RRous13076 on mon 20 oct 97
Dear Clayart
I have a problem. I have many years in various art programs - the Maryland
Institute in Photo, the Museum School for painting. But somehow along the way
I neglected to get my BA degree.
For the past several years I have been working in ceramics. Now I want to get
an MFA in ceramics. But I can't get an MFA without a BA.
The idea of going back to college as an undergraduate seems at this point a
detour which would take me away from my work. Surely I'm not the first person
who has faced this problem. Can anyone suggest a solution - a good MFA program
in ceramics which would let me in without a BA or at least let em work on my
MFA and BA at the same time? Or, if nothing else, a quick BA degree.
I'd appreciate any help you could give me.
Thanks
Kathi Roussel
Carl meigs on tue 21 oct 97
At 08:55 AM 10/20/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>Dear Clayart
>
>I have a problem. I have many years in various art programs - the Maryland
> Institute in Photo, the Museum School for painting. But somehow along the way
> I neglected to get my BA degree.
>
>For the past several years I have been working in ceramics. Now I want to get
> an MFA in ceramics. But I can't get an MFA without a BA.
>
>The idea of going back to college as an undergraduate seems at this point a
> detour which would take me away from my work. Surely I'm not the first person
> who has faced this problem. Can anyone suggest a solution - a good MFA program
> in ceramics which would let me in without a BA or at least let em work on my
> MFA and BA at the same time? Or, if nothing else, a quick BA degree.
>
>I'd appreciate any help you could give me.
>
>Thanks
>
>Kathi Roussel
>
If the BA is absolutely mandatory , look for a school which offers "credit for
life experience" programs. I originated such a program at my university and
people sho could document their experience and show hard knowledge gained
could receive up to 60 credits, a big boost for some. It was somewhat
complicated and heavily monitored , of course. Our average award for
such was between 24-36. Look for a school which has a strong and highly
developed fine arts program that could provide evaluators of your portfolio.
You could e-mail me at (meigs@neca.com) for other info if you can't get a
bite from an open-minded graduate program.
meigs@neca.com
Colleen A. Schneider on tue 21 oct 97
Hi Kathi,
You didn't state if you have any undergraduate degree...but if you
e-mail me privately, I would gladly discuss possible options, ( I live
in the No. VA area).
Colleen Schneider
colleens@erols.com
Vince Pitelka on tue 21 oct 97
>Can anyone suggest a solution - a good MFA program
> in ceramics which would let me in without a BA or at least let em work on my
> MFA and BA at the same time? Or, if nothing else, a quick BA degree.
Kathi -
It seems that colleges and universities across the country these days are
becoming more and more concerned with accountability, and in most cases
there is very little flexibility in entrance requirements. It is very hard
to get into many MFA programs with ONLY a BA and not a BFA, much less
without a undergraduate degree at all. Of course the determination of how
easy it would be for you to get your BA or BFA would depend on how much
general education you have completed along with the art credits you have.
Most colleges and universities have very strict core requirements. As an
example, I have a BFA student graduating in the spring, and the University
said she could not graduate until she completes one more physical education
class. And this woman is in her early 40s. One of the PE couses is first
aid, and we are determined to satisfy the requirement by getting the
university to give her credit for a first aid class, since she has worked as
an emergency room RN for ten years!! We are expecting a battle. That is
how strict academic administrations can be about core requirements. I
think that your only option is to complete your BA or BFA and then go on to
grad school. You obviously really want to do this, so it will be worth it.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Carolyn Boeri on tue 21 oct 97
At 08:55 AM 10/20/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
Kathi,
You might check out all the MFA programs on the internet; depending on
where you live and how much you can travel there are some colleges with
extension degree programs for BA's and MFA's ( which are more time
consuming and of course require more scrutiny by the program manager's. and
there's a course offered at some colleges where you document your prior
learning and get credit for it, shortening your time and effort. If you
haven't a portfolio of your work, make one. MFA advisors want to see your
work. It is possible to do both if you show them that you are motivated and
able to take the time required to do the work. One of my friends convinced
New Hampshire College to devise a program especially for her because of her
circumstances.
I'm finding that with the credits I earned in Nursing (years ago) and by
taking 2 courses of independent study with an Advisor or a tutorial or two
per semester I am making headway towards my BA at Johnson State College in
Vermont. My required photography course is great, I'm the only student and
the teacher is excellent, Teaches at Dartmouth, but my class is out of his
home. we make the times convenient to us. I am learning to take slides of
my work and do darkroom developing etc. very useful. Johnson State, I
discovered, has a better MFA program, then BFA and they are hesitant to
accept extension degree people into their bfa programs so I am doing the ba
first then the mfa. I got 3 credits from Maine College of Art for Advanced
Ceramics when I took a 2 weeks course from Haystack Mt. this summer. It
cost $75 for the credits.cheap. Have great goals and a plan and present
yourself well and you'll find a situation that suits you. good luck.
carolyn
Tadeusz Westawic on wed 22 oct 97
Carl meigs wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 08:55 AM 10/20/97 EDT, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >
> >Dear Clayart
> >
> >I have a problem. I have many years in various art programs - the Maryland
> > Institute in Photo, the Museum School for painting. But somehow along the wa
> > I neglected to get my BA degree.
> >
> >For the past several years I have been working in ceramics. Now I want to get
> > an MFA in ceramics. But I can't get an MFA without a BA.
> >
> >The idea of going back to college as an undergraduate seems at this point a
> > detour which would take me away from my work. Surely I'm not the first perso
> > who has faced this problem. Can anyone suggest a solution - a good MFA progr
> > in ceramics which would let me in without a BA or at least let em work on my
> > MFA and BA at the same time? Or, if nothing else, a quick BA degree.
> >
> >I'd appreciate any help you could give me.
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Kathi Roussel
> >
Hi Kathi,
The Maker has graced me with precocious children. My youngest is fifteen
and we have purchaced high school correspondence coursework for her from
Brigham Young University.
It is my understanding that BYU offers home college correspondence, you
might look into it. Another school that does the same is Thomas Edison
U. I know a potter whose husband got his degree in Library Science via
internet correspondence.
Others reading this might chip-in some details for you, I'm sorrry I
don't have them myself. If you must have a BA, then this is an
alternative route.
Tadzu -- In partly cloudy Southwest New Mexico on trash day with the
distant rhythm of grinding garbage trucks.
Don Harris on sat 25 oