Several features of the Photography MFA program at Columbia College Chicago are unique. Here’s what you can expect: In addition to traditional image-making, Columbia students work on documentaries, videos, collages, and installations. You’ll take a Graduate Seminar course every semester with other MFA Photography students, refining and discussing each others’ artistic practices. The seminar courses often form communities of artists who challenge one another to consider new ideas in their work. The Graduate Seminar course is coupled with a Graduate Forum course, which you will take every semester. Led by faculty, the forum allows for a flexible range of learning experiences, which include field trips to galleries and museums, studio visits with prominent Chicago artists, discussions with visiting artists, workshops, and ongoing critical dialogues. You’ll take required courses in photography, video, history, theory, and criticism. You’ll also choose electives on subjects such as the portrait, bookmaking, and documentary. Our close relationship with the Art and Art History Department means you can take a wide range of courses in subjects such as performance and installation. You’ll make connections in the Chicago photography community and meet with guest curators, visiting artists, and other professionals we invite to critique graduate work each semester. Your primary focus will be your artistic practice, but you’ll also gain practical skills for becoming a working artist and begin charting your career.

Please submit the following in addition to your online application (required): Resume Two letters of recommendation Transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended Self-Assessment Essay