fees:

• The Graphic Design Certificate consists of 13 courses, totaling 38 credits
• The credit cost for fiscal year 2021 (Starting Summer 2020) is $450 per credit
• The total cost for the program including fees, but not including materials, is approximately $21,000 as of Fall 2020

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Industrial Design Certificate tuition including course, credit and fees:

• The Industrial Design Certificate consists of 17 courses, totaling 51 credits
• The fees per class vary between $220 or $330
• The total cost for the program including fees, but not including materials, is approximately $27,000 as of Fall 2020*
• Students typically take 9 or more credits per semester

Refund Policy

• Student officially withdraws prior to the first day of the semester;  100% reduction of Student Charge (Tuition & Fee) Less a forfeiture of the student deposit  
• If a Student officially withdraws during the first two weeks of the semester; 50% reduction of Student Charge (Tuition & Fee)  
• If a Student officially withdraws from the beginning of the third week on; 0% reduction of Student Charge (Tuition & Fee)

Please Note: Failure to attend class does not constitute official withdrawal from the semester. The Student is required to submit the appropriate forms.

FINANCIAL AID WITHDRAWAL & REDUCTION POLICY

Massachusetts College of Art & Design adheres to the Federal policy whereby Student Financial Aid is earned during the semester by the Students’ attendance of academic classes.

Should a Student withdraw from the academic semester or cease attending classes, his or her Student Financial Aid is adjusted as follows:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• Location Location
• Contact Contact
• Colleges and Schools
• 2024 News Archive

USC’s student-run design studio nurtures creativity and industry experience

A new student-run design studio is helping undergraduates gain hands-on experience, build connections with real clients and learn how to manage a studio space.  

For students like Semaj Shaul, the School of Visual Art and Design studio experience is more than just a class; it's a way to bridge classroom experiences with the design sector. In his second semester with the studio, the senior graphic design and illustration major has worked with clients including Cola Love, We Believe Women and the Decoda music group.  

Shaul emphasizes the valuable lessons learned through collaboration and adaptability, which he plans to bring into his upcoming career in user experience and interface design work.  

"Having the chance to work with diverse perspectives and expertise has truly refined my skills," Shaul says. "I've learned the importance of patience and flexibility, especially when it comes to meeting the evolving needs of clients." 

SVAD faculty member Stephanie Nace says that learning adaptability is a cornerstone of the studio's ethos and a skill acquired through experiential learning.  

“The students must balance their school life with managing real clients who are depending on us and figure out a work-life balance, all the stuff that’s not so fun but is just as important.” 

The students must balance their school life with managing real clients who are depending on us and figure out a work-life balance, all the stuff that’s not so fun but is just as important. - Stephanie Nace

The studio's success lies not only in its ability to foster creativity but also in its commitment to real-world problem-solving. From collaborating with renowned musicians to refreshing branding for local businesses and organizations, students engage with meaningful projects.  

As Shaul and his classmates have learned first-hand, not everything goes according to plan when designing for clients, and learning to navigate shifting deadlines and client expectations is a crucial aspect of professional growth. 

Under the expert guidance of faculty mentors like Nace, students navigate the intricacies of project management, setting goals and meeting deadlines. However, the students drive the creative process, showcasing their talent and initiative with every project they undertake. 

Creating the studio space is a goal Nace has thought about for nearly two decades, and looking ahead, she remains committed to nurturing the next generation of creative professionals. Created through support from the McCausland Innovation Fund, she hopes to eventually expand the studio to welcome even more students. 

“A success would be for someone off the streets to assume these are professionals because the work is that good,” she says. “I'm continually impressed by the dedication and professionalism of our students. They not only meet but exceed expectations, demonstrating a level of maturity and skill beyond their years." 

Open to students from any major, the course promotes inclusive learning and collaboration. Whether developing a custom typeface for a website or crafting a social media strategy for a musician, students gain hands-on experience that reaches beyond their majors. 

Sara Otera, a junior design and illustration major who’s in her first semester in the studio, says having different perspectives from students outside of the design field has been helpful. 

“It’s important to have people in the chair who understand how design will play out on the web,” Otera says. “As the new person, you worry that your work isn't good enough. But it's been great to have others to lean on, to bounce ideas off of and to offer encouragement." 

For students accepted into the course, the journey promises to be transformative, offering not only invaluable experience but also a sense of community and camaraderie. 

