MFA in Photography in San Jose United States | San Jose State University

Attaining candidacy signifies that the graduate student has demonstrated full readiness to complete the final phase of the MFA - Art program and qualifies to register for ART 298A - MFA Special Study and ART 298B - MFA Project. To achieve candidacy, students must fulfill university criteria for candidacy admission as specified in this catalog. All graduate students must satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) to progress to candidacy. For GWAR-approved graduate courses, visit the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluation site at www.sjsu.edu/gape. Furthermore, students must:

Establish their MFA project committee by securing signatures from at least three faculty members (including two art faculty) to serve on their committee. The chair must be a full-time art faculty member from the student's primary area of focus. This committee must endorse the student's proposed MFA - Art study plan no later than one month before the semester preceding their final project.
Submit a university-compliant study proposal using the Departmental Request for Candidacy form from Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations, adhering to university deadlines. The art graduate committee and College of Graduate Studies must approve this proposal before MFA - Art consideration.
Successfully complete the Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) Review. This involves presenting original work in a department gallery during any semester. Applicants must secure signatures from two faculty members (including one from their focus area) willing to serve on their final project committee. Passing this review is mandatory before submitting the Departmental Request for Candidacy and enrolling in ART 298A and ART 298B.
For more details about candidacy advancement, consult the Art & Art History Department Office.