university of florida - school of art & art history

What are the prerequisites for admission to my program?
See the Graduate Catalog

Do my letters of recommendation need to be on the University form, or can my professors send personally written letters?
Though the University of Florida recommendation form is preferred, personally written letters on letterhead may be submitted directly to the College of Fine Arts in sealed envelopes in place of the University recommendation form.

Beginning in fall 2006, applicants utilizing the online application are able to request letters of recommendation electronically, eliminating the need for the hard copy form as well as the possibility of items becoming lost in the mail. Please be certain to notify your recommenders when you have requested recommendations. You should also advise them to check their “junk” or “spam” boxes, as some mail servers will filter the message out.

What happens if I send my application materials to University Admissions instead of Art & Art History Graduate Admissions?
University Admissions will forward departmental materials to the College of Fine Arts Office of Graduate Admissions & Academic Programs. Please be aware, however, that due to the volume of materials being handled by University Admissions, there may be a significant delay as these items are being transferred. Please make every effort to send materials to the appropriate address. We will notify you of missing materials and the receipt of materials throughout the application process.
Our address is:
Graduate Admissions and Academic Programs
College of Fine Arts
PO Box 115800
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-5800

Is it acceptable if my application materials arrive separately?
Yes, all application materials are kept in a central processing location until the file is completed. You will be notified by e-mail regarding missing items, and also to confirm receipt of materials as they arrive.

With whom can I verify that my application materials have been received?
Please contact either Laura Robertson or Phillip Klepacki by email (gradadmissions@arts.ufl.edu), or by phone (352.846.3425).

AFTER YOU’VE APPLIED

What if my graduation date changes from what I’ve indicated on the application?
You will need to submit a statement to the Graduate School informing them of the change. You may send your statement by e-mail to gradinfo@ufl.edu or by fax to (352) 392-1853.

I accidentally indicated that I have received a degree from an institution, from which I did not. How do I fix this?
You will need to submit a statement to the Graduate School informing them of the error. You may send your statement by e-mail to gradinfo@ufl.edu or by fax to (352) 392-1853.

The name on my application is incorrect – how do I update this?
If your name should change, or was entered incorrectly on the application, you will need to submit a statement to the Graduate School informing them of the change. You may send your statement by e-mail to gradinfo@ufl.edu or by fax to (352) 392-1853.

What is the waiting time between applying and receiving my decision?
The College of Fine Arts office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Programs processes all application materials and maintains files up to the application deadline. Shortly after the deadline has passed, all application files (whether complete or not) are delivered to the area faculty for review. The review process typically wraps up before UF’s Spring Break in early March, and official notification begins immediately upon returning from Spring Break (although faculty may contact you at any point to discuss your application).

What steps should I take after being accepted?
After you have confirmed that you will be attending UF, you will be sent a welcome packet that contains useful information regarding the School of Art and Art History, the College of Fine Arts, the University, and Gainesville. This packet outlines items that require your attention before enrolling for classes. Some of this information is also found at the UF Graduate Admissions website ; check the links under “Admitted Students.”

STANDARDIZED EXAMS: GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB

Is the GRE required for admission to my program?
The following programs within the School of Art & Art History require the GRE General Test for all applicants (prospective Ph.D. students who have earned a U.S. master’s degree in the same or in a closely related field are not required to submit GRE scores):

• Art History
• Museum Studies

The GRE is not required for applicants to Art Education (MA) or Studio Art (MFA) who completed an undergraduate degree at a U.S. institution. If you earned your bachelor’s degree outside the U.S., you should plan to submit official GRE scores as a part of the admission package, no matter what program you have chosen.

Is the GRE required in order to be considered for an assistantship?
The GRE is not required as part of your assistantship application; however, it serves as another indicator of your academic ability and therefore may be beneficial to include as part of your application.

What is the minimum GRE score required for admission?
Admitted students generally score in the 500 range of the verbal section and 4.5 range of the analytical writing section. Although the quantitative section is generally not as relevant for our graduate programs, we do not discourage applicants from taking all sections of the General Test, as they may be required at other institutions, and you paid to take the entire exam. Scores are viewed individually for each section of the General Test, and the GRE exam is viewed in relation to your completed and entire graduate admission application: GPA/transcripts; letters of recommendation; portfolio or writing samples; and statement of purpose.