Junior design and illustration student Kristen Issa plans to go into magazine and print design after graduation. And while professional development is a major plus for her, what she appreciates most about the studio space is the community she’s found in her peers. 

“It’s like having an internship where I get to work with all my friends. I get to be creative and am so excited every day to be in my major.” 

Interested in joining the design studio? Email Stephanie Nace at [email protected] and checkout @uofsc_thedesignstudio on IG.  

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

University of Cincinnati celebrates DAAP's class of 2024: shaping tomorrow's creatives and innovators

Discover their achievements as they graduate into the alumni family, showcasing exceptional talent.

The University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is thrilled to announce the graduation of its talented class of 2024, welcoming them into the esteemed ranks of the DAAP Alumni family. This diverse group of graduates showcases exceptional knowledge, creativity, and skill, setting the stage for innovative contributions across various industries.

Throughout their academic journey, these graduates have distinguished themselves through their dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Their achievements have not gone unnoticed, with many receiving accolades, scholarships, media attention, and prestigious job offers, affirming DAAP's commitment to fostering outstanding talent.

Meet Joseph Curtsinger

Joseph Curtsinger, Outstanding Graduating Senior awardee, 1819 Innovation DAAPworks awardee, New Venture Championship runner-up, Photo/HATSUE.

A senior in industrial design, Joesph Curtsinger is focused on entrepreneurship and building ventures around his ideas. He is currently building a start up around his capstone, Minnow, designed to simplify pool care. He recently secured runner-up in the New Venture Championship competition, earning $6,000 to further fund the development of his venture. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “the competition provided me with an opportunity to merge the skillset I have cultivated as an industrial design student over the past five years in DAAP with my personal passion for entrepreneurship.”

From groundbreaking architectural designs to awe-inspiring works of art and cutting-edge technological advancements, the class of 2024 has demonstrated the transformative power of design and creativity. Their projects have not only garnered recognition within the university but have also resonated with industry professionals and cultural enthusiasts worldwide.

Meet Joyce Zheng 

Joyce Zheng, semi-finalist for a Fulbright Scholarship to Singapore, Photo/HATSUE.

Architecture senior, Joyce Zheng is focused on sustainable methodologies, cultural sensitivity + appreciation, and experimental innovation. The most impactful experience during her time as a Bearcat was her journey with Resilient Communities in Morocco, made possible through the Cooperative Education Program and International Experience Program here at UC: “Collaborating with local partners and communities, I contributed to designing spaces for schools, facilitating workshops, and organizing community-engagement activities, with a focus on empowering residents, particularly the youth,” says Zheng. “From exploring diverse cities to crafting meaningful designs, every moment taught me invaluable lessons in collaboration and cultural understanding. This immersive opportunity broadened my horizons in sustainable development and sparked personal transformation. It fostered within me a deep sense of empathy and resilience, significantly influencing my pursuits in the field of architecture”.

The success of this graduating class would not be possible without the dedicated faculty whose mentorship has played a pivotal role in their success.

"Witnessing the growth and creative evolution of our graduating students fills me with immense inspiration and pride," expressed Muhammad Rahman, Assistant Professor of the DAAP, School of Design. "Their passion, dedication, and innovative spirit continually reaffirm my commitment to teaching. Each student tries their best to brings a unique perspective and set of talents to the studio, helping me to adapt and evolve my teaching methods to nurture their individual strengths."

Witnessing the growth and creative evolution of our graduating students fills me with immense inspiration and pride.

Muhammad Rahman Assistant Professor of DAAP, School of Design

Meet Nukes de Alemeida Nuku-Graves 

Nukes de Alemeida Nuku-Graves, SEGD DAAP Honorable Mention awardee, Photo/HATSUE.

A senior in the fine arts program, Nukes Alemeida Nuku-Graves focuses on video game development, animation, and digital art. They are grateful to Associate Professsor,  Dr. Katherine Castiello Jones , for the introduction to game development: “Without that class, and without Katherine’s mentorship and kindness, I never would’ve become a game developer and probably would’ve been filled with a lot more despair! Now I’ve found my thing, and I’m glad that DAAP had the flexibility to allow me to do so”. Introduction to Game Design is now a part of Arts and Sciences + DAAP’s, new BFA in Games and Animation.

Many graduates have already secured prominent job offers, positioning them as leaders in their respective fields upon graduation. Some are even commissioning from ROTC, marking the end of a cadet's career and transition into officerhood. 

