Northern Illinois University
School of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts

• M.A. degree - is a 30-credit hour program for graduate students wishing to pursue advanced study in art and design areas.
• M.F.A. degree - is a 60-credit hour terminal degree program, that prepares students for professions in the arts and college-level teaching.
• Both programs emphasize a dynamic mix of cross-disciplinary collaboration and problem-based inquiry.

Application Deadlines (fall entry only)

• February 1 - Priority Consideration for graduate admission with assistantship
• April 1 - Graduate admission only

Step 1

Apply via the Graduate School. Your application will include:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Official college transcripts
• Statement of purpose/goals
• Portfolio
  • Still Media: submit 15-20 works
    • Images should not exceed 1920 pixels on their longest side
    • The portfolio should be saved and uploaded as a single PDF.
    • All submissions must be accompanied by an information sheet (PDF file) containing the name of the applicant and a list of images with title, medium, dimensions and date.
  • Time-based Media: submit up to five works
    • Submit link(s) to time-based media hosted online
    • All submissions must be accompanied by an information sheet (PDF file) containing the name of the applicant and a list of the works with title, medium, dimensions, date and technical requirements as appropriate
• Artist statement
• Resume

Note: The GRE is not required for an M.A. or M.F.A. in Studio or Design.

Apply to the Graduate School

Step 2

If you are applying for a graduate assistantship, please fill out and email the following to artgradcoordinator@niu.edu

• Graduate assistantship application
• School of Art and Design Graduate Assistantship Questionnaire

The M.A. in Art History and Visual Studies is a 30 credit hour program for graduate students wishing to pursue advanced research in art history and/or the experience to teach at the two-year college level. When you enroll in our program at NIU, you join a close academic community. Our faculty members are not only recognized for their outstanding research in their special fields of study but also strongly committed to teaching you and seeing you excel.

Initial requests for information may be made by contacting the graduate coordinator at artgradcoordinator@niu.edu. 

Application Deadlines

• Fall entry: February 1 - Graduate admission with assistantship
• Spring entry: August 15 - Graduate admission only

Step 1: Apply via the Graduate School

Your application will include:

• Three letters of recommendation provided by academic references, such as university professors, or others who are qualified to speak to your academic skills or experiences in fields related to art history/visual studies
• Official college transcripts
• Statement of purpose/goals explaining why you would like to pursue a graduate degree in art history/visual studies generally and why you are applying to NIU in particular
• Writing sample of approximately 10 pages, such as a college research paper or critical essay on a topic relevant to the study of art history/visual studies that demonstrates your skill in research, analysis, and interpretation
• CV/Resume highlighting skills and experiences relevant to the study of art history/visual studies, such as languages, travel, museum/gallery experience etc. 

Apply to the Graduate School

Step 2: If you are applying for a graduate assistantship, please fill out and email the following to artgradcoordinator@niu.edu.  

• Graduate Assistantship Application
• School of Art and Design Graduate Assistantship Questionnaire

Our M.S. in Art and Design Education is for graduate students wishing to pursue advanced research and/or certification to teach art in a K-12 classroom.

Whether you already have a degree and are now looking to expand your skills, or are in pursuit of a preK-12 licensure in art education, you can increase your knowledge and continue your professional development within the field of art education. NIU's Art and Design Education program offers a comprehensive, supportive and diverse opportunities to create, learn and grow.

The M.S. in Art and Design Education requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work and successfully passing a comprehensive examination. We offer two tracks. Track 1 is blended and offers both in-person and online courses. Track 2 is online only. Most applicants for the M.S. in Art and Design Education (either track) are in-service teachers or have a career in community arts or museum education.

Education Licensure: The M.S. program with a specialization in art and design education plus educator licensure provides educator licensure for persons holding a baccalaureate degree who wish to complete requirements for the State of Illinois Standard Special (PK-12) License. Candidates who successfully complete the program and pass the state mandated Art Content Test will have completed all required ISBE and CAEP standards for receiving university recommendation for licensure.

To learn more about the M.S. in Art and Design Education, contact our M.S. advisors in Art and Design Education, Kryssi Staikidis at kstaikidis@niu.edu or Kelly Gross at kgross1@niu.edu.

Application Deadlines

• Fall entry rolling admissions (for priority consideration): March 1 - Graduate admission with assistantship
• Spring entry rolling admissions (for priority consideration): November 1 - Gradate admission only

Step 1: Apply via the Graduate School

Your application will include:

• Three professional letters of recommendation from people who have known you in a professional capacity.
• Official college transcripts
• Candidate statement of professional goals
• Writing sample
• CV/Resume

Note: The GRE is not required to apply for an M.S. in Art and Design Education

Apply to the Graduate School

If you are applying to our licensure program, your application should also include:

• Application Portfolio (see further instructions below)

Step 2 

If you wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship, please fill out and email the following to artgradcoordinator@niu.edu. 

• Graduate Assistantship Application
• School of Art and Design Graduate Assistantship Questionnaire

Application Portfolio Instructions 

Only applicants seeking to obtain educator licensure along with their degree must submit an application portfolio (unless you received a B.F.A. from NIU within the last five years.) Your portfolio should contain images of 15 works, eight of which should be drawings that demonstrate basic studio skills (drawing from observation, color theory, composition, etc.).

Image guidelines:

• Resolution of 300 dpi.
• Largest dimension should not exceed 10 inches (about 2,000 pixels).
• Label images to correspond to the information sheet.
• Upload your images in a single .pdf document.

Include an information sheet with the following details:

• Your name.
• List of works with title, medium, dimensions and date for each.

Our Ph.D. in Art and Design Education is a 60-credit program that prepares you to conduct research, improve your teaching and become an active leader in your field. Our program emphasizes research, theory, philosophical development, discovery and application of new knowledge about art and visual culture.

Application Deadlines

• Fall entry rolling admissions (for priority consideration): March 1 - graduate admission with assistantship
• Spring entry rolling admissions (for priority consideration): November 1 - graduate admission only

Step 1: Contact the Ph.D. Advisor in Art and Design Education

To learn more about the Ph.D. in Art and Design Education, contact our Ph.D. Advisor in Art and Design Education, Kerry Freedman, Ph.D. at kfreedman@niu.edu.

Step 2: Apply via the Graduate School

Your application will include:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Official college transcripts
• Candidate statement of professional goals
• Writing sample
• CV/Resume

Apply Now

Step 3: If you are applying for a graduate assistantship, please fill out and email the following to artgradcoordinator@niu.edu. 

• Graduate Assistantship Application
• School of Art and Design Graduate Assistantship Questionnaire