Portfolio Requirements

Programs in the School of Art and Design require a portfolio; please follow the instructions and program-specific requirements and deadlines below. Note that the portfolio is sent to the college’s Office of Graduate Student Affairs, not to Graduate Admissions Processing. Your Graduate School application should be submitted to Graduate Admissions Processing by the same deadline.

Please note that the School of Art and Design will be participating in the 2007 Graduate Portfolio Days. Click here for more information. 

  • Work must be recent and representative of the proposed major.
  • A separate portfolio is required for each program to which you apply.
  • Portfolios should not be placed in binders, folders, or carousels. Any binders, folders, or carousels sent with the portfolio will be discarded.
  • Do not send your portfolio to Graduate Admissions Processing. Send it to the program of study applied to in care of the Office of Graduate Student Affairs, College of Visual and Performing Arts, 204 Crouse College, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1010, USA.
  • A self-addressed stamped envelope must be included for the return of submitted work mailed from within the United States. Portfolios mailed from outside the United States will be returned if an International Reply Coupon is included. International Reply Coupons are sold at post offices in member countries of the Universal Postal Union. While care will be exercised to ensure the safe return of portfolios, the college cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage.

Program-Specific Portfolio Requirements and Deadlines

Art Education
Admission is through the School of Education. For information and deadlines, contact Liza Rochelson at 315-443-2505 or lrochels@syr.edu.

Ceramics, Fiber Arts/Material Studies, Illustration, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture
Fall admission only. CD, DVD, or slide portfolio of at least 12 and no more than 20 plastic- or cardboard-mounted 35mm color slides in slide sheet. All CDs, DVDs, and slides must be clearly marked with your name, address, and e-mail address. Each slide should also be clearly marked with the title, media, dimensions, date of work, and the artist’s name. Orientation should be indicated by "top" in the appropriate place. Please also include a slide list. Digital images on CD or DVD must be submitted as an Adobe (.pdf) or PowerPoint slide show (.pps). Images should not be larger than 1008 x 792. Include a hard copy list of images. Deadlines: January 1 if applying for McNair Graduate Fellowships or University African American Fellowships; February 1 for all other applicants.

Museum Studies
Fall admission only. An academic writing sample of no more than 10 pages and a resume are required. Please make sure your materials are clearly labeled with your name, address, and e-mail address. Deadlines: January 1 if applying for McNair Graduate Fellowships or University African American Fellowships; February 1 for all other applicants.