I’m an international applicant. What are the requirements for language examinations?
The University of Florida accepts three different English-proficiency examinations; you only need to submit results from one of these agencies. Minimum scores are included here for your information.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 550 paper-based; 213 computer-based; 80 internet-based
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): 77
Non-US applicants may be exempted from the language requirement under one of two conditions:
• The applicant is a citizen of a nation exempted from these requirements. A full listing of these nations is available at the Graduate School’s International Applicants <http://gradschool.ufl.edu/students/english-testing-exemptions.html> website.
• The applicant has completed at least one full academic year at a college/university in the United States as a full-time student; has earned an accredited bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college/university in the United States; or has official proof of successfully completing the UF English Language Institute (ELI) program before applying for admission.

Note: Applicants from Puerto Rico must meet the language examination requirements. Further, Florida law requires that all non-US students who are going to be teaching assistants (even if exempted from the examination requirement) prove adequate command of the English language by submitting Test of Spoken English (TSE) or Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) scores that meet the required minimum. These examinations are offered at UF during the orientation sessions prior to the beginning of the fall term.

What are the ETS codes for the GRE and TOEFL? How quickly does UF receive my results?
• University of Florida: GRE & TOEFL – 5812
• Art History/Museum Studies/Art Education: GRE – 2301, TOEFL – 26
• Studio Art: GRE – 2401, TOEFL – 15
If you provide these codes at the time you take your exam, we will receive your results in 4-6 weeks.

PROGRAMS AND COURSES

What details (e.g. curricula) are available about my program of study?
See the School of Art and Art History Graduate Student Handbook

• M.A. – Art History, page 27
• Ph.D. – Art History, page 33
• M.A. – Art Education, page 37
• Master of Fine Arts – Studio Programs, page 43
• M.A. – Museum Studies, page 55

Are there special computer requirements I should be aware of?
See College of Fine Arts Computer Requirements

Can I access descriptions of courses?
See the Graduate Catalog or the Syllabi section of the SAAH website

Can I find out what texts are used?
See the UF Bookstore website (this search requires course and section number, available from the Schedule of Courses, and only searches current term courses)

MONEY MATTERS

Who can I contact for specifics about my assistantship (hours, duties, registration requirements, etc.)?
See Financial Help

When will I find out if I have been awarded an assistantship?
We make every effort include assistantship information with offers of admission. In some cases, assistantships are assigned after admission offers have been made, in which case we will make notification as soon as decisions have been made.

Is health insurance available? Does the University pay for this?
University of Florida graduate students on an appointment as a graduate assistant, teaching assistant, or research assistant may participate in the GatorGradCare Health Plan. To be eligible, University of Florida graduate students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program, on an appointment through University of Florida, appropriately registered, and appointed 0.25 FTE (full-time equivalent) or greater for a particular semester. University of Florida graduate students on a Fellowship appointment and appropriately registered are also eligible to participate. There is no FTE requirement for graduate students on a Fellowship appointment. Criteria for appropriate registration can be found in the Registration Requirements section of the Graduate Catalog. For more information, visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/benefits/gatorgradcare/default.asp.

How do I apply for financial aid/student loans?
See Student Financial Affairs
Please note that the College of Fine Arts does not process student loan applications or make notification of such awards. If you have applied for aid and would like to check the status of your application/award, log on to ISIS.

What are the costs associated with attending UF? How do I calculate student fees?
See Tuition & Annual Costs

What scholarships are available for graduate students?
See Financial Help

VISITING/HOUSING

Who do I contact to set up a visit/tour? Where do I park/stay when visiting campus?
• Visiting the School of Art and Art History: Ms. Rhonda Riley, (352) 273-3046, rriley@arts.ufl.edu
• Visiting UF: http://www.ufl.edu/visitors/

Is there student parking available on campus?
Yes, although it is very limited. Visit Transportation and Parking Services for more information on parking policies and locations.

Does UF have information on housing options?
See UF Department of Housing for on-campus housing options. Off-campus housing can be found through several websites, such as Apartment Hunters (http://www.apartmenthunters.com), The Gainesville Sun (http://gainesville.com/section/realestate/), and the Gainesville Apartment & Condominium Guide (http://www.gainesville-rent.com/).

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