Admission
The M.A. in Studio Practice for Art Educators (Hybrid) considers the whole person when evaluating applicants and does not require the GRE. We look forward to reviewing your application!
Upcoming Start Date
As this is a cohort program, you have one opportunity to begin the program each year during Summer A, which is the online session.
Upcoming Semester:
Summer A: May 22, 2025
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, individuals must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in visual art or art education.
Candidates should already be teaching certified, or not seeking teaching certification—certification is not a prerequisite for entry into the program. Individuals who qualify as candidates include current teachers in private, public, charter, and international schools or settings, including those who teach in studios or community organizations. We also welcome applicants who have earned teaching certification via an undergraduate program.
The summer residencies are a core feature of the program; therefore, all students must be permanent residents or citizens of the United States. International students are encouraged to explore alternative programs that align with their academic goals.
Application Process
We accept applications on the following admission schedule. *Please note: Applicants who submit their materials by the priority deadline are considered first for financial aid availability.
| Semester Start | Application Deadline | Residency Start |
|---|---|---|
| Summer A: May 22, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | Summer Residency: July 7, 2025 |
Application Materials
To be considered for the program, candidates should have the following:
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Must have a prior degree in visual art (baccalaureate or graduate) and/or an active art practice.
- Is a practicing visual art educator (in any context).
As part of the application process, all candidates must submit these materials:
- Completed online application, including $75 non-refundable application fee
- Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- All transcripts from institutions outside the United States require a course-by-course evaluation. Both WES and ECE are still accepted.
- If you received your baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree from an institution where English is not the sole official language of instruction, you must submit official TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency exam scores.
- Statement of purpose, reflecting professional plans and creative interests
- Two letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional)
- CV/Resume
- Sample of academic writing
- No longer than 10-15 pages in length and must be research based. The sample should demonstrate your scholarly thinking, writing skills, and ability to do research and synthesize information. Examples of this can include undergraduate or graduate theses, research papers, or literature reviews. The sample may be made up of several papers.
- Portfolio – Required:
- Artist statement
- 10-20 examples of personal artwork
Optional:
- Examples of student artwork and related curriculum documentation
Teacher certification is not a prerequisite for entry into the program.
No GRE or minimum GPA requirement.
In order to be admitted into the program, the applicant must be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States. Teachers College is unable to facilitate the visa process for the program’s residency component and therefore cannot accept international students. International students are encouraged to explore alternative programs that align with their academic goals.
Instructions for Transcripts, Statement of Purpose, Examples of Personal Artwork, and CV
Transcripts
As part of a complete application for admission, students must submit transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions they have attended.
Students who have attended institutions within the United States may upload scanned copies as part of their applications to TC; these transcripts are considered unofficial, but can be used for the purpose of admission review.
Upon enrollment, students must have their issuing institutions submit final, official copies of their transcripts directly to Teachers College via mail or secure electronic transmission.
Transcripts can be mailed to:
Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street
Box 302
New York, NY 10027
International Transcripts
All transcripts from institutions outside the United States require a course-by-course evaluation. We accept evaluations from these agencies:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
WES and ECE provide several types of evaluations. Select the course-by-course evaluation option to ensure your evaluation meets our requirements for admission review. Once submitted to Teachers College (TC), the evaluation becomes an official academic record and sole property of Teachers College. Evaluations will be reviewed by Teachers College administrators and the determination of degree equivalency to U.S. degrees is at the discretion of TC.
English Proficiency
If you received your baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree from an institution where English is not the sole official language of instruction, you must submit official TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency exam scores. These scores must be sent directly from the testing administrator and have been taken within the past two years to be considered official.
- TOEFL Minimum score requirement: 100 internet-based (IBT) or 600 paper-based (PBT)
- IELTS Minimum score requirement: 7.0
Statement of Purpose
When reviewing a statement of purpose, the admission committee carefully considers the applicant’s ability to relate their background and experience to the goals of Teachers College and the M.A. in Studio Practice for Art Educators (Hybrid).
Write a statement that is two to three double-spaced pages in length.
Be sure to describe:
- Your artistic, academic, and professional background
- Your plans for graduate school
- Your professional goals
- How and why you are a good fit for the program
Examples of Personal Artwork
Submit each example of your artwork as a JPEG or video. Include the following information for each example:
- Your First Name
- Your Last Name
- Title of the Work
- Date of the Work (year)
- Medium
- Size (in inches, height x width x depth [if applicable])
- Duration (for time-based work)
CV/Resume
Your resume should be a standard professional CV/resume, which could be a chronological listing of your employment and educational history, artistic and academic endeavors, and other significant activities.