Master of Fine Arts > Application and Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts

  • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university or art school.
  • Meet at least one of the following criteria:
    1. Earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
    2. Earned a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average or better in all upper division studies as an undergraduate student.
      (The GRE is not required but may be used for admission purposes if the applicant chooses to do so.)
  • Successful acceptance by the School Faculty of a portfolio of artworks (see below.) 

Step-by-Step Application Procedures

Admissions are for Fall Term only.

The admission application deadline for the Fall term is January 15 (postmarked or hand delivered before 5:00 pm).

Please read carefully all of the information provided. Follow the numbered steps below to start the admissions process.

Prospective students are urged to apply for admission as early as possible, but no sooner than a year before the term you plan to enroll. We admit students for the fall term only. Students are required to utilize the on-line application and complete the electronic application to the Graduate School (Step 1). Please submit your portfolio and supporting applications materials to the School of Art and Art History (Step 2).  The School of Art and Art History is a direct receipt program which requires that all supplemental materials for your application (portfolio, letters of recommendations, resume, and copies of your transcripts) must be submitted directly to the School of Art and Art History at the address given in Step 2.

Step 1:

Go to the Graduate School Website, http://facts23.facts.org/admissions/jsp/dageneralinfosfg.jsp, to complete the online application for the Graduate School. You will be required to submit your application fee of $30 US dollars electronically also.

Step 2:

Send the following to:

University of South Florida
School of Art and Art History
Graduate Coordinator
4202 E. Fowler Ave. FAH 110
Tampa, FL 33620

  1. 2 Official transcripts - Transcripts should be submitted from each academic institution that you have attended and are required for review of your application.
  2. 3 Letters of recommendation for Graduate Study.
  3. Artist Statement
  4. Portfolio (You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your portfolio if you wish to have your images returned.) For detailed instructions on the portfolio, please click here.
  5. Resume: e-mail and phone contact information must be included

Step 3:  International Students (only)

International Students please go to the International Admissions Website at http://web.usf.edu/iac/admissions/ for important application instructions.

Please follow Step 2 for the submission of the supplemental materials for your application.

For questions on any part of the admissions process, please contact:

Gloria Quigley, Academic Specialist
email: gquigley@arts.usf.edu, phone: 813-974-9249