Georgia Southern University

What you'll study

This graduate programme combines intensive studio practice with contextual study and professional development. Core areas of study typically include drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and digital/new media, alongside seminars in contemporary theory and art history. Students develop sustained bodies of work in a primary studio concentration while exploring elective or interdisciplinary approaches.

• Studio practice: advanced workshops and independent studio time focused on technique, materials and conceptual development within a chosen concentration.
• Seminars and theory: critical studies in contemporary art, theory, curatorial practice and research methods that situate studio work in broader contexts.
• Professional development: courses and workshops on exhibition planning, grant-writing, portfolio and artist statement development, and arts management.
• Thesis and exhibition: a final research component leading to a written thesis or artist statement and a public exhibition of graduate work.
• Electives and cross-disciplinary options: opportunities to take electives or collaborate with related departments to broaden technical skills and conceptual range.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised undergraduate degree, preferably in fine art or a closely related discipline, with a strong academic and studio record. Typical application materials include:

• Graduate application form and official undergraduate transcripts.
• A curated digital portfolio of recent studio work that demonstrates technical ability and conceptual development.
• A personal statement or artist statement outlining goals for graduate study and proposed areas of focus.
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees familiar with the applicant's work.
• A current CV or résumé showing exhibitions, commissions, teaching or relevant work experience.

Some applicants may be invited to an interview or portfolio review. International applicants must meet the university's English language proficiency requirements. Specific course prerequisites or minimum GPA expectations are assessed at admission and may vary by applicant and discipline.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a range of professional roles across the arts sector. Common career paths include:

• Practising professional artist exhibiting nationally and internationally.
• Gallery curator or exhibition organiser in public and commercial spaces.
• Arts administration and programme management for museums, community arts organisations and cultural institutions.
• Artist-educator roles in schools, community settings or after qualifying for formal teaching credentials; graduates may also pursue further academic study or research degrees to teach at the college level.
• Freelance creative careers such as design, public art projects, or roles combining studios practice with commissions and residencies.

Why study at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern offers a focused, studio-centred graduate environment with faculty who are active practitioners and scholars, providing mentorship across technical and conceptual aspects of contemporary art. The university's regional location delivers a balance of campus resources—dedicated studio space, workshops and access to academic libraries—with proximity to vibrant regional arts communities, creating exhibition and networking opportunities beyond the campus.

Graduate students benefit from small cohort sizes that support individual development, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts, and practical training in exhibition and professional practice. The programme also provides pathways to publicly visible outcomes such as thesis exhibitions, community-engaged projects and connections to local galleries and cultural organisations.