Mason School of Art | Portfolio Review
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Portfolio Review

BA and BFA Portfolio Guidelines

For all BA and BFA candidates, consideration for admission is competitive and requires the following:

  • One-page, double-spaced essay that describes the candidate’s interest in a studio art degree
  • 3.00 cumulative GPA overall
  • Portfolio of 10 to 15 original examples of current or college level work

For Students who are accepted into the BA and want to declare the BFA:
For current Mason students in the School of Art BA program who wish to change to the BFA program, application deadlines are at the end of the sixth week of the fall and spring semesters each year by 5pm. Students MUST receive at least one critique by an AVT faculty member in their concentration prior to submitting their portfolio.

Your application must include:

  • Your completed application form
  • A two-page artist’s statement explaining why you want to pursue a BFA and what you intend to do as an artist.
  • Your portfolio including 10-15 examples of college level work (over 2/3rds of your work must be concentration specific).
  • A numbered and printed list of work submitted (including your name, title of work, medium, and size).

Full-time AVT faculty in the student’s concentration area will review submitted portfolios. Applicants will be notified via their Mason email accounts of the results of the review.

Undergraduate BA and BFA Portfolio Review Guidelines for: Freshman, Transfer, Current GMU and SOA Students

Completion of a successful portfolio review is mandatory to be fully matriculated into the School of Art for all BA and BFA candidates.

For Freshman Applicants:

Successful completion of a portfolio review is required to be accepted into the School of Art.

All portfolio reviews require the following to be submitted either digitally or in-person:

  • A one-page, double-spaced essay that describes the candidate’s interest in studio art degree, including possible area of concentration (sculpture, graphic design, etc.), and desired degree path (BA or BFA)
  • 10 to 15 original examples of current or college level work. Work examples should include observational drawing and at least one other media

Online portfolio reviews are submitted through SlideRoom. Instructions are posted on the SlideRoom site.

We also highly encourage in-person portfolio reviews for Freshmen applicants as these allow for an interchange not possible online. In-person reviews allow applicants who seek specific information about our program, financial assistance, or specific feedback about their work to interact directly with our faculty. On campus face-to-face reviews have the same effect as online reviews, and students will be accepted, denied or deferred at the time of the review. In-person reviews may be scheduled may be scheduled via email at avt@gmu.edu or by phone (703) 993-8898.

Currently enrolled freshmen who have not had a portfolio prior to GMU admission must schedule a review at the completion of their first semester of taking studio classes. These are face-to-face reviews, and may be scheduled via email at avt@gmu.edu or by phone (703) 993-8898.

In addition to on campus in-person reviews we also attend National Portfolio Day events at various venues across the country. Please check schedule below for 2019–20 NPD dates where the School of Art faculty will be attending . (these are updated periodically):

  • Saturday September 14, 2019 – Atlanta, Georgia
  • Saturday, September 28, 2019 – Austin, Texas
  • Saturday October 05, 2019 – Richmond, Virginia
  • Sunday October 13, 2019 – Boston, Massachusetts
  • Sunday October 20, 2019 – Chicago, Illinois
  • Saturday October 26, 2019 – New York, New York
  • Sunday October 27, 2019 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Saturday November 02, 2019 – DC (Fairfax, Virginia)
  • Sunday November 03, 2019 – Baltimore, Maryland
  • Sunday November 17, 2019 – San Francisco, California
  • Sunday January 26, 2020 – Sarasota, Florida

Please visit the Admissions website for application deadlines.

If you have any questions about the Undergraduate Portfolio Review, please call the main School of Art office, (703) 993-8898 or email, avt@gmu.edu.

For Transfer Applicants

All transfer students are required to successfully complete portfolio reviews as a part of their admissions application process for either the BA or BFA degree; the application will not be complete without a successful portfolio review. As a reminder, transfer students are required to submit official transcripts of all college-level coursework.

All portfolio reviews for transfer students must be made online. Online portfolio reviews are submitted through SlideRoom. Instructions are posted on the SlideRoom site, and will include the following to be submitted:

  • A one-page, double-spaced essay that describes the candidate’s interest in a studio art degree, including possible area of concentration (sculpture, graphic design, etc.) and desired degree path (BA or BFA)
  • 10 to 15 original examples of current or college level work. Work examples should include observational drawing and at least one other media

If you have any questions about the Undergraduate Portfolio Review, please call the main School of Art office, (703) 993-8898 or email, avt@gmu.edu.

For current School of Art students who wish to convert from a BA to a BFA degree track

Application deadlines are at the end of the sixth week of the fall and spring semesters each year by 4pm. Students MUST receive at least one critique by a full-time AVT faculty member in their concentration prior to submitting their portfolio.

