The MFA Program offers hands-on working experience in the media arts within the cooperative framework of a not-for-profit artist directed organization. All classes and facilities are located at the Visual Studies Workshop, one of the country's largest and most-respected not-for-profit artists' centers. Within this dynamic community-based organization, students are immersed in an environment of diverse activities that include exhibition, publishing, research, and education. This unique and flexible structure provides MFA students with unparalleled opportunities to develop and refine their own work while engaging in all aspects of visual culture, from idea formation and production through image interpretation.

Student Success: The integration of practice and theory has fostered an eminent student population that has demonstrated a high-level of professional engagement in the study of visual culture. Since 1968, our teaching environment, which encourages students to work in the various program areas and make connections among the photographic and media-based arts and society, has resulted in over 90% of VSW graduates remaining professionally active. Many graduates teach in schools, colleges, and universities; others hold curatorial positions; some direct museums, media centers, and non-profit organizations; while others write for or edit major periodicals or work as graphic and website designers. Many are also established photographers, independent media artists, book artists, producers, and art directors.

Facilities and Equipment

Facilities and equipment for MFA students include black-&-white, special-processes and large-format darkrooms; group work spaces; two Macintosh computer labs featuring facilities for computer design and imaging, bookmaking, digital video and multi-media production; a Media Center with screening/lecture space, and small-format video and 16mm film equipment with accompanying post-production labs; a Research Center that maintains a rich media arts library of 20,000 volumes, plus a periodical collection, a 800,000 photographic image collection, a pioneering archive of 4,000 artists' books and 4,000 artist video tapes. Graduate students have access to the resources of many area college and university libraries and local museums through the cooperative efforts of the Regional Library Council. VSW has an ongoing artist/critic/scholar residency program with an onsite residence apartment. Residents have included Dawood Beh, A. D. Coleman, Francois Deschamp, Carrie Mae Weems, Agnes Denes, Eric Renner, Clarissa Sligh, John Wood, and Ulises Carrion.

Financial Information & Student Support

Tuition for the MFA Program in Visual Studies, which is determined by SUNY Brockport, is very reasonable when compared to the tuition at private universities and art institutes. There are opportunities to teach in the undergraduate, evening, and weekend workshop programs. The possibility of work-study and second year graduate assistantships makes our program even more affordable. There is a special program to support minority students. We invite prospective graduate students to visit the facility and talk with faculty and students.

Application Process

For more information about the graduate program and for application materials, contact:

Visual Studies Workshop
MFA Program
31 Prince Street
Rochester, New York 14607

telephone: (585) 442-8676
fax (585) 442-1992
email: info@vsw.org

or

Admissions Office,
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, New York 14420-2915

SUNY Brockport

A portfolio with a concise statement about the work is required. It may consist of up to 40 high-quality 35mm slides (see guidelines), digital projects on a CD-ROM or DVD in a MAC based platform, or videotapes in VHS format. Include self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) or package for the return of visual materials.

In association with
SUNY College at Brockport

Cultural Resources

The Visual Studies Workshop is located in two historic buildings in Rochester's museum and cultural district. Often referred to as the Imaging Capital of the World, Rochester has an extensive history in the photographic arts that includes resources like the George Eastman House, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Strong Museum, The Rochester Museum of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester, The Eastman School of Music, the Rochester Philharmonic, Geva Theatre, St. John Fisher College, Nazareth College, Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb, Lumiere Photo, the Community Darkroom. There is immediate access to year round activities that include water sports on Lake Ontario, canoeing on the Genesee River, boating on the Erie Barge Canal, skiing, and walking the Frederick Law Olmsted designed parks system. There is a major downtown entertainment that includes baseball and hockey. Rochester is also ideally situated in relation to New York City, Buffalo, Syracuse, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

Program Requirements

The MFA Degree in Visual Studies is offered through SUNY College at Brockport. Classes are conducted at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York, with elective offerings at the main SUNY Brockport campus, which is about 20 miles west of Rochester. The intensive, full-time, two-and-a-half year program culminates in a semester of internship and the presentation of a final thesis project. This competitive program seeks mature, intellectually curious, and highly motivated individuals with backgrounds in all areas of study who desire a high degree of autonomy in designing their own course of studies. The program attracts a diverse student population from New York, other regions of the United States, as well as foreign countries. Applicants should have a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average in their undergraduate major. Candidates who lack certain prerequisite courses, but whose portfolio shows promise, may be required to take specific undergraduate or summer courses to make up for deficiencies. Students are provided with 24-hour facility access, giving them the ability to take full advantage of their artistic potential to independently explore and develop creative and socially meaningful projects.

A first semester full-time Core Program, required of all MFA students, consists of studio courses in which the processes, tools, and strategies of photography, digital imaging, film, video, and visual books are investigated. The first semester also includes a course in the history of photography, media arts or a critical seminar.

Coursework continues with studio classes in photography, digital imaging, film, video, and visual books. In addition, students take courses in media arts, media criticism and history and two academic electives. Also required are three classes in the Summer Institute series of intensive, one-week workshops, encompassing all program areas. These are conducted by staff and visiting faculty. Professional opportunities exist for students to teach in VSW's undergraduate evening courses and to participate in program areas including Afterimage: The Journal of Media Arts & Cultural Criticism, the Visual Studies Workshop Galleries, the Media Center, the Research Center, and in VSW Press activities such as print and website design projects.