Meet Jason Keith

Jason Keith, full-time ROTC student commissioning to 449th Combat Engineer Company, Photo/HATSUE.

Urban planning senior, Jason Keith focuses on regional mass transit systems, looking at how a unified transit provider could allow high speed mass transit opportunities in the future. His last three co-ops have also been in transportation planning and engineering with AECOM in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. While completing the BUP program at DAAP, Keith has simultaneously dedicated himself to UC's Army ROTC program: “Being a full-time Planning student while in ROTC has been a challenge —but it is also the best thing that I could have done for myself while in school. ROTC's focus on accountably and leadership have allowed me to become more confident in both school and work environments, and most importantly, has allowed me one of the best opportunities available —getting to lead soldiers post-graduation.” Keith will will commission Sunday and be in the 449th Combat Engineer Company in Fort Thomas, KY.

As the newest members of the DAAP Alumni family, the class of 2024 is poised to make a lasting impact on the world, leveraging their skills and experiences to shape the future of design, architecture, art, and planning. Their journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering commitment of the University of Cincinnati to nurture talent and foster creativity.

As they embark on their next chapter, the University of Cincinnati extends its heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2024, confident in their ability to inspire, innovate, and lead in the years to come.

Learn more about DAAP's New Graduates, Class of 2024 .

Featured photo at top are individual DAAP senior headshots in a two by five formate. Photo/HATSUE.

Become a Bearcat

Interested in graduating from the University of Cincinnati, College of DAAP one day?  Whether you’re a first-generation student or from a family of Bearcats, UC is proud to support you at every step along your journey. We want to make sure you succeed, like the Class of 2024 — and feel right at home.

Apply today.

• Alumni Association
• Faculty Staff
• College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
• International
• Innovation Agenda
• 1819 Innovation Hub
• College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies

Related Stories

April 27, 2024

Discover the achievements of the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning's Class of 2024 as they graduate into the alumni family, showcasing exceptional talent and innovation. From prestigious awards to prominent job offers, these graduates exemplify the transformative power of creativity and dedication in shaping tomorrow's leaders.

Delivering fresh discoveries

November 21, 2022

A boomerang best describes Dan Whitacre’s career path. No matter where the flight course led, he always returned to Kroger. Five times over the last four decades. As senior director of Kroger Labs and Transformation, a University of Cincinnati alumnus and adjunct professor, Whitacre is the first to tell you that his career journey studying to be an electrical engineer and computer programmer has had many twists and turns.

UC’s $10.6 billion impact

May 9, 2023

The University of Cincinnati delivers a significant economic boost to the region and state of Ohio thanks to alumni impact, operations and research spending, student demand for goods and services, launch of startup companies and more.

• Undergraduate Programs >
• College of Arts & Architecture >
• B.A. in Environmental Design

Environmental Design

http://arch.montana.edu/

School of Architecture

The School of Architecture offers a four year Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design undergraduate program which, when combined with our three-semester graduate program, leads to a fully accredited Master of Architecture degree. The Master of Architecture degree is a first-professional degree.

In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

Montana State University, School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree [126 credits] + 42 graduate credits)

The next scheduled NAAB-accreditation visit for Montana State University’s Master of Architecture degree program will take place in 2023.

The Montana State University School of Architecture received a full 8 year accreditation standard in Summer 2014.  

The School of Architecture seeks to prepare students for a lifelong critical engagement in the arts and science of architecture. Located in "the last best place" of the Northern Rockies, we are in an extraordinary position to engage questions regarding the relationship between the natural and built environments. As architects, we strive to play an essential and innovative role in enhancing the human condition. To that end, we teach and practice a moral, ethical and aesthetic responsibility to society and the natural world in the design of the built environment. The School of Architecture empowers students to critically engage the complexities of society and the natural environment by instilling the fundamental principles of design and inspiring a spirit of exploration and creative experimentation in shaping the built environment.

