Online MFA in Visual Art

View a full listing of courses and course details in the academic catalog.

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Ready to step into your God-given calling? At Azusa Pacific University, we provide admissions support to help you achieve your dream.

Admission Requirements—Domestic Applicants

The university graduate and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.

Applicants must possess:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale. Students with a grade-point average of 2.50-2.99 will be considered for admission on a provisional basis.

 

Applicants must submit:

• Graduate application for admission
• $45 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate study
• An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
• Current résumé of work experience
• Two letters of recommendation
• Letter of intent (not to exceed two pages, double spaced) that answers the following questions:
• During the past five years, identify some of the most significant events of your artistic development. What are your principal interests and concerns in making art?
• What types of materials (books, magazines, films, exhibitions, etc.) do you review on art, spirituality, and/or culture? If your reading materials minimally impact your art, explain what exerts maximum impact.
• Explain how your spiritual/religious perspective informs your art.
• What are your strengths and limitations as an artist? (Comment specifically on how this impacts your academic research and writing ability.)
• What do you hope to achieve in the MFA program? How does this coincide with your goals as an artist?
• Portfolio submission consisting of either:
• Fifteen clearly labeled digital images of work accompanied by an inventory list, including the title, year, dimensions, and material.
• or A clearly labeled two-and-a-half to three-minute video indicative of work, portions of works, and/or details of works (performance art and video art applicants only).

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
gpadmissions@apu.edu

Instructions for Portfolio Submissions

• When submitting your portfolio through Slate, please include approximately 15 images that represent your most recent or current work. Each image you submit should show different content. You don't need to submit 15 distinct projects; a single project can be shown across multiple images as long as each image is unique. Sketches and works-in-progress are welcome.
• Enter any captions, descriptions, or titles of your work in the field provided. Do not add captions, descriptions, titles, or other extraneous text within the area where you upload your image.
• We are looking for personal work that gives us a sense of who you are as an artist, rather than academic work. Please do not include generic class assignments (i.e. technical exercises, figure/life drawing, still life drawings).
• If your medium is video or performance, please submit a two-and-a-half to three-minute MOV or MP4 file that is less than 250 MB in size, indicative of work, portions of works, and/or details of works.

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

This program is not open to F-1 or J-1 international students, because the low-residency format doesn’t meet the full time face-to-face requirement set by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you are an international student who does not require a F-1 or J-1 visa, you may be considered for this program.

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified above.

International applicants must also:

• Demonstrate proficiency in English through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Refer to APU’s English proficiency requirements to learn more. Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to the International Services.
• Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
gpadmissions@apu.edu

 

After the International Center receives all transcripts, a committee of department faculty reviews the applicant’s file. The applicant is then notified of the committee’s decision within approximately two weeks.

Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art Tuition

Note: This information is current for the 2026-27 academic year, but all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current academic catalog for more information.

Financial Aid

At Azusa Pacific University, we make an accessible Christian education possible. To cover the cost of your master’s degree, you can apply for financial aid, including federal loans, state grants, fellowships, and scholarships. While types of aid may vary based on your program, your dedicated admissions advisor can help you understand your options and plan ahead.

For more information, contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Military Benefits

If you serve in the military—or qualify as a spouse or dependent—you may access financial assistance that helps cover tuition, housing, and books. As a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, APU offers the support and flexibility needed to help you complete your master’s degree.

Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

The MFA in Visual Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).