Art and Design, MA

Contact Information

Program Description

This MA was developed in alignment with the standards established by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design while encompassing the values of Kennesaw State, the College of the Arts and the School of Art and Design. These values are reflected in our commitment to: rigorous transformational student experience; the exploration of essential expressions of the human condition; and multiple orientations for the simultaneous development of advanced scholarship in professional practice and community engagement.

The MA with a major in Art and Design prepares leaders in artistic industries with embodied professional practice and pedagogy, as well as local and global engagement. Students engage in collaborative inquiry with disciplinary experts to solve problems at an advanced level.  This integrated degree mirrors our desire to break free of the limits of discipline-specific constraints by including concentrations in Digital Animation, Museum Studies and Art Education. When students complete this degree program they demonstrate competencies in:

• Critical inquiry, research, and creative practice
• Innovative techniques and technologies to work in art and design
• Transferring skills and knowledge base across disciplines to think critically and to connect research to problem solving in creative activity
• Diverse historical, contemporary culture and contexts
• Collaborate on our core values for the development of a personal narrative that intrinsically values art . 

Concentrations

Students select one of three concentrations: 

1. Digital Animation Concentration: Students in this concentration will pursue advanced creative problems in digital media including frame-to-frame animation, rigged animation, storyboarding, and visual development for film and game media. The program also challenges students to professional levels of research, communication of their ideas, and critical ideation and development of their concepts. Upon completing the degree students will be prepared for advanced animation careers and pursuits. 

2. Art Education Concentration: The MA concentration in Art Education is designed for teachers who are currently teaching (nationally and internationally) and have licensure, as well as for individuals who are interested in careers within the field of art education that do not require teaching licensure. The concentration focuses on theory-informed practice and the development of student-centered, innovative teaching and learning skills. Teachers/individuals will develop methods that facilitate opportunities for students of a broad range of ages and abilities to think critically and solve problems creatively. This concentration in Art Education aligns with The National Visual Arts Standards, and SACS and NASAD requirements for accreditation.

3. Museum Studies Concentration: Students in this concentration will gain knowledge of the diversity and function of museums on a local, regional, national, and global level, and their contributions to society. Students will acquire familiarity with the practical aspects of the study, exhibition, conservation, storage of artifacts, artworks, documents, and other objects in museums. A central focus of this concentration is the understanding of the role of museums in research, and their contribution to other disciplines as well as the methods used by museums to educate and disseminate information. Students will have the opportunity to specialize in a particular field of choice. Ultimately students will demonstrate familiarity with communicating topics and issues connected to the world of museums, the art market, libraries, archives, and non-profits.

Admission Requirements

The following are requirements beyond the general Graduate Admissions  requirements. 

• Transcripts - Official transcripts from EACH College and/or University you have attended. Must be in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically from the institution directly to ksugrad@kennesaw.edu.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) - Bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 in any related field including but not limited to: art, design, animation, education, history, art history, classical studies, archeology, or anthropology.  Applicants with relevant experience are welcome to apply.
• Letter of Application (Upload into the online application) - Should be in the form of a narrative which describes your education, relevant experience, and/or professional background, your future goals, and how admission into the MA in Art and Design program at Kennesaw State University will help you accomplish these goals. The letter should be specific to the program and should be 2 double-spaced pages in length.
• Art and/or Writing Sample, relevant to concentration (Upload into the online application).
• Digital Animation: A demo reel of animation or related work (illustration, sequential art, etc.) between thirty and sixty seconds in length. The content of the demo reel can be related to any undergraduate (or graduate-level) academic coursework and/or any professional work.
• Art Education: 5 pieces of art (any medium or modality) and a page teaching philosophy.
• Museum Studies: One 5-10 page writing sample.  This may take the form of a class research paper, capstone, thesis, publication, curatorial proposal, museum education materials, or grant proposal.  
• Resumé/CV 
• Letters of Recommendation (Optional) - Two (2) letters of recommendation concerning your academic and/or professional preparation for the MA in Art and Design program at KSU.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credits from outside institutions are permitted for this program.

Petition to Graduate

Each candidate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The candidate should contact their program to request a petition. For more information, please view the corresponding section of  Academic Policies . 

Program of Study