Application Info

The DANM MFA program admits new students once each year in the fall. The application period opens on October 1 and closes January 1 for admission the following fall quarter.

DANM Admissions Requirements

Prospective students in the Digital Arts and New Media program have a foundation in the arts with demonstrated interest in technology or a foundation in technology with a demonstrated background in the arts. Many, but not all, entering students have completed a Bachelor of Arts program in one or more of the arts disciplines (Art or Art History, Film, Multimedia, Music, Theater, Video, etc.) or a Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science or Computer or Electrical Engineering. Other successful applicants have a BA or BS in another field but are able to show substantial achievement in the arts, in technology or in digital arts.

Students apply online through the Division of Graduate Studies web site between October and mid-February for the following fall quarter. UC Santa Cruz requires that applicants complete the UCSC online application to be considered for admission to a graduate program. We will, however, provide access to a downloadable version of our application to those who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to submitting an on-line application, students are expected to submit an online portfolio. As of spring 2007, GRE scores are not required when applying. In addition, our computer programming requirement has been removed. There is no computer programming requirement.

Further information can be found at http://graddiv.ucsc.edu regarding the campus requirements for applying.

To Apply to DANM

1. Read the Admissions Requirements and Application Guidelines on this page.
   
2. Read the FAQs at http://digitalarts.ucsc.edu/faq/.
   
3. Read the Application Filing Instructions for graduate studies at UCSC.
   
4. Submit an On-line Application at the Division of Graduate Studies web site.
   

Application Guidelines

Statement of purpose (limited to 500-1000 words):

• This should be a concise, well-written essay about your background and your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the field of Digital Arts and New Media. Our selection committee places particular importance on the statement of purpose. It should exhibit your ability to present ideas in clear, coherent language.

• MFA candidates applying to a two-year terminal degree program must be prepared to pursue advanced, interdisciplinary work in the field of Digital Media Arts. Your statement should indicate:

  1. how knowledgeable you are in relation to Digital Arts and New Media
     
  2. how your undergraduate studies and other recent experiences (work, community involvement, and so forth) serve as a foundation for graduate study in the field
     
  3. how and why you intend to build on this foundation of knowledge and apply your graduate training to social or theoretical problems

• DANM is not a traditional MFA program. We seek students whose goals for graduate study and interdisciplinary research match our current research foci described under Collaborative Research in the side bar of this site. Your statement should:

  1. discuss your reason for applying to our program in particular
     
  2. articulate your relation to/ interest in at least one of the four collaborative research groups
     
  3. describe a project you would like to pursue while in the program
     
• It is important to give serious thought to your choice (first and second) of research interests -- Participatory Culture, Performative Technologies, Mechatronics or Playable Media -- in your application. You will be accepted into a project group in one of these areas as part of the admissions process and the project group leader will agree to serve as your advisor. Upon entering the program you will be working with specific faculty (as well as fulfilling the requirements of the core curriculum) and that faculty member will be making a definite commitment to work with you. You will be allowed to switch groups (or advisors) only through a successful process of appeal.

Personal History (limited to 500 words)

Portfolio Requirements:

• Please submit representative work online in the standardized environment for online portfolios, myartspace.com, or provide a url for a web site.

• The portfolio may include one or more of the following:
  

  1. 10-15 still images maximum
     
  2. 10 minutes of video maximum
     
  3. 2-3 links to interactive pieces maximum
• Submit your most exciting and relevant work. Student projects are of interest only if they illustrate points made in your Statement of Purpose.

• Physical portfolios are accepted in addition to the online portfolio if there is sufficient reason, i.e. the applicant is submitting a published book, a tactile interface, etc. Physical material should be send to the following address:
  

  UC Santa Cruz
  Digital Arts and New Media Program
  1156 High Street
  Santa Cruz, CA 95064
  

Useful Information

The Division of Graduate Studies has a very useful FAQ about applying to UCSC.
For transfering transcripts, the UCSC School Code is 4860.