Admission to the MA in Art & Design Education program at Vermont College of Fine Arts is highly selective. We seek candidates with strong and distinctive visual portfolios, a commitment to reflective practice, and who hold an alignment with the program's core philosophy. See below for application requirements and instructions. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have prior to submitting.

Admissions Requirements

• Any one of the following: K-12 Visual Art Teaching License, Media Arts Teaching License or equivalent license (PK-5, 7-12, etc.)
• Portfolio of own creative work
• Portfolio of students’ work
• Teaching portfolio (Teaching Philosophy, sample curricular documents with supporting visuals, CV)
• Names and contact information for two (2) references, with at least one (1) from an immediate supervisor.
• Statement of purpose

*Any coursework submitted for transfer must include full course syllabus (including reading list and assessment rubrics).

Admissions Process

Part I

Send each of the following directly to: ATTN: MA in Art & Design Education, Office of Admissions, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.

• Official college transcripts from each previously attended institution (unofficial transcripts can be submitted/uploaded as an attachment in Part III with official mailed transcripts to follow).
• A copy of your State Teaching License (may be submitted electronically, see Part III)

Part II

Applicants may apply to the program using VCFA’s Online Application form or by downloading the application and mailing it in. 

The online application facilitates the processing and review of your application -- including essays and recommendations. You will be able to save as you go and review all sections prior to final submission. Once your application has been submitted, we will contact you to confirm receipt and inform you of next steps and expectations.

If you'd like to mail in the application, please include a $75 non-refundable application fee (made payable to Vermont College of Fine Arts).

• Online Application Form
• Download Application Form

Part III

Submit the following materials online by signing up on Slideroom. It is important to sign up for the service early in the process to identify and email people providing letters of reference.

1. Teaching portfolio including statement of teaching philosophy, electronic file of teaching license, sample curricular documents with supporting visuals, and resume.
2. Provide contact information for two references. One of your contacts must be an immediate supervisor.
3. Portfolio of own creative work (10 images).
4. Portfolio of students' creative work (10 images).
5. Statement of Purpose Essay (maximum 1200 words/8000 characters) in which the applicant addresses the following questions: Why do you teach art/design? Why is VCFA the right program for you? How will the MA at VCFA impact your teaching practice? How has your teaching experience prepared you to contribute to a cohort of MA students at VCFA?