Apply to the MFA Program
The MFA is a three-year or equivalent degree (60 s.h.). Assessments of progress are provided annually. The preferred undergraduate degree for admission to the MFA is a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in art. Applicants holding other bachelor’s degrees may apply if they have undergraduate studio art experience and/or an exemplary portfolio and statement of objectives.
Admissions decisions are based on the applicant’s statement of objectives, portfolio, academic records, references, and virtual interview. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to carry out independent creative work and a desire to work within an interdisciplinary creative setting. Students interested in applying for the MFA degree must identify two to three potential faculty mentors with whom they would like to study. Applicants’ statement of objectives must discuss the applicant’s current work, purpose and intention for MFA studies, and identify two to three School of Art and Design graduate faculty with whom they wish to work. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to graduate faculty to introduce themselves and learn more about the program. The application portfolio requirements are listed below. Virtual interviews are scheduled after all the applicant’s materials have been submitted. The MFA degree does not require standardized test scores to apply.
The directory of graduate faculty can be found here: [SoAD Graduate Faculty].
Application materials include:
For ECU Application Portal (TargetX)
- Online application form
- A statement of objective (reason for pursuing graduate studies at ECU)
- Application fee
- A list of two to three prospective SoAD graduate faculty mentors
- A list of three references, academic or professional
- Transcripts
- Additional requirement: creative portfolio, list of work, resume, and maker/designer statement must be uploaded using the applicant’s Google Drive (instructions)
- A digital portfolio containing ONLY 20 examples of work as individual files using the naming convention: LastFirstName-number. Accepted file types are [1] still images in jpg/pdf/png, [2] time-based work in mp3/mp4, and [3] text in pdf only. Do not submit pptx or docx.
- A list of works with title, medium, size, date, and other relevant information (pdf)
- Resume in reverse chronological order (pdf)
- A maker/designer statement (pdf)
Completed applications are due February 1 to be considered for assistantship and scholarship funding.
For more information, please contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator, Seo Eo eos@ecu.edu 252 328 6281
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