Your application must include:

  • Your completed application form
  • A two-page artist’s statement explaining why you want to pursue a BFA and what you intend to do as an artist
  • Your portfolio including 10 to 15 examples of college level work (over 2/3rds of your work must be concentration specific)
  • A numbered and printed list of work submitted (including your name, title of work, medium, and size. Full-time AVT faculty in the student’s concentration area will review submitted portfolios. Applicants will be notified via their Mason email accounts of the results of the review.

If you have any questions about the Undergraduate Portfolio Review, please call the main School of Art office, (703) 993-8898 or email, avt@gmu.edu.

For current GMU students who want to change majors and declare the Art and Visual Technology major

In-person reviews may be scheduled via email at avt@gmu.edu or by phone (703) 993-8898.

All portfolios must include:

  • A one-page, double-spaced essay that describes the candidate’s interest in a studio art degree, including possible area of concentration (sculpture, graphic design, etc.) and desired degree path (BA or BFA)
  • 10 to 15 original examples of current or college level work. Work examples should include observational drawing and at least one other media

Current GMU students priority dates are the first Tuesday and Thursday of each month of the semester. Please plan accordingly and do not wait until the last minute as appointments fill quickly.

If you have any questions about the Undergraduate Portfolio Review, please call the main School of Art office, (703) 993-8898 or email, avt@gmu.edu.

MFA in Visual and Performing Arts Portfolio Review Guidelines

The applicant’s portfolio is a major selection criterion for graduate admission and should represent the applicant’s most accomplished work. Upon applying for a Master’s program candidates must submit a portfolio, statement of intent and professional goals, and three letters of reference through SlideRoom. Access to SlideRoom will be given upon filing an application for the MFA or MA degrees in visual arts. For more information, contact School of Art office at 703-993-8898. Portfolio requirements are different for each graduate area of emphasis and are listed below. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered.

Portfolio Requirements by Area of Emphasis 

InterArts: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date. Videos and Flash files (no more than four minutes for each section) must be playable through SlideRoom. In case of collaborative work, the applicant’s role should be clearly stated. If writing-based materials are submitted, they should be submitted in printed form.

New Media Arts: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date. Videos and Flash files (no more than four minutes for each section) must be playable through SlideRoom. Only the relevant parts of the video should be marked for viewing, with the applicant’s role clearly stated.

Painting: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date.

Photography: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date.

Printmaking: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date.

Sculpture: 20 images submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with: name of artist, title and date.

Master of Arts in Teaching Portfolio Review Guidlines

The applicant’s portfolio is a major selection criterion for graduate admission and should represent the applicant’s most accomplished work. Upon applying for a Master’s program candidates must submit a portfolio, statement of intent and professional goals, and three letters of reference through SlideRoom. Access to SlideRoom will be given upon filing an application for the MFA or MA degrees in visual arts. For more information, contact School of Art office at 703-993-8898. Portfolio requirements are different for each graduate area of emphasis and are listed below. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered.

Portfolios will be submitted through SlideRoom. The link for submission will sent to applicants via email after submission of the online application.

  • MAT I: portfolio must include 15 to 20 images that reflect artistic breadth and depth, including drawing skills of the applicant’s art.
  • MAT II: portfolio must include 10 images of the applicant’s personal art that reflect artistic breadth and depth, including drawing skills, along with 10 student art works displaying a variety of 2-D and 3-D media. Student artwork is to be accompanied by a brief description of the lesson content.
  • Art Ed Licensure Certificate: portfolio must include 15 to 20 images that reflect artistic breadth and depth, including drawing skills of the applicant’s art.

Master of Arts in Graphic Design Portfolio Review Guidelines

The applicant’s portfolio is a major selection criterion for graduate admission and should represent the applicant’s most accomplished work. Upon applying for a Master’s program candidates must submit a portfolio, statement of intent and professional goals, and three letters of reference through SlideRoom. Access to SlideRoom will be given upon filing an application for the MFA or MA degrees in visual arts. For more information, contact School of Art office at 703-993-8898. Portfolio requirements are different for each graduate area of emphasis and are listed below. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered.

Portfolios should include 20 samples of design work submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with name of artist, title, and date. Videos and Flash files (no more than 4 minutes for each section) must be playable through SlideRoom. In case of collaborative work, the applicant’s role should be clearly stated.

MFA in Visual and Performing Arts, Concentration Graphic Design Portfolio Review Guidelines

The applicant’s portfolio is a major selection criterion for graduate admission and should represent the applicant’s most accomplished work. Upon applying for a Master’s program candidates must submit a portfolio, statement of intent and professional goals, and three letters of reference through SlideRoom. Access to SlideRoom will be given upon filing an application for the MFA or MA degrees in visual arts. For more information, contact School of Art office at 703-993-8898. Portfolio requirements are different for each graduate area of emphasis and are listed below. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered.

Portfolios should include 20 samples of design work submitted through SlideRoom. Samples must be labeled with name of artist, title, and date. Videos and Flash files (no more than 4 minutes for each section) must be playable through SlideRoom. In case of collaborative work, the applicant’s role should be clearly stated.