MassArt Undergraduate Programs 2023-2024

Explore all the places an art and design education can take you.

Passion & possibility

Eli Murdock Lynch ’24 BFA Photography @elilynchphoto

Kayla Doucette ’25 BFA Art Education and Printmaking @kdoucette.print

Leslie Donahue ’23 BFA Painting @leslie.donahue

Jenna Ross ’23 BFA Fibers

Michelle He Lam ’21 BFA Architecture @wannabemichellehe

Gia Fonseca ’25 BFA Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) @knoxstation

Brick Chapman ’23 BFA Fashion Design and Fibers @brickoleur

Maverick O’Meara ’23 BFA Communication Design @maverickw.design

Gideon Holdgate ’23 BFA Sculpture @by.gideon

Sonnae Peterson ’23 BFA Sculpture @sonnaepeterson.art

Karin Chan ’25 BFA Jewelry & Metalsmithing @karin.atelierr

Autumn Richards ’23 BFA Printmaking

Josie Rybczyk ’23 BFA Photography @josie_rybczyk

Bianca Antonini ’23 BFA Fashion Design @bentabello

Max Ryan ’23 BFA Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) @_maxryan

There’s a special kind of energy that comes from the people here: we’re a passionate community of artists, designers, and educators with big ideas and the drive to make them real.

Our doors are open

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is the nation’s first and only independent public college of art and design. That difference means a lot. It means we’re committed to making a world-class art and design education a reality for every committed student. It inspires us to create a community that’s a true mix of different backgrounds and lived experiences — a place that looks like the world we live in. And it’s why we attract students who bring limitless energy and zero attitude to the work of learning and creating.

Don’t get us wrong, you’ll work really hard here. But you’ll do it alongside classmates who care and talented, globally celebrated faculty who

want you to succeed. Every day you’ll find new opportunities to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. To hone in on what you love but also dive into something new.

Some people come to MassArt because they want to build a career doing what they love. Others come because they believe that art and design have the power to change the world. For 150 years, we’ve watched our students do incredible things and go to some truly amazing places. Just imagine where Massachusetts College of Art and Design might take you.

18 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Majors

9:1 BFA Student: Faculty Ratio

BFA Enrollment: 1,682 (Fall 2022)

BFA BIPOC: 37%

ENROLLMENT BY RESIDENCY:

Massachusetts: 73%

Other New England states: 12%

Outside of New England: 15%

*BIPOC includes Native American, African American, Latino/a, Asian, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and multi-racial students

Connected & Supported

Academic advising and support

Every MassArt student works closely with an academic advisor. Think of your advisor as a trusted guide — someone who will talk through things like choosing your major, selecting classes, and completing graduation requirements. And when you need extra support, our Academic Resource Center provides access to advisors, peer mentors, and writing specialists, as well as support around accessibility services and academic accommodations.

“The jewelry and metals department is a supportive and inspiring environment. The small scale allows for a tight-knit community of talented makers.”

Justice, Equity, and Transformation

Each member of our community matters, and every MassArt student should feel safe and supported during their time here. Our Office of Justice, Equity, and Transformation (JET) provides students from all backgrounds with mentorship, resources, and support. JET hosts events, lectures, and workshops, and never stops doing the important work of building a more just, equitable campus and community.

— JULIA GIANGRANDE ’23 BFA JEWELRY & METALSMITHING

Health and wellness

Students succeed when they feel healthy and supported in all areas of their lives. The MassArt Counseling Center is here for students in need of a helping hand or a friendly ear. We offer in-person counseling as well as resources, tools, and advice for managing stress, developing healthy habits, and practicing mindfulness. And our modern on-campus health clinic provides high-quality medical care for many different routine and acute health conditions and injuries.

Find your community

There’s a place for everyone at MassArt. Find your community by exploring affinity groups that support and celebrate different cultures and identities. Go deep doing what you love or try something through campus activities and events, or by joining one of our 24 clubs. Enjoy recreation and team sports at nearby schools through our Colleges of the Fenway consortium. Whatever your interest or passion, chances are good you can do it at MassArt.

