Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art - Photography and Moving Image

The Photography and Moving Image area focuses on the development of individual vision while students explore the contemporary uses, techniques, and theories informing photography and moving images across physical and virtual spaces. The curriculum offers coursework examining traditional and digital skills while stressing an understanding of the media's histories and theories. The area is perfectly positioned in a larger, highly interdisciplinary department where students are encouraged to see how their explorations in photography and moving images may build on the skills learned in other courses. Students pursuing a BA/BFA, or a graduate-level MFA often merge their photography, video, and animation skills with other media such as printmaking, sculpture, electronic art, or painting. This interdisciplinary focus mimics the commercial applications of the media and its role in the larger art world.

The intentionally small size of each of our courses fosters an atmosphere for technical and critical experimentation, allowing faculty to provide group and individualized instruction to students actively engaged in the dialogue of photography. In doing so, students are encouraged to pursue projects of their own content within the context of the larger contemporary art dialogues, understanding their own practice not only in relation to other photographers, videographers, or animators but to artists and makers in other fields as well.
Our mission for the Master of Fine Arts curriculum is to offer the students discipline, training, and artistic understanding required for life as a practicing artist and professional. The program is designed to develop the student's capabilities for creative thinking and a sense of open inquiry, together with a thorough awareness of the multiplicity of new and traditional principles. Such capabilities may further enable an artist to make a valuable contribution as a professional artist, designer, art instructor, arts administrator, museum staff, gallery owner, or other related creative professional. The MFA program is highly selective and is presently limited to 33 participants. Graduate students are chosen on the basis of artistic accomplishment and potential, evidence of conscientious work habits and sense of commitment. The professional reputation of our faculty, and the outstanding accomplishments of the students who graduate from our department contribute to an ongoing pursuit of excellence. The Graduate Program is housed in our CAB studio facility that includes spacious individual graduate studios, Working Method Contemporary Gallery, and media specific work areas.

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while enrolled as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree
Transcripts
The University requires applicants to mail one official transcript for each college and/or university attended to the FSU Office of Admissions. Transcripts are considered official when they are sent in a sealed envelope from a college or university directly to the Office of Admissions and contain an official seal and signature. Transcripts bearing the statement Issued to student or transcripts submitted by the applicant are not considered official.
For those with just less than a 3.0 GPA, a high GRE score will be considered as an additional component. The minimum score is 148 Verbal and 151 Quantitative, no other exam may substitute. Please note that these scores are only one portion of your application and the admissions committee considers each file as a whole in order to make determinations for both admission and funding.

International applicants whose native language is not English must meet the minimum University requirement of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL.

Students who receive a score of 26 or higher on the speaking section of the Internet-based TOEFL examination meet the University requirements for consideration as a teaching assistant.
Letters of Recommendation
You will also be asked for the names and email addresses of three recommenders. We recommend requesting letters from former teachers or others familiar with your art making activities and career objectives. No personal recommendations will be accepted.
Portfolio of fifteen to twenty (15-20) images of your most recent work. Images, videos or QuickTime files should show continuity of development. Include title, year completed, medium and size of each work.
Statement of Purpose (500-750 words) Briefly present your educational objectives listing your technical strengths and skills and the media and research areas you intend to study/pursue. Files should be sent as Word doc. or PDF. Please name your files as lastname_firstname and make sure your name appears on the top of each document.
Artist Statement (250-500 words) describing your artistic vision and the context of your work within contemporary art. Guide