How to Apply

The School of Art only reviews applicants for fall admission. We do not currently offer spring admission. Admission to a graduate degree program at CSULB is a two-part process that requires application to and acceptance by both the University and the School of Art. There are two separate applications, reviewed by separate groups of university staff and School of Art faculty. Both need to be submitted before the deadline of February 15th. Individual programs may conduct interviews, in which case they will contact you directly.

Application Requirements

  1. CSULB / Cal State Apply Application: available Oct. 1 - Feb. 15th;
  2. $70 application fee, payable online only through Cal State Apply;
  3. Official sealed transcripts from the college or university you earned your bachelor's degree, sent electronically or mailed directly;
  4. Any additional materials as requested by the university.
  5. In addition, International Students should review current admissions requirements on the International Admissions website.
  6. School of Art Slideroom Application: available Nov. 1 - Feb. 15th. There is no fee for the School of Art application. You will need to create a Slideroom account if you don’t have one already and select the program you would like to apply to.
  7. PDF (unofficial) copies of your transcripts.
  8. Two letters of recommendation. You will enter email addresses for your recommenders through Slideroom. They will be contacted and will upload their recommendations directly to Slideroom.
  9. CV or resumé.
  10. Additional Supplementary materials based on the program you are applying to, as described below.

Supplementary Materials

MA Art History Supplementary Materials

  1. Writing Sample: Your writing sample should demonstrate potential for original academic research as well as strong interpretive and writing skills. Most applicants will submit a term paper they have completed in an undergraduate Art History course or as their senior thesis. Your writing sample should be ten to twelve pages long, double spaced, not including bibliography. Illustrations are not required.
  2. Art History Pre-Requisites: You will need to list the courses you have taken to meet the required MA Art History program pre-requisites (detailed below) and upload unofficial transcripts that reflect these courses.  If you are self-taught or a native speaker and do not have academic language coursework, in your application you will be able to state your intention to demonstrate language proficiency through an in-house exam.
  3. Statement of Purpose: Please present your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the School of Art at CSULB. Your statement should be 1-2 pages long, double-spaced. In your statement, you may want to answer some of the following questions:  
    1. Why is CSULB the best place for you to pursue your academic and research goals?
    2. What are your primary research interests in art history and, if applicable, in other disciplines?
    3. Which specific CSULB faculty you would you like to work with?
    4. What additional experiences have prepared you for graduate study in Art History, and what skills have you gained from these experiences? Some examples might include past employment, educational experiences, teaching, service to the community, or other areas where you developed leadership or written and oral communication skills. You are also welcome to describe past publications, presentations, awards, or recognition you have received.
    5. What are your goals after earning this degree? 

CSULB Prerequisites for Graduate Admission

An applicant may be accepted if, in addition to having satisfied requirements set by the School of Art for the degree concentration, the applicant has satisfied the following minimum university standards. To qualify for admission in conditionally classified graduate standing, these conditions need to be met:

  1. Applicant holds an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or has, as determined by an appropriate CSULB authority, completed equivalent academic preparation in a university outside the United States;
  2. Applicant has attained a grade-point average of at least 2.5* (A = 4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted;
  3. Applicant has been in good standing at the last college attended.

MA in Art History Prerequisites

Applicants must complete prerequisite coursework approved by the Art History faculty to include:

  • 3 units of AH 448 (or equivalent theory and criticism coursework);
  • 9 additional upper-division units of Art History;
  • and four sequential semesters (or the equivalent) of a college-level foreign language appropriate to the applicant's intended area of research with a 3.0 grade point average or better in these courses. Please note that admitted students may complete the foreign language prerequisite by completing the required coursework or by passing a departmentally administered foreign language exam by the end of the second semester of study.

Acceptance to a degree program in Art

After submitting the School of Art application materials, those who pass the program review are recommended by the faculty to be admitted as either Classified or Conditionally Classified. A Classified Graduate has satisfied all prerequisites. A Conditionally Classified Graduate has outstanding prerequisites to complete. Acceptance is not complete until the applicant has received both notification of acceptance from the School of Art and a formal letter of acceptance from the CSULB Office of Enrollment Services. Acceptance decisions are normally sent out before April 15th for fall admission.

Transfer Units

Transfer units are allowed on a case-by-case basis and must have been completed within the 7-year limit.