We are pleased to learn of your interest in studying art at the graduate level at San Jose State University. We offer two degree programs, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and the Master of Arts (MA).
The MFA is the advanced terminal degree most appropriate for the formal education of the studio artist and is preparation for college or university teaching. It is a 60 semester-unit program and usually requires 4 to 6 semesters to complete. Students specialize in one of four areas: Pictorial Arts, Spatial Arts, Photography, or Digital Media. Specific requirements include 12 units of Art History, 9 units (at least) in seminars, 6 units (minimum) in tutorials, and 6 units for the Thesis Exhibition. The remaining 27 units are electives and may be completed on the advanced studio class level, in tutorials, and/or in related classes in other departments. For more detailed information on requirements, see the University Catalog.

The MA degree is offered in the following disciplines: Art Education, Art History, Digital Media in Art History & Education.

Also included with this document, you will find additional information on specific program offerings, technical facilities, and faculty specialization. For additional information contact the Graduate Advisor, School of Art & Design, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0089.

Sincerely,
Linda Walsh, Art Graduate Advisor

Download the Graduate Brochure 2006-07 (PDF)

Master of Fine Arts

Master of Arts:

Art History

The Master of Arts in Art History is designed to train community college teachers, research personnel, museum curators, art administrators, conservators, and slide librarians. Also, it prepares students seeking a graduate library degree with specialization in art history or in the application of computers to art history or for continuing for the Ph.D. degree.

Applicants need not have a B.A. in Art History to apply to the graduate program, but they should have completed several art history courses and be able to submit sample papers to demonstrate their skills in art historical analysis and research. Mastery of foreign languages relevant to the applicant’s desired area of research is highly desirable. Appropriate areas of research are Asian, African, Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, and Contemporary Art as well as Contemporary Theory and Criticism and Art by Women.

There are approximately 30,000 books on art, 5,000 volumes of bound art periodicals, and a Special Collection of rare books in the University library. The Slide Collection of the School of Art & Design contains more than 200,000 slides. Slide room staff are actively experimenting with digital access for image storage and retrieval.

Art Education

The Master of Arts degree in Art Education has been designed to provide practicing teachers with opportunities to work with University faculty and other arts professionals in a program designed to increase their skills and knowledge in both art and education. It is expected that graduates will assume leadership roles in the State-wide efforts to provide comprehensive, sequential school and community arts education programs for youngsters in kindergarten through grade twelve.

Appropriate topics for graduate study include the following: art studio practice; the teaching of art history, criticism, and aesthetics; the history, philosophy and politics of art education; curriculum, staff development and assessment; multicultural art; the correlation of art with other school subjects; and child growth and development in art.

The program is flexible and draws upon the course offerings and faculty expertise that exist in various departments around the campus. Students entering the program are required to have a background of at least three years of successful teaching, a 3.0 grade point average from the most recent 30 units of university work, three letters of reference, and a letter of intent stating their interest in infusing the arts into school and community programs.
Please contact the above program offices directly for further information on specific programs, application forms, and deadlines.

Read the application procedure
Download Academic Summary Form (PDF)
Download the Graduate Brochure 2006-07 (PDF)
Download the MA Application 2006-07 (PDF)

Support Facilities

Graduate Studio Spaces

There are 40 spaces available to the graduate students. We attempt to assign them equally to all areas (Pictorial, Spatial, Photo and Digital), but proposed use and availability are taken into account. New students should apply as soon as they have determined their studio space needs. One must be enrolled in an average of 6 classes (18 units) per year to qualify for space, and spaces are assigned for no longer than 5 semesters.

Art & Design Shops

The School of Art and Design’s Shops, housed on the first floor of the Art Building, contain 5500 square feet of diversified shop space. These shops include a complete wood and plastics fabrication shop, a machine shop, a sheet metal shop, and a walk-in spray booth. Also available are a completely equipped stretcher bar and frame making area and full mat cutting facilities.

Graduate Teaching/Technical Assistantships

Currently, there are approximately 20 Graduate Assistantships available each semester. Of these, 15 are teaching positions, 5 are technical. The Teaching Associates teach one class per semester, which pays $3,162. The appointments normally are granted for two semesters. The Graduate Assistant technical positions involve overseeing various technical activities in the Painting area, the Main Gallery, the Foundry, and the Computer lab, as well as readers for Art History. These positions pay $2,000 per semester and are also assigned typically for two semesters.

Teaching Associates are assigned classes in core courses—Beginning Drawing, Expressive Drawing, Representational Drawing, 2D and 3D Design, Color, as well as beginning classes in specific studio areas. Though TAs work under the supervision of full-time faculty and meet with them frequently, they are completely responsible for their own classes.

To be eligible for a Teaching Associate position one must have prior college teaching experience or have taken Art 276, “Artists Teaching Art” seminar. In addition, you must have at least a 3.3 G.P.A. at SJSU.

CADRE

The CADRE Institute (Computers in Art & Design/Research and Education) is an interdisciplinary research program dedicated to development and experimental applications of new media technology. CADRE Institute programs provide for a state-of-the-art computing facility within the School of Art & Design. The interdisciplinary focus of academic degree programs in Digital Media offer unparalleled opportunity for study in conjunction.

San Jose State University’s prominence in Silicon Valley serves to stimulate industry sponsorship of research projects ranging from development of distributing learning systems for art education and history to virtual reality and high bandwidth networking. The CADRE Institute is developing an exhibition and electronic publishing program dedicated exclusively to art and technology. CADRE has hosted three national conferences addressing current trends in computer graphics and interactive media.

The Institute’s computer facility is among the best available. The laboratory includes Silicon Graphics, IBM, Sun and Apple computer workstations complemented with software for imaging, modeling, and animation. Recording systems include a digital video editing suite, optical video disk, and CD-ROM mastering. The CADRE Institute is complemented by an associate academic program in Electro-Acoustic music.

Art and Design Galleries

San Jose State University has a unique and expansive gallery program that encompasses a professional gallery (The Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery), and seven student galleries. The 6 professional exhibitions that are presented annually in The Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery are usually guest curated by members of the Bay Area Arts community. The Guest Curator Program mirrors the cultural diversity that is the heart of San Jose.

Exhibitions change weekly in the seven student galleries; there are some 200 exhibitions of student art work annually. This unusual opportunity for students to have solo exhibitions is one of the reasons San Jose State’s School of Art & Design is exceptional. Art History students have the opportunity to curate or assist with historical exhibitions.

The South Bay has a developing arts community. Downtown San Jose boasts a new addition to its fine arts museum, a range of not-for-profit art spaces, and a growing number of commercial art galleries. Close by are the Triton Museum of Art, the deSaisset Museum of Art at Santa Clara University, and a wealth of museums and galleries in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley.

For further information on specific programs, application forms,
and deadlines, please contact these offices directly . . .

Director, School of Art & Design
Linda Walsh 408.924.4345
Associate Director of Art History
Kathleen Cohen 408.924.4359
Associate Director of Design
Tomasz Migurski 408-924-4538
Associate Director of Fine Art
David Middlebrook 408.924.4687
Art Education Coordinator
Pamela Sharp-El Shayab 408.924.4395
Industrial Design Coordinator
Tomasz Migurski 408.924.4538
Photography Coordinator
Brian Taylor 408.924.4692
Computer Art Advisor
Joel Slayton 408.924.4368
Director Of Galleries
Jo Farb Hernandez 408.924.4328

Other campus office phone numbers for additional information: . . .

Admissions and Records 408.924.7500
Career Planning and Placement Student Employment 408.924.6030
Child Day Care 408.293.2288
Continuing Education 408.924.2600
Financial Aid 408.924.6100
University Graduate Studies & Research 408.924.4280
Housing 408.924.6160
Campus Information Center 408.924.1000
International Programs 408.924.2482
International Student Advisor 408.924.5920
International Student Services 408.924.5922
Re-Entry Advisement Program 408.924.5930
Spartan Bookstore Customer Service 408.924.1828
Testing and Evaluations 408.924.5980
Veteran's Affairs 408.924.2029

Please contact these offices directly for further information on specific programs, application forms, and deadlines.

For additional information contact the
Art Graduate Advisor, Linda Walsh
School of Art and Design,
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0089.

or:

Deborah Wijas
Graduate Secretary
School of Art and Design,
San Jose State University,
One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0089.
Phone: (408) 924 - 4346
Fax: (408) 924 - 4326
Email:dwijas@email.sjsu.edu