It is in our design studios that this philosophy is most clearly demonstrated. Each studio is conceived to build upon the previous studio in a manner that develops a student's mastery of the science of architecture while at the same time exposing the student to the rich diversity of our faculty's philosophical beliefs. Within a structured sequence of increasingly complex problems, emphasis is placed on teaching both an iterative design process and the visualization skills necessary to demonstrate the resultant design proposals. The science of architecture is continuously evolving and will do so over the life of every architect. We are committed to preparing our students to enter the profession with both contemporary scientific knowledge and emerging technical expertise to further this evolution while at the same time ensuring that our graduates are grounded in the fundamental drawing design thinking, investigative and communication skills that have been central to architecture throughout its history. In addition to the science of architecture, we are equally committed to ensuring that our graduates acquire a critical philosophy with which they can engage the design of the built environment.

Knowing how to build is a matter of science and technology but knowing what to build is a question of morality, ethics, and aesthetic responsibility. In this regard the faculty shares a commitment to the stewardship of our environment. This is particularly important in the Northern Rockies where our historic fabric of cities, rural communities and the natural landscape coexist in a tenuous balance. Focusing on the broad principles of creating a sustainable social, cultural, economic and physical environment we utilize the region, from its major cities to its national parks, as the canvas for our teaching, research and creative activities.

Architecture

Briefly defined, architecture is the art and science of designing buildings that provide appropriate accommodation for human activities. Professional practice requires a person with the unique combination of creative ability, technical knowledge, human understanding, and administrative skill. The undergraduate Environmental Design curriculum, which leads to the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design degree, prepares students to enter the graduate program in Architecture at Montana State University  or serves as a basis for application to other graduate programs or for employment as a non-architect in environmental design fields. However, the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design degree by itself does not qualify students to become registered architects. Students wishing to become registered architects must complete the graduate program of study and receive the accredited Master of Architecture degree.

Once admitted to the Environmental Design program, and after completing their fourth year design studios, students with an acceptable academic record may apply to the Master of Architecture professional program. Specific dates for graduate applications can be obtained from the main office of the School of Architecture. The program offers a professional education as well as exposure to other academic disciplines, and provides the foundation for an internship with a practicing architect.

In most states, a graduate with a professional degree in architecture needs to complete the requirements of the Architecture Experience Program (AXP)  developed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in which students gain varied experience in an architectural office. Graduates of the Master of Architecture program are qualified to take the Architectural Registration Exam in order to obtain a professional license. A person is not authorized to practice architecture until the architectural licensing examination is passed and a license is issued. Other areas of employment open to the architecture graduate include construction, government service, industry, and education.

In addition to the college preparatory curriculum, high school students planning on enrolling in architecture are especially encouraged to take art courses such as basic design and drawing.

Students begin the undergraduate program in the fall semester because the first course of the design studio sequence is offered fall semester only. Students that have completed their university core requirements or have completed a previous degree may enroll in an accelerated first year design sequence offered in the summer semester.

Admission to the Environmental Design Program

Admission to the first year of the Environmental Design Program is open. At the end of the spring semester of the first year of the Environmental Design Program, students will undergo a substantive portfolio review to assess their preparedness for the subsequent three years of the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design degree program.  All portfolio reviews will be undertaken by the Second Year Admissions Committee. Total enrollment in the program shall be limited by the teaching resources and space capacities of the School of Architecture.

To continue into the second year of the environmental design program first year Environmental Design students must:

• Be in good scholastic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
• Have received at least a 3.0 Architecture Studio GPA (ARCH 151RA Design Fundamentals I & ARCH 152IA Design Fundamentals II)
• Have satisfactorily completed all required course work of the first year of the Environmental Design Program.
• Have a design portfolio that indicates creative potential. The design portfolio will be evaluated by faculty in the School of Architecture to assess a student’s preparedness for the subsequent three years of the program. Transfer students from other architecture or environmental design programs must have, prior to acceptance to an advanced design year placement, an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or above and a high quality, creative portfolio. Transfer students planning to attend the fall semester must submit their application and portfolio to the Environmental Design Program by May 1. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis only.

Formal Admission Process for  the Environmental Design Program:

• Application instructions and portfolio information will be provide to First year Environmental Design students each spring semester by approximately March 31st. The completed application form, plus portfolio of design and graphic work, are to be submitted to the School of Architecture by May 1.
• First year students are required to submit a portfolio including examples of their design and graphic work.
• An applicant who has previously undergone the portfolio review and was found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the Environmental Design program must re-apply  for the portfolio review in the regular manner.
• First year Environmental Design students who are found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the program have the right to meet with the School of Architecture Director for a review of their materials.

