Admissions Requirements

To be admitted into one of the graduate photography programs, you will have to satisfy both the Barry University and College of Arts and Sciences graduate admissions requirements.

Most programs require a nonrefundable application fee. This fee is waived for Barry alumni or those referred by Barry alumni.

All documents should be sent to:

Barry University
Recruitment and Admissions
11300 NE Second Avenue
Miami Shores, FL 33161

Please include your full name, student ID number, or Social Security number on all documents.

You must submit one official transcript from every college or university attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was completed. If you previously attended Barry University, you do not need to re-submit any transcripts already on file.

You must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution as indicated by your transcript.

The Department of Fine Arts requires the you to submit a minimum 250 word statement of purpose on how the MFA of MA degree from Barry University will help fulfill your personal career goals.

No letters of recommendation are required.

Supply current admission entrance examination scores (GRE or MAT). May be waived for applicant who has completed a Master’s degree from an accredited University. In general, test scores older than five years will not be accepted.

Portfolio review form with self-assessed photography skill listed which can be found on our website.

A single PDF or PowerPoint Portfolio which consists of 20 images, that best represent your photographic work creatively and technically. 

After the portfolio is submitted an informal personal or phone interview with the photography faculty may be required.

Deadlines for submission of portfolio/application:

There is no portfolio review/application approval from May15 through August 15 or in December.

Provisional acceptance may be granted by the Fine Arts Department. Enrollment as a non-degree-seeking student in no way implies admission to a degree program. Non-degree and provisional acceptance may be changed to regular matriculation upon completion of documentation, completion of six hours of graduate work receiving a B or better, and/or the completion of departmental requirements. Requires departmental approval. Specific admission prerequisites and program requirements are listed under each degree.

If you have permanent resident status, a copy of both sides of your Alien Registration Receipt Card ("green card") must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Applicants who do not give evidence of being native English speakers, including those applying for transfer from U.S. institutions, or who have not graduated from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction must submit test scores from one of the English language proficiency tests accepted by Barry University. See Barry University Graduate Admissions Requirements for details.

A maximum of six graduate credit hours may be transferred from another college or university toward a graduate degree at Barry University. Such course work must be relevant to the discipline, at B level or better, must be earned within the seven-year time limitation of the degree, and must have approval of Department Chair/Director and Dean.

• Full-time study may not exceed 12 credits per semester. 9 credits per semester is considered full time.
• Maximum length of time to complete the M.F.A. degree is seven years, to include a successful written thesis and solo thesis exhibition.
• Maximum length of time to complete the M.A. degree is seven years, to include a successful thesis exhibition.
• Masters of Art (36 credits) students interested in pursuing the Masters of Fine Arts degree (66 credits) must do so prior to completing the M.A. degree. Coursework may be applied to only one degree. Students wishing to change from the M.A. to the M.F.A. program must file a formal application with a portfolio for review by the Fine Arts Graduate Committee to be officially accepted as an M.F.A student.
• Students wishing to change from the Masters of Fine Arts program (66 credits) into the Masters of Art (36 credits) must give formal notice a semester prior to graduation and be formally approved.
• Assessment of the M.F.A. candidate’s creative and technical outcomes will be through faculty evaluation and approval of a substantial one-person thesis exhibition. The M.A. candidate will be similarly evaluated, but as part of a group exhibition.
• M.F.A. candidates should express their artistic intentions and philosophies in a written formal thesis.
• If the graduate student’s work or performance is unsatisfactory, the University may remove the student from the graduate program.
• A Student must graduate with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) with no more than two C’s. Earning a C in course work within the major will cause the student to be on probation the following term. Earning a second C within the major will cause the student to be withdrawn from the graduate program.
• Individuals with undergraduate degrees may take a maximum of nine graduate credits as non-degree-seeking -students.