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Graduate students in Art History & Criticism and Studio Art at Stony Brook University’s Department of Art work in an interdisciplinary environment that encourages experimentation and innovation. Our faculty are internationally renowned scholars, artists, art historians, curators, and teachers. Our graduates go on to careers as historians, writers and curators, artists, researchers and educators, consultants, and arts professionals in museums, galleries, and arts institutions.
As a small interdisciplinary department, we offer the opportunity to create individualized paths of study where an MA/MFA or a MFA/PhD is possible for exceptional candidates who wish to simultaneously pursue practice and research. Please contact the Graduate Program Director directly for more information.
Priority early application by: January 15, 2025
Application deadline: March 1, 2025
Funding and competitive scholarships available!
M.A. & Ph.D Application Guidelines:
The MA and PhD programs in Art History & Criticism are uniquely focused on modern and contemporary art. In both programs, we offer a dynamic and individually crafted curriculum that engages art history as an evolving and interdisciplinary field, with special strengths in global modernisms, and media, technology, and visual culture.
MFA Application Guidelines:
The MFA in Studio Art is a three-year, critically engaged, creative practice program, supported by a research university environment, production facilities, and spacious art studios, set in beautiful natural surroundings near campus.
Artist Portfolio Instructions:
In addition to completing the Graduate School application portal, the following application materials for the MFA in Studio Art should be emailed directly to the Department of Art graduate program admissions: GradArt@stonybrook.edu Please include your full name and MFA in Studio Art Application in the email subject line. You can send up to 25 MB in attachments, please ensure that your Artist Portfolio PDF is adequately sized for this inbox limitation.
Please include the following application materials:
1. Artist Portfolio: 20 visual images, slides or pages, that represent your best and recent artwork in a presentation format, packaged as a PDF document (max 25 MB). The Artist Portfolio should include image captions stating the artwork title, media/materials, and date of production (no artwork older than 3 years please). Short project descriptions (max 100 words each) can be included within the Artist Portfolio document, or a separate image captions text document may be attached. Video and durational media should be hyperlinked and playable online within a web browser (Website, Google Drive, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.).
2. Statement of Purpose / Artist Statement: (between 500 and 1000 words) artist statement, creative research, current direction, aims in pursuing graduate study.
3. Resume / CV: Curriculum Vitae, including contact information, education, exhibitions, professional experience, awards or recognitions.
(Note: these documents can also be uploaded and submitted with the official Graduate School application portal)
Stony Brook University is an equal opportunity educator/employer. AA/EOE
Graduate Programs in Art History and Criticism
Graduate Program Director in Art History and Criticism: Brooke Belisle
Graduate Programs in Studio Art
Graduate Program Director in Studio Art: Isak Berbic
Graduate Secretary: TBC