Students who are found to not be prepared for the subsequent years of the Environmental Design program may not take ARCH 253, ARCH 254, ARCH 261, or ARCH 262 or any upper division courses in the curriculum. Former students who have withdrawn after being admitted to the program must be in good scholastic standing for re-admission and will be readmitted on a space available basis only. Former students must contact the School in writing, stating their intent to return, at least two months prior to their return so that a decision can be made regarding space availability.

Architecture Residency Internship Program

This is an optional enrichment program for students who, for a short period in their education, would benefit at least as much from professional experience as academic experience. The goals of the program are those of the required architecture courses plus those which can be sought only in the office context, such as familiarization with the relationship of all aspects of professional practice.

Students must obtain their own employment in an architecture firm for a continuous period of not less than 6 months.

Students must apply to the program by the end of Spring semester of their 3rd year. The Architecture Residency Internship  will take place during the Summer and Fall of the student's fourth year in Environmental Design curriculum. The Residency Internship Studio Coordinator reviews all applications and makes decisions concerning acceptance into the program. The criteria for admission are:

• A minimum 2.75 overall cumulative grade point average and a minimum 3.0 in all architecture courses.
• Completion of all required courses as tabulated through the third year.

Foreign Study Program

This is an optional enrichment program which allows qualified students to participate in an intensive semester of foreign study. Students pay the additional costs of travel, lodging, and administration related to this program in addition to normal tuition and fees. The program is typically offered  Summer semester, subject to funding constraints and student demand, and is organized and directed by a faculty member(s) from the School of Architecture.

The criteria for participation in the Foreign Study Program are as follows:

• A high degree of self-motivation and self-discipline as demonstrated by performance in required course work.
• A minimum 3.0 overall cumulative grade point average and a minimum 3.0 in all architecture courses.
• Completion of ARCH 121IA , ARCH 322IA and ARCH 323IA .

A program application must be submitted by  December 1st of the third year of the Environmental Design program. A cash deposit will be required at this time. 

Standard of Work in Architecture Courses

Any student receiving two consecutive grades of C- or lower in any design sequence course will be required to repeat the last course in which a C- or lower was received.

Costs for an architectural education are similar to, though somewhat higher than, other programs in the university. An academic exposure to both rural and urban settings through class field trips, the integration of computer technology, networking, digital fabrication, printing as well as other program enhancements are an important part of an architect's education. In order to meet this need and help defer costs of the field trips, computer integration, lecture series and program enhancements, a Program Fee is assessed to each student in the environmental design and architectural programs that reflects the student's degree status in the program. For current Program Fee costs, students may contact the School of Architecture.  Students are required to purchase their own personal notebook computer, which meets the specifications of the School of Architecture, during the second year of the Environmental Design undergraduate program. The computer will be an essential tool for use throughout the Professional Program.

Beyond normal tuition, fees, room, board, and supplies, an architectural student requires drawing equipment and materials for drawing and models during the school year. This can be expected to add at least another $600 per year to the cost. Inquiries for financial aid or assistance should be sent directly to the Office of Financial Aid Services at Montana State University.

Curriculum in Environmental Design

ARCH 414 , ARCH 428 and ARCH 450 are offered both Summer and Fall semesters in the Senior year  to provide diverse options. 

A minimum of 126 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.

The School of Architecture reserves the right to retain student work for exhibition and instructional purposes.

Graduate Programs

• Master of Architecture

Montana State University

P.O. Box 172220

Bozeman, MT 59717-2220

Telephone: (406) 994-6650

Fax: (406) 994-1972

Email: [email protected]

Location: 101 Montana Hall

Antoni Campeau

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Full Catalog

A PDF of the entire 2023-2024 catalog.

ECA Graduate Show 2024

A celebration of 2024 graduate's work from Art, Design, Architecture and Landscape Architecture and Music.

Select date and time

• Friday May 31 10:00 AM
• Friday May 31 1:00 PM
• Saturday June 1 10:00 AM
• Saturday June 1 1:00 PM
• Sunday June 2 10:00 AM
• More options

Main Building, Lauriston Campus, Edinburgh College of Art

About this event

Edinburgh College of Art welcomes visitors to a showcase of work by graduating students.

The Graduate Show 2024 will feature the work of Art, Design, Music, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture students. Visitors are welcome to explore and discover the creations of a new generation of creatives.

The Graduate Show 2024 website will launch alongside the physical show, where you can explore and revisit the students' works from this year.

