Apply to the MFA Programs at CIIS
Admissions information and application requirements for applying to the MFA program.
Apply for the Diversity Scholarship for the spring 2019 semester by November 15, 2018. See below for more details and application form.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Applicants must meet the general admissions requirements CIIS. Questions not answered below can be addressed in a phone call or in-person visit with Lindsay Roth, the program's Admissions Counselor at 415-575-6291 or lroth@ciis.edu.
- Students must complete their bachelor's degree before beginning the programs; there is no requirement as to the field of study of the undergraduate degree. Students can demonstrate appropriate levels of accomplishment and commitment to their art by means of work samples and personal statements. We welcome students from all backgrounds; however, the Admissions Committee may ask students with limited arts or writing experience to supplement their degrees with some additional CIIS coursework.
- The program admits students in the fall (beginning in late August) and spring (beginning in late January) semesters.
Please visit Applying to CIIS for application deadlines and other important information.
Click here to view application requirements
Online Admissions Application: Begin the application process by submitting an online graduate application at the link below and submitting the non-refundable $65 application fee payment.
Minimum GPA: A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. However, a GPA below 3.0 does not automatically disqualify an applicant and CIIS will consider a prospective student whose GPA is between 2.0 and 3.0. These individuals are required to submit a GPA Statement and are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their options.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions attended where 7 or more credits have been earned. If transcripts are being mailed to CIIS, they must arrive in their official, sealed envelopes. Transcripts from institutions outside the US or Canada require a foreign credit evaluation through World Education Services (WES) or CIIS will also accept foreign credential evaluations that are in a comprehensive course-by-course format from the current members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Degree Requirement: An undergraduate degree (BA, BS, or the equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
Autobiographical Statement: A five to seven page essay incorporating some or all of the following questions: What experiences, interests, goals, and preparation do you bring to the MFA at CIIS? What projects are you currently working on? How would you describe yourself as a writer, artist, performer, community arts activist or inter-artist? What influences and experiences have been central for you? What do you hope to accomplish during your time with us? What do you hope to achieve artistically and professionally in the next five years?
Art sample: For writers, 15 to 30 pages of poetry, prose, script, or mixed genre work. For visual, performing, sound or interdisciplinary artists: please provide links or URLs (or you may submit CDs or DVDs). Artists working in more than one form may submit samples in multiple forms.
CV or Resume
Two letters of recommendation: one from an academic advisor or someone familiar with your ability to do academic work, and one from a professional artist in your general field. Alternatively, one of the letters may be from a supervisor in a recent professional or volunteer setting.
Please submit all electronic materials as individual attachments (one document per submission, in .doc, or .pdf formats) to materials@ciis.edu.
International Students
Please note: International students and individuals who have studied at institutions outside the US and Canada have additional requirements. Please see the International Student page for additional details.
$5,000 Diversity Scholarship for Spring 2019
CIIS is a university deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and advocating for social justice. The university, guided by these principles, is offering thirty $5,000 Diversity Scholarships for the academic year 2018-2019. In line with our institutional mission of embracing traditions that enhance social and political liberation, these scholarships are intended to support the recruitment of a diverse student body, particularly students historically underrepresented in higher education. Apply for the spring 2019 semester by November 15, 2018 by submitting the application below to admissions@ciis.edu. Start the Diversity Scholarship application now!
Contact us
For any additional admission questions, please contact our admission counselor:
Lindsay Roth
(415) 575-6291
lroth@ciis.edu
