Art & Visual Technology - George Mason University

Facilities and Equipment
The Art and Visual Technology Graduate Program is located in the Fine Arts Building, which houses art studios in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. AVT has four digital studios that cross platforms and are installed with current software applications used for 2D imaging, 3D modeling, animation, video production, sound editing, multimedia authoring, and web publishing. These digital studios are open to students for scheduled periods of time mornings, evenings, and weekends, generally when classes are not in progress. Policies, procedures, and schedules for studio use are established by the AVT studio faculty and are posted in the studios and online.

AVT Undergraduate Program Requirements
Effective in the spring of 2006, all students are admitted to AVT programs of study separately from their admission to the university, and only by portfolio review. Students may be admitted to study in the BA program by one of three ways:

Presenting a portfolio and any other requested credentials at designated portfolio review days before each semester
Completing the sequence of AVT 104, 105, and 222 with a 3.50 or higher average, and applying for admission
Completing the sequence of AVT 104, 105, and 222; and either 323 or 324, or one 200-level course with a 3.00 or higher average; and applying for admission

BFA portfolio review
BA students who wish to apply for admission to the BFA degree program do so by presenting a substantive college-level portfolio and other requested credentials during the designated application period, usually the sixth week of the semester.
See BFA requirements

Artsbus Requirement
All AVT students must meet the department’s requirement of travel to galleries and museums aboard the AVT Artsbus. Students meet this requirement by enrolling in AVT 300 Artsbus Attendance. Freshmen who enroll as AVT majors must take AVT 300 for five semesters. Transfer students and students who change their majors to AVT must take AVT 300 each semester they are enrolled at Mason, up to a maximum of five semesters. Semesters of enrollment in AVT 300 do not have to be consecutive. This new way of handling the requirement took effect for incoming freshmen and transfer students in the 2005-06 catalog year. Students who entered before fall 2005 are not affected by the change. The total number of bus seats for the term will meet or exceed class enrollment; tickets for each trip will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students have no guarantee that they will be able to attend the trip of their choice. The best way for students to increase their odds of getting a ticket for their preferred trip is to secure the ticket as soon as the box office has them available. Please note that there are no ticket refunds at the end of the semester for students who fail to attend one of the available ArtsBus trips, just as there are no tuition refunds for students who fail courses.

Writing-Intensive Requirement
Mason requires all students to complete at least one course designated “writing intensive” in their majors at the 300 level or above. AVT students fulfill this requirement by successfully completing AVT 395 or AVT 494 (for BFA students planning to pursue the MAT in Art Education).

Upper Level Credits
All undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits of upper-division courses at the 300-499 level.

Major GPA
All AVT undergraduate students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major.

Graduate Program Requirements: MA, MFA

Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general university requirements for admission for graduate study, candidates for the MA or MFA must hold a BA or BFA degree. Upon applying, they must submit a portfolio, statement of intent and professional goals, and three letters of reference.

Diversity among students accepted for study is another consideration. Applicants with degrees in areas other than art are welcome, although they may be required to complete undergraduate core courses.

Portfolio Guidelines:
The applicant’s portfolio is a major selection criterion for graduate admission, and should represent the applicant’s most accomplished work. Portfolio requirements are different for each graduate area of emphasis. All portfolios must include a written image or slide information sheet with the corresponding number, title, date, medium, and size of each work. If included, slides must be labeled with slide number, applicant’s name, title of work, and date. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered. Applicants’ portfolio items are considered part of the application for admission and thus, cannot be returned. Please do not send original materials. The portfolio and all other application materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions. For more information, contact the AVT department at 703-993-8898.

Portfolio requirements by area of emphasis:
Digital Arts: 20 images on a Mac (Apple Macintosh platform) compatible CD. All images must be numbered according to the printed list. Videos (no more than four minutes for each selection) must be playable from a Mac-compatible CD or DVD. Only the relevant parts of the video should be marked for viewing, with the applicant’s role clearly stated. Digital arts applicants should not submit slides.

Photography and Printmaking: 20 images on a Mac compatible CD, or slides. All images must be numbered according to the printed list. Printmaking also requires a print portfolio of 12 prints.

Sculpture and Painting: 20 slides only. All slides must be numbered and labeled according to the printed list.

InterArts: Total of 20 images (on a Mac-compatible CD or slides), videos, or writing-based materials. All submissions must be numbered according to the printed list. If videos are included, they must contain no more than four minutes for each selection. Also, they must be a Mac-compatible CD or DVD or, if videotape, VHS in NTSC format. Only the relevant parts of the video should be marked for viewing, with the applicant’s role clearly stated. If writing-based materials are submitted, they should be submitted in printed form.

Supplementary material for all applicants, such as CDs (Mac-compatible only), videos (DVD, VHS in NTSC format), web addresses, press clippings, or reviews of exhibitions may be submitted but will be reviewed only at the discretion of the AVT graduate application reviewers. Supplementary material should be clearly marked as such.

Graduate Program Requirements: MAT

This preservice degree program prepares students with a BFA degree for PK-12 art licensure by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Using a studio-based approach to art education and working closely with area public school systems, the MAT degree consists of 30 credits of graduate art education, school practicum experience, and independent studio work prior to preservice teaching internship and seminar.

Admission Requirements:
In addition to meeting the general university admission requirements for graduate study, admission to this program is contingent on completion of a BFA in art or approved equivalent. Also, candidates must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA; any exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. Eligibility for the MAT program may demand additional course work to establish proficiency in visual arts. Students lacking a background in the visual arts or pedagogy will be required to satisfy prerequisite courses prior to the required graduate courses. Candidates will be selected by a department committee composed of the art education program director and faculty. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admittance to the program.

Applications will be accepted twice a year.

Because of conflicting application deadlines posted for Fall 2008 MAT Admission, the Fall 2008 deadline will be extended to April 1, 2008: We will review complete MAT applications received no later than April 1, 2008, on a space available basis. [NOTE: Please disregard the writing sample requirement, which is stated on the online application but is no longer required.]

If you have further questions, please contact Mary Del Popolo, the art education advisor at mdelpopo@gmu.edu

APPLICATION INFORMATION: FUTURE DEADLINES
The next deadline for admission to the MAT in Art Education Program for Spring 2009 is October 15, 2008 and for Fall 2009 is March 15, 2009.

Each applicant must provide the following materials:

Completed application form
Certified copies of all undergraduate transcripts and any graduate transcripts
Statement of intent and professional goals for entering the field
Three letters of reference from faculty members or individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s academic or professional capabilities
Proof of passing score on Praxis I or equivalent
Graded writing sample
TOEFL score, if required by Mason policies
Portfolio that reflects artistic breadth and depth, including drawing skills. All portfolios must include a written image or slide information sheet with the corresponding number, title, date, medium, and size of each work. If included, slides must be labeled with slide number, applicant’s name, title of work, and date. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered.
In-person portfolio review and oral interview

Diversity among students is another consideration for acceptance into the program. Applicants with degrees in areas other than art are welcome, although they may be required to complete undergraduate core and studio courses.