Visiting the Show

• ECA Graduate Show 2024 will be open Friday 31 May - Sunday 9 June, 10.00am - 4.00pm
• Late opening until 8.00pm on Wednesday, 5, and Thursday,6 June.
• Booking is essential to allow us to manage the capacity of the building.
• Visitors can book 3-hour time slots across the morning, afternoon and evening.
• The last booking entry is 45 minutes before the time slot ends.

Please do let us know if you require any support in accessing this event by emailing [email protected].

Please see ECA's privacy notice for more information on how your personal details provided will be used and stored.

• United Kingdom Events
• City of Edinburgh Events
• Things to do in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Conventions
• Edinburgh Arts Conventions

Organized by

Theatre Alum and 20-Year Artist for ‘The Simpsons’ Chosen as Commencement Speaker for the College

• Post published: April 24, 2024

Few television shows have left as indelible a mark on popular culture as The Simpsons , which is the longest running animated series, longest running sitcom, and longest scripted primetime series in the history of American television. Behind the scenes of this critically acclaimed series is a team of talented writers, artists, and animators who bring Springfield’s vibrant characters to life. Among them is Greg Checketts, a 1985 Michigan State University graduate with a B.A. in Theatre, who will celebrate 20 years with the animated series this August and who has worked on more than 200 episodes. He began his career with The Simpsons in August 2004 as a Retake Artist and now is a Lead Character Layout Artist whose dedication and creativity have contributed to the show’s enduring success.

Checketts will return to the Michigan State University campus this week to deliver the Spring 2024 commencement address at the College of Arts & Letters ceremony on Sunday, April 28, at the Breslin Student Events Center. His path that led him to this day is not the usual route one would take in his field, but to Checketts it makes perfect sense. “One of the reasons people find my career interesting is that it seems unexpected,” he said. “It didn’t necessarily seem unexpected to me as I was going along. I was not a kid who wanted to be a fireman one week and a baker another week. I always knew I wanted to go into cartoons.”

Road to The Simpsons

Fueled by this love for cartoons, Checketts’ fascination with animation began at a young age. Despite this, he decided in his senior year in high school to major in Theatre at MSU, which he says is the “family university.” Both his parents and his brother had attended MSU. And he saw theatre as a concurrent interest and not a big leap to the world of animation.

“A lot of people don’t necessarily feel like their college degree matches what their future reality becomes, but I feel very lucky,” he said. “I think my college degree absolutely had something to do with my future.”

During his time at MSU, Checketts worked in the Department of Theatre’s prop shop and was involved with a couple Summer Circle Theatre seasons. After earning his degree, he worked a variety of jobs for various community theatres including scenic artist, carpenter, stage manager, and set designer. These experiences not only honed his artistic skills but also instilled in him a strong work ethic and a collaborative spirit, qualities that have served him well in the animation industry.

Checketts began to plan his move to animation in the mid-1990s at the height of the Disney Animation Renaissance, a period when Walt Disney Feature Animation produced a series of critically and commercially successful animated films.

“A lot of people don’t necessarily feel like their college degree matches what their future reality becomes, but I feel very lucky. I think my college degree absolutely had something to do with my future.”

“It was fueled by a lot of theater people making animated features at that time. So, I thought, this could be a place for me,” said Checketts, who moved to Los Angeles and began to train himself in animation by taking classes at the animation guild while working as a project coordinator for a company that made scenery for themed casinos.

Checketts eventually landed an internship at Warner Brothers and worked as a cleanup artist on various Warner Brothers films, including The Iron Giant and Osmosis Jones. Setting his sights on television, he submitted his portfolio for Futurama where it sat for over a year with no response.

“At one point, I went there and said, ‘my portfolio has been here so long it’s now out of date, and I just want to put a few new things in,’” Checketts said. “And I updated my portfolio in their lobby.”

Shortly after, Checketts was offered a test, and then a job with Futurama , a show created by Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons , but he had to turn the job down because he was working on something else. He later was offered the job again, which he had to turn down once more because of other work.

“I think that created a little allure that I was in demand.” Checketts said. “The next time I was unemployed I called them, and they hired me. Futurama was my first television job. I had gone from cleaning up other people’s animation drawings and getting the artwork ready for camera to Futurama where I was doing character layout and was working off my own animations for the first time.”

However, not long after Checketts was hired by Futurama , the show was canceled. He then set his sights on The Simpsons . Twice he applied for the show and was turned down both times. But he refused to give up and, with the encouragement from a friend, he applied once more and eventually landed the job.

Two Decades with The Simpsons

Checketts started working on The Simpsons during season 16 of the show, which is now in season 35 and it has been renewed for season 36.

“I don’t think there has been a person who has been hired on the show that has not thought to themselves that it is probably coming to an end soon, but at least I am getting a season or two out of it before it goes away,” Checketts said. “I thought that then and I still think that now and we are on season 35.”

As a Lead Character Layout Artist for The Simpsons , Checketts plays a pivotal role in shaping the visual style and narrative flow of each episode. His team is responsible for defining the major poses, timing, and overall design aesthetic of the characters.

“I will get the script and will get voices if they have voices and I will be assigned chunks of the show, and whatever is happening on screen it is my job to prepare it,” Checketts said. “I will set up the backgrounds, but really the main job I have is figuring out the acting for whatever character is on screen at any given scene.”

Every four to six weeks, Checketts is assigned a new episode to work on, during which time he will make about a minute and a half of animation.

“It takes a village to make a cartoon,” he said. “If you have 12 people pumping out a minute each, that’s what it takes to make an animated television show.”

“By keeping the story, emotion, and circumstances in mind while you’re drawing, rather than just the pose, my training in dramatic art has held me in good stead. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’ve lasted.”

Each episode’s premiere is worked on six to ten months in advance. Checketts recently completed work on the Halloween episode for this year and is now working on the season premiere.

“One of the things I like about working in television is that you get to work with a broad range of characters,” Checketts said. “I do like the variety and I do love working with characters like Patty and Selma, Marge’s sisters, because they are just so awful. There is something fun about drawing these characters who are doing these awful things, but I really do like drawing all of them. I feel very lucky in my life that I can spend my days getting into the psyches of cartoon characters.”

In addition to his work on The Simpsons , Checketts works on his own creative projects, including original cartoons. The creative freedom of these projects has allowed him to explore new artistic possibilities and express himself in ways that may not be possible within the confines of a long-running television series. He writes, directs, edits, does voices, and more – wearing multiple hats, like in his theatre days.

Looking back at his work in the industry, Checketts cites the combination of his theatre experience and hard work as the two major factors for his creative longevity.

“The fact that this was my second career made me feel like I had to work a little bit harder than people who started younger, or came to it more naturally,” Checketts said. “And by keeping the story, emotion, and circumstances in mind while you’re drawing, rather than just the pose, my training in dramatic art has held me in good stead. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’ve lasted.”

Advocate for the Arts

As an advocate for arts education, Checketts believes in the transformative power of creativity to enrich lives and build communities. He spent five years working as a part-time art teacher for the gifted and talented program for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Through this work and as a mentor to others, he strives to inspire the next generation of artists and storytellers.

“I believe in the education of the arts. It is something to be celebrated. It teaches collaboration. It teaches you about yourself. It teaches you about the world around you,” Checketts said. “If you know more about the world around you and you can put yourself in other people’s shoes because you’ve collaborated in the arts, then maybe people would be kinder to each other.”

Checketts also underscores the importance of recognizing and cultivating transferable skills. While many aspiring artists may focus solely on building their portfolios and resumes, Checketts believes that value lies in developing a diverse skill set that extends beyond technical proficiency. From collaboration and adaptability to critical thinking and empathy, these skills are essential for success in any profession.

“I believe in the education of the arts. It is something to be celebrated. It teaches collaboration. It teaches you about yourself. It teaches you about the world around you.”

“If you work in the arts,” Checketts said, “you pick up on so many different things, from collaboration, creating a good work ethic, thinking outside of the box, understanding of other people – those skills are transferable to all sorts of things beyond the arts, wherever you end up.”

Checketts’s journey to success has been defined by persistence, community support, and the cultivation of transferable skills. His path to The Simpsons was anything but straightforward, and he believes that the skills gained through an arts education — such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork — are highly transferable and can benefit individuals in any field. By investing in the arts and supporting creative endeavors we can create a more inclusive and vibrant society.

“The things that you can build are the things that you do with other people and that will make for a better world,” he said. “That’s the beauty of working in the arts.”

You Might Also Like

Religious Studies Students Honored for Outstanding Achievements

MSU Announces 2023 Summer Circle Theatre Season

Gaining Experience Working Remotely for Company in Spain