“MassArt gives me so many opportunities to learn and grow as an artist, and my professors work so hard to help me succeed.”

MAD BEAUBIEN ’23 BFA SCULPTURE

Your first year

FALL SEMESTER

• Studio for Drawing

• Visual Language

• Form Study

• Intro to Western Art

• Thinking, Making, Writing: Using Words with Clarity and Flair

SPRING SEMESTER

• Drawing Projects

• Time

• Studio Elective

• History of Art Elective

• First-Year Seminar

Learning unleashed

The Studio Foundation program, a requirement for all first-year students, gives you the tools and experience you need to drive your creative development. It’s a year where you’ll explore the basics of visual language, drawing, time and movement, and three-dimensional design. You’ll also learn how to conduct and apply research, solve problems, set goals, and develop effective work habits. Throughout your Studio Foundation year you’ll meet local, national, and international visiting artists and designers, and spend time visiting studios, museums, and galleries.

You’ll dive right in at MassArt, immersing yourself in the fundamentals of craftsmanship, critical thinking, exploration, and idea generation. You’ll build a solid foundation that prepares you to excel when it comes time for you to dig into your chosen major.

Animation

Architecture

Art Education

Ceramics

Communication Design

Fashion Design

Fibers

Film / Video

Glass

History of Art

Illustration

Industrial Design

Jewelry & Metalsmithing

Painting

Photography

Printmaking

Sculpture

Studio for Interrelated

Media

ON-CAMPUS LIVING

Our three on-campus residence halls provide a range of different living options and are staffed by our live-in residence life team.

“MassArt was my gateway to the world of art. I come from a small town in Texas, so living in Boston and experiencing the culture around the school expanded my horizons in a way that I will be forever grateful for.”

— MARISSA VALDEZ ’16 BFA ANIMATION

GALLERIES

Our seven on-campus galleries allow students to learn and explore through lectures and visiting artists, as well as student and studentcurated exhibits.

“MassArt encouraged me to be ambitious and allowed me to experiment with a variety of media and courses that I wouldn’t fully appreciate until years later in my career.”

— RICHARD STREITMATTER-TRAN ’03 BFA STUDIO FOR INTERRELATED MEDIA (SIM)

FACILITIES

Our world-class facilities give students the space and tools they need to master their craft and push their creative boundaries.

Life in Boston

MassArt is located on the Avenue of the Arts, one of Boston’s many cultural hubs. With endless galleries, museums, and performance spaces — not to mention amazing dining, shopping, and outdoor activities — there’s no better place to be a college student.

Career Success

Maybe you know exactly where it is you want to go. Maybe college is where you plan to figure it out. Either way, you’ll find what you need to turn your passion, talent, and drive into a rewarding and meaningful career.

Ready for the real world

When it comes to making your mark in today’s Creative Economy, practical experience matters. That’s why you’ll find our students immersing themselves in internships that empower them to apply what they’re learning at MassArt in a range of professional settings. They make meaningful contributions to the organizations they work for while also gaining crucial realworld experience, building their professional networks, and exploring career opportunities.

Up your career game

Exploring where an art and design career can take you is exciting, but can be overwhelming, too. Our Career Development team will help you navigate every step of the process with tools that include:

• Resources for exploring and researching different career paths

• MassArt Portfolios, a site for showcasing your best work to potential employers

