Graduate Departmental Requirements: Communications Design M.F.A. (Fall only), Brooklyn campus

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School of Design

We seek applicants who are highly motivated critical thinkers that can flourish in self-directed practice. We place great value on epistemic curiosity and the desire to experiment with a variety of technologies, forms, and techniques. Applicants must be able to work on multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, and energetically persist through challenges and difficulties in their research and design making. We do not require an undergraduate degree in design, in fact, we welcome applicants from diverse undergraduate studies who indicate a strong disposition toward advanced study in design. All applicants must submit a portfolio of work to be reviewed by an Admissions Committee composed of faculty. The portfolio must include:

  1. A visual response to the prompt: “What is a line, and what can it do?” We do not expect a polished submission, but one that can be generated in a few hours of work.
  2. A minimum of 7 and no more than 10 examples of creative work, including the visual response. This work may consist of visual explorations, design, research, and/or professional work and other relevant projects that demonstrate your interest and aptitude in communications design. Work included in the portfolio may be course assignments done in an undergraduate or graduate program, self-generated, or professional projects. 

The applicant’s portfolio should demonstrate creative potential and provide enough information about you to determine whether or not this program is appropriate for you. Up to six credits of qualifying courses may be required for applicants who do not meet all entrance standards, but whose applications indicate a strong aptitude for graduate study. Submit a portfolio online at pratt.slideroom.com

All applicants must submit a statement of purpose which should be no more than 500 words. In the text, you must discuss which of the program’s Learning Outcomes (found on this page) resonates the most with you and how you imagine you might address it in your design praxis.

A TOEFL of 85 (internet and home test), TOEFL ITP Plus for China of 563, IELTS of 6.5, or PTE of 57 is required for international students.