Graduate Study in Design

Admissions

A graduate faculty committee of the department will evaluate transcripts and portfolios of applicants to determine their qualifications for admission. The following are basic requirements for admissions to the M.F.A. program in Design:

To hold a B.F.A. or an equivalent degree.
To hold approximately 70 semester hours of undergraduate credit in studio and related professional courses, including approximately 36 hours of studio credit concentrated in a major area of study.
To have maintained an undergraduate grade average in the proposed major of approximately B (3.0).
To have had a minimum of 9 hours of credit in art history.

Undergraduate Background

Students whose major field is in the Department of Design are required to have undergraduate backgrounds that are judged by the Graduate Faculty of the Department to be appropriate preparation for the specific area of specialization selected for graduate study.

How to Apply

Should you decide to apply for admission, we will need the following from you:

1. The completed Graduate School Application for Admission form. GRE scores are not required.

2. Two official copies of transcript(s) of all college and university records, sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Application Processing Center, Graduate School, The University of Kansas, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 300 Strong Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-7535, Office Staffing, Attn: Design Dept.

3. A minimum of three letters of recommendation from former or current instructors and/or those able to recommend you on the basis of professional design experience. The applicant must assume the responsibility for assuring that the Graduate Application Processing Center (at the above address) receives these letters. Recommendation Form

4. A comprehensive 35mm slide portfolio of your undergraduate and/or professional work. The portfolio should consist of slides of no fewer than 20 and no more than 40 different pieces of work. Cardboard or plastic mounted slides should be labeled (in print or type) with applicant’s name, media, dimensions and date. TOP of slide should be marked in appropriate place on slides. Each slide should also be numbered. Submit all slides in a 9” x 11” plastic slide file page.

5. A slide information sheet with your name, number of each corresponding slide, title, date, medium and dimensions (HxWxD).

6. A comprehensive statement of your design philosophy and the objective you hope to achieve through graduate study. Please specify your intended area of concentration, i.e. Ceramics, Metalsmithing/Jewelry, Textile Design (dyeing, printing, weaving), and Scenography.

7. A self-addressed return mailer, including return postage (otherwise the materials will not be returned.)

8. Application fee – Please make check payable to The University of Kansas. Application forms submitted without a fee will not be processed.

Please send ALL self-generated materials in one envelope.

Graduate Application Type	Domestic	International
Degree seeking paper application fee (non-refundable processing fee in a check or money order in U.S. currency)	$55	$60
Degree seeking online application fee (via collegenet)	$45	$55
Non-degree seeking paper application	$30	$30

International Students

International Degree Seeking Applicants will also need to submit the following:

1. A statement of financial resources. Immigration regulations require every international student to verify the availability of financial resources to pay for all education, living, and other expenses before the visa form is issued. The amount needed for the 2003-2004 academic year is US$15,721. This amount is subject to change without prior notice. Please see the International Degree-Seeking Application for Admission form for further details.

2. Proof of proficiency in the English language. This proficiency can be verified by:

Graduation with a baccalaureate or graduate degree whose medium of
instruction is English; or
Receipt of an official copy of the applicant’s Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, minimal scores of 230 Computer or 570 Paper with all part scores at least 57; or
Receipt of the academic format of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) administrated by the University of Cambridge Examination System, with a minimum band score of 6.5.

Application Process

Completed applications will be processed in the following manner:

1. Admissions decisions cannot be made until all application materials have been received.

2. All necessary forms, letters, transcripts, slides, etc., must arrive at the Graduate Application Processing Center at the University of Kansas by February 1 to be considered for the fall term for admissions to one of the several categories described in the graduate catalog.

3. Applications received after the above date and prior to August 1 will be considered for admissions under the special (non-degree) category as defined in the Graduate School catalog.

4. Applications received after August 1st will not be considered for admissions except under exceptional conditions. Current exceptions are graduate courses offered off the Lawrence campus.

By permission of the Board of Regents, applications for admission or transfer to programs in the Department of Design may be refused if the available instructional space does not allow the addition of more students.

Students admitted to and enrolled in a regular full-time degree seeking category will be given first priority consideration for the assignment of individual graduate student working space. These spaces are limited and are not normally available for part-time students. Those admitted as special non-degree seeking students should not expect individual working spaces on a continuing basis.

Applications that are not received by the above mentioned deadline will be held in an inactive status for one year unless reactivated by the applicant for admission consideration to a later term. Please address all correspondence to:

Graduate Application Processing Center
Graduate School, The University of Kansas
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Room 300, Strong Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045-7535
Office Staffing, Attn: Design Dept.

Thank you again for your interest in the Department of Design at the University of Kansas. If after reviewing the material we are sending, you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Westergard, Director of Graduate Studies, Art & Design Departments, (785) 864-2957 or (785) 864-4401 or adgrad@ku.edu.

Contact

For information, contact:
The University of Kansas
Gina Westergard, Director of Graduate Studies
Art and Design
300 Art and Design Building
Lawrence, KS 66045
Telephone: (785) 864-4401 or (785) 864-2957
Fax: (785) 864-4404