• Internship and job search listings, events, and databases

• Resume, cover letter, and interview tips

• Webinars and workshops

• One-on-one advising with our Career Development team

NOTABLE CAREERS

Arts Administrator

Architect

Art Historian

Brand / Identity Designer

Community Art Coordinator

Costume Designer

Creative Director

Curator

Designer / Builder

Editorial Photographer

Educator / Instructor

Entrepreneur

Event Producer

Fashion Designer

Filmmaker / Cinematographer

Film Editor / Video Editor

Furniture Designer

Graphic Designer

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Christian Marclay

Sam Durant

William Wegman

Kelly Wearstler

Arne Glimcher

Brian Collins

Steven Smith

Nancy Haigh

Momo Schafer

Justine Silva

Khiem Kguyen

Prajje Oscar

Erin Robertson

Maya Luz

Emily Trotochaud

Charlie Hides

Katya

K. Lenore Siner

Ekua Holmes

Steve Locke

Silvia Lopez Chavez

Lavaughan Jenkins

Sabrina Dorsainvil

Elisa Hamilton

Genaro Ortega

Cedric Douglas

Jon Friedman

Graphic Novelist

Industrial Designer

Inventor

Illustrator

Jewelry Designer

Lead Animator

Motion Graphic Artist

Object Designer

Producer

Product Designer

Studio Artist

Television Producer / Director

User Experience Designer (UX)

Video Game Designer

Web / Interactive Designer

2,035

Transfer to MassArt

Thinking of transferring to MassArt? You’re not alone.

Understanding the process

Your placement level as a transfer student is determined by your transferable credits and an evaluation of your portfolio. To enroll as a sophomore or above, you must successfully complete MassArt’s Foundation Program curriculum or comparable coursework at your previous school with a letter grade of C or above.

First-year prerequisite equivalencies

MassArt accepts up to 60 transfer credits: 36 can count toward Studio Art credits and 24 towards Liberal Arts/History of Arts credits. To earn a BFA from MassArt, students must attend the college for at least two years and complete 60 credits.

MASSART COURSE EQUIVALENT COURSE

SFDN 181: Studio for Drawing

SFDN 182: Visual Language

SFDN 183: Form Study

SFDN 191: Time

SFDN 185: Drawing Projects

SFDN Elective: Any studio art or design elective

LALW 100: Thinking, Making, Writing

FRSM 100: First-Year Seminar

HART 100: Intro to Western Art

HART Elective: Any History of Art/Design elective

Intro to Drawing, Drawing I, Basic Drawing, Drawing from Observation, Figure Drawing

Color and Design, 2D Foundations, Elements of Design, Digital Design Concepts

3D Design, 3D Foundations, Elements of Form, Sculpture, Ceramics

Intro to Animation, Intro to Video, Audio Media, Bookmaking, Motion Graphics

Drawing II, Advanced Drawing, Figure Drawing, Drawing electives

Any 100 level or higher studio art or design elective

English Composition I, College Making, Writing

English Composition II, College Writing II

Art History I, Art History II, Prehistoric to Early Renaissance Art, Renaissance to Contemporary Art

History of Modern Art, History of Graphic Design, Asian Art, African Art, Latin American Art

Note: To transfer course credit, students must earn a letter grade of C or above and courses need to be at least 100 level and worth three credits. Transfer credits are subject to approval.

Each year, nearly 25 percent of our incoming class is made up of students who transfer from other colleges and universities. Join us — you’re welcome here!

Ready for what’s next?

Ready to learn more about life at MassArt? Come for a visit, speak with a student and get to know a member of our admissions team. We’re excited to tell you more about our community, and all the exciting places MassArt can take you.

Application requirements

• Common Application and $70 application fee

• Essay

• Portfolio of 15 – 20 examples of visual artwork

• Official high school transcripts

• Official college transcripts (transfer students)

• Letter of recommendation

• Résumé / list of activities

• English proficiency exam scores (non-native English speakers only)

2023 – 2024 annual tuition and mandatory fees (full-time)

• Tuition & Fees: $42,180

• New England resident tuition: $33,690

• Massachusetts resident tuition: $14,960

Additional charges (average)

• Estimated room and board: $18,000

Non-billed expenses (estimated)

• Art supplies and books: $2,000

• Personal laptop: $1,500

• Personal living allowance: $900

Deadlines

FIRST-TIME COLLEGE STUDENTS

Early Action: December 1

Priority Fall Admission: February 15

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Fall Admission: March 1

Spring Admission: October 15

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION

Fall Admission: March 1

Federal School Code: 002180

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