Apply
Applications for Fall 2025 are due on January 25, 2025, 11:59pm PST.
Prospective students, please apply for scholarships by April 1, 2025!
Application for the PSU Art + Social Practice MFA program must be completed by January prior to the Fall term in which the student intends to begin work towards the degree. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Lisa Jarrett (ljarrett@pdx.edu) and schedule a visit (virtual or in-person) to the program.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to a Zoom interview with head faculty and the entirety of the student body.
PSU’s School of Art + Design is a vital part of Portland’s progressive, nationally recognized arts community. Graduates from the program come from a variety of diverse backgrounds and have gone on to successfully engage with the expanded field of contemporary art through traditional and unorthodox avenues. More about admissions requirements can be found here or by emailing art@pdx.edu.
Application
A $65 non-refundable application fee and a $2 processing fee will be required to successfully complete the application. Payment can be made with a VISA or MasterCard.
In addition to the Portland State University Office of Graduate Studies application, the Social Practice MFA program requires a submission of a digital portfolio through SlideRoom.
- First, begin the application process through the Portland State University Office of Graduate Studies.
Application Information
Apply Here - Second, submit your portfolio for the Social Practice MFA program through SlideRoom.
- These have to be done by the Jan 25 deadline.
- Additionally, make sure you apply for scholarships by April 1, 2025. Prospective students who are accepted cannot apply for this year’s scholarships after enrollment.
Requirements
Applicants to the Art and Social Practice MFA Program must have a BS, BA or BFA undergraduate degree.
Application Materials
The Art + Social Practice MFA Program at Portland State University fosters creativity and an openness to the scope of social practice and therefore welcomes applicants from a variety of backgrounds and creative practices. These include but are not limited to: performance, writing, conceptual or visual art, design, curation, and of course, those with an already established socially-engaged practice. To make sure we are a good fit, please visit our website to learn more about social practice and the types of work created within the program.
Please submit a letter of introduction, digital portfolio of your creative work (including 1 chosen video prompt), a 1-page social practice curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of two references. No reference letter is required, references will be called if you are a finalist. Review specific details below:
Letter of Introduction
Your letter of introduction should illustrate your interest in studying social practice and how it relates to, supports or is your current practice. Tell us about your curiosities, what you want to learn in the coming years, and what special things you would bring to this creative community. Please include your website if you have one.
Digital Portfolio + Video Prompts
DIGITAL PORTFOLIO
Please upload to Slideroom 1- 20 portfolio media INCLUDING the three 3 minute VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS that respond to the prompts below. Please add titles or descriptions to the projects you share, including your position as artist, curator, or collaborator. Add videos to the ‘Add Media” section after your images or include a single PDF with a link to the video if it is hosted on YouTube or Vimeo.
VIDEO ASSIGNMENT PROMPTS (Respond to all of the 3 prompts listed below):
Complete three 3-Minute Video Assignment Prompts. While the video quality is not important (cell phone/webcam videos are acceptable), the videos are an important part of the application because they allow us to meet applicants in a more personal way.
Respond to the following THREE prompts and submit the videos to the digital portfolio.
PROMPT 1 OF 3: Tour of the highlights in your neighborhood: Create a short video of what you consider to be the highlights of your neighborhood (3 min maximum).
PROMPT 2 OF 3: Ask a stranger about the significance of the clothes they are wearing: Create a short video of you having a stranger describe for you the significance of the clothes they are wearing (3 min maximum).
PROMPT 3 OF 3: Demonstrate a talent: Create a short video where you demonstrate a talent (3 min maximum).
Social Practice CV
This is a one-page document. Format should be modeled after a standard CV, but instead of traditional academic or exhibition content it should focus on less orthodox but equally important aspects from your life, including experiences and research that have prepared you for being an Art + Social Practice MFA student.
References
Include three references and their email and phone number. No letter is required. They will only be contacted if you are a finalist.
REMINDER: This is Part 2 of your application to the Social Practice Contemporary Art MFA Program at Portland State University. If you have not filled out the application provided by Portland State University Office of Graduate Studies, you need to complete that portion of the application as well. Failure to complete both portions of the application may result in disqualification of your application. Portland State University’s and Art + Design Scholarship Application information, deadlines, and submission portal can be found here: https://www.pdx.edu/scholarships/home. This is a separate application process for current and prospective students. If you wish to be considered for scholarships as an incoming graduate student in Art + Social Practice, please apply here: https://www.pdx.edu/scholarships/home
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Office of Graduate Studies
Information about funding resources for graduate students may be found on the Graduate Studies website.
Financial Aid
A financial aid packet may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.
Each year, tuition assistance is available through Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships through Portland State University.
- Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are assigned to students each year. Assistantships provide students with opportunities to assist instructors and eventually teach their own course (optionally) in the third year of the program. They also provide tuition remission and a stipend.
- Scholarships are available through the College of the Arts and through Portland State University.
Questions
If you have any further questions, please contact Lisa Jarrett at ljarrett@pdx.edu, the School of Art + Design at askmfa@pdx.edu, or phone 1-800-547-8887, ext. 53515, or 503-725-3515.