Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art

Application Deadline Extended: Now accepting applications through July 31st for Fall 2023. 

Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art Deadline: February 1 for fall admission

Note: All admission materials must be received by the Graduate School office before an application will be reviewed.

Application requirements for the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program include:

• Submit an online Graduate School application for admission and non-refundable application fee.
• Have official transcript(s) sent from all institutions you attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate School office from the issuing institution(s).
• Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Submit a written statement of purpose reflective of their creative and research goals. As writing and communication skills are vital to a candidate's success, this is an important component of the application. The statement should be 1,000 words or less and indicate how they envision their work developing, how it relates to contemporary art practices, and why it is important to pursue a graduate degree.
• Submit a CV or resume.
• Have three original letters of recommendation submitted directly from art and design professionals.
• Submit a digital portfolio in PDF format containing up to 20 digital images or media files of the applicant’s strongest work. The artwork should demonstrate the applicant’s point of view through bodies of work and/or show the development of an idea over time. All works should be labeled with title, materials/medium, date, and size of artwork. A brief description (150 characters) may also be included, if necessary.
• Arrange and participate in an admissions interview with the MFA advisor and appropriate Fine Arts faculty. The MFA advisor's contact information is: Stephanie Sutton, 803/323-3429, suttons@winthrop.edu.

Message from the Studio Art Department: Incoming MFA students are required to have a comprehensive background in historical and contemporary movements in studio art, advanced technical skills in at least one studio area, and a strong research background. Admitted students who do not show evidence of these criteria may need additional coursework which could include an additional semester or academic year of study, followed by a portfolio review.