Applicants to the Master of Art & Design program must specify concentration to be considered. Admission is based on review of the applicant’s portfolio, statement of intent, and academic record.A plan of study will be developed to account for previous academic and professional experiences.

1. Application Form and Fee
2. Official Transcript
3. Three Letters of Recommendation
4. Certification of English Proficiency
5. Residency Statement
6. Personal Data Form
7. Essay of Intent
8. Portfolio

Application Form and Fee

Downloadable application forms are available. The fee is $65 for U.S. applicants and $75 for international applicants. Checks for application must be made out to "North Carolina State University" in U.S. dollars for the amount specified.

Official Transcript

Applicants should upload an unofficial transcript for each institution attended into their online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted. 

Three Letters of Recommendation

Provide recommendations from at least three people who know your academic record and potential for graduate study. Online recommendation forms are contained in the online application. If, however, you elect to submit recommendations forms offline (paper), please mail to Graduate Admissions, NC State University, Campus Box 7701, Brooks Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695-7701.

Certification of English Proficiency

In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School, all international applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State.  This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways; however, some programs may require additional evidence of English proficiency:

• provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of 213 or higher(with at least 17 on two of the three sections with no section score below 13) on the computer-based test or 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45) on the paper-based test,
• be a citizen of a country where English is an official language and the language of instruction in higher education, or
• have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year U.S. college or university.

Residency Statement

Under North Carolina law, legal residence means more than simply living in the state. More specifically, it means maintaining a permanent home of indefinite duration as opposed to a temporary residence incident to enrollment in a university, college or technical institute of the state. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you wish to be considered for in-state residency for tuition purposes, you must complete several residentiary acts before you can begin the one-year (12-month) waiting period prior to applying for North Carolina residency. For full details, see Section 4.6 of the Graduate Administrative Handbook.

Personal Data Form

Provide a completed Personal Data Form.

Essay of Intent

The essay of intent should be a short narrative--no more than two typed pages--that outlines career goals and reasons for undertaking graduate education in Art and Design. It should address the specific reasons for applying to one of the concentrations offered: Fibers/Surface Design and Animation/Digital Imaging. The narrative should address past experience, accomplishments, future goals. The narrative should be supported by evidence in the portfolio.

The faculty recognize that each person applies to graduate school for very unique reasons, so we expect to see a sincere and individual account of the applicant's thinking.

Graduate education in the visual arts is highly competitive and rigorous. What is expected of graduate students is highly demanding, so we examine our applicants to insure that they are ready for the challenges and expectations they will face in study with us. We need a clear understanding of the applicant's expectations from the program to make sure there is a good fit.

Portfolio

The portfolio submitted to the Department along with the application package is the most critical element in the review for admission. Its purpose is to reveal the creative potential, breadth of experience, and discipline sophistication of the applicant.Review of your past work in conjunction with information gleaned from your essay of intent, allows the Faculty admissions committee to discern your aptitude for art and design work and readiness for graduate level.

The portfolio should be planned carefully to show your talents, interests, skills, and experience. It should specifically show preparedness or predisposition for success in your desired medium (fibers or animation). Include only your strongest work. Attend carefully to the portfolio format and quality of reproductions. Do not send out of focus, unclear images with confusing contexts. Do not include original artwork. Every effort will be made to handle the portfolios with care, but the department cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged work. Portfolios will be returned only if a self-addressed envelope or package with sufficient postage is included

Fibers: 20 slides or CD (MAC readable) of past work.
Emphasize past fiber work, or other work that makes the link to your fibers sensibility or interests. Include any relevant work, but do not exceed the 20-image limit. Please include some detail shots of textile surfaces.Include a slide inventory with information about materials, dates of execution, and ideas explored.

Animation: Electronic portfolio of past work (CD should be MAC readable).
Concentrate your selection on past animation work, digital images, drawing, and painting in a proportion that fits your experience.A short write-up about each piece submitted should be included to identify dates of execution, your concepts, and materials (when appropriate). Time-based work should take no longer than 10-15 minutes to review.