Transforming Visual Communication in Dallas
Art (MFA) Visual Communication Emphasis
Take Your Creativity to the Next Level
Develop advanced skills in creative design innovation, the design process, product development, and design education as you explore the intersection of business and design.
Achieve a higher level of proficiency in creative design innovation, problem-solving techniques, design business strategy, marketing and more. Or prepare for a career in design education. Based in Dallas, our facilities immerse you in one of the nation’s most vibrant areas for business and design. Work with award-winning faculty and industry leaders as you develop advanced skills in creative conceptualization, design process, and product and pedagogy development. Our program places special concentration on design criticism combined with courses in creative strategies or business practices, professional leadership, design history, and design education curriculum. Our MFA program is a terminal degree that prepares you to teach at the university level or to advance your design career.
East Texas A&M By the numbers
#1
Fastest-Growing public
university in Texas
/
$10M
awarded annually
in scholarships
/
89%
alumni working full-
time within six months
/
15%
nationally for social mobility
/
20:1
student-to-faculty
Ratio
/
48
states
Represented
/
53
countries
Represented
Is This Program a Good Fit for You?
Visual Communication students are typically interested in:
- Developing visual elements that represent and communicate the identity of a brand, including logos, color schemes and typography.
- Capturing and editing images to convey messages, tell stories, and create visual impact.
- Producing digital content, including videos, animations, and interactive media for various platforms like websites and social media.
Careers
- Many of our graduates find employment as instructors at community colleges or universities. People looking for careers in marketing, web development, graphic design, education or nonprofits may benefit from a degree in visual communication.
Career Possibilities
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022
See Yourself Succeed With a Degree in Visual Communication
Dedicated Faculty
Engage with exceptional faculty who challenge your creativity and artistic ability. You'll work alongside award-winning professionals as you develop your conceptual and practical skills.
Creative Problem Solving
Become a better problem solver through a deeper understanding of creative processes and innovation. Gain a broader knowledge of our cross-cultural world and sharpen your skills as a strategic thinker and entrepreneur. Study the pedagogy of design education and curriculum development to empower student learning and success.
Our Facilities
East Texas A&M is transforming visual communication in Dallas. Our program benefits from the expertise of industry leaders. Let the Dallas-Fort Worth cityscape awaken your creativity!
Nationally Accredited
The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD). Accreditation ensures that the degrees, curriculum and faculty meet rigorous standards of breadth and quality.
Career Readiness
The MFA prepares design educators for a robust job market where a terminal degree is either required or highly advantageous. Achieve a higher level of proficiency in creative design innovation and problem-solving techniques, design business strategy, ideation and marketing, and prepare for a career in design education.
What You Will learn
An MFA in Art with an emphasis in Visual Communication will offer you the opportunity to:
- Enhance your critical thinking and creative strategies
- Learn innovative business practices, leadership in the workforce and product marketing
- Study pedagogical theories and techniques to prepare you to teach at the college level
- Complete a thesis exhibition that addresses an issue of social, educational, environmental or economic importance
Course Delivery and Resources
Designed for current educators and working professionals, we offer courses in the evening to fit your schedule. First-semester students take courses two nights per week. Courses are offered at the new East Texas A&M at Dallas location.
Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times. Locations and times are subject to change.
Graduate Program Cost
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.
Admission
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Graduate Step 1 Part 1
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select Texas A&M University-Commerce
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Art, MFA” as your “Program.”
Domestic Application Fee 395064
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:
- Email the letter to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you are applying for the MFA program.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Provide the following material;
- 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
- Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com
Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Veronica Vaughan, Graduate Program Coordinator.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Graduate Enrollment Specialist Jennifer Faunce
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Deadlines
- Fall admission consideration: May 15
- Spring admission consideration: October 15
- Summer admission consideration: March 15
Applicants must have a completed admissions file by May 10 for fall consideration.
Graduate Step 1 Part 1
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select Texas A&M University-Commerce
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Art, MFA” as your “Program.”
International Application Fee
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Graduate Coordinator Rebecca Stevens 395100
Your Graduate Coordinator
- Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:
- Email the letter to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce Texas 75428
Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you are applying for the MFA program.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Provide the following material;
- 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
- Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com
Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Veronica Vaughan, Graduate Program Coordinator.
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to East Texas A&M University:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $33,601 USD which is less than six months old
See the Office of International Program's “Confirmation of Financial Resource” for more details.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Graduate Enrollment Specialist Jennifer Faunce
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
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Contact Us
- Department of Art
- 214.954.3636
- 214.954.3636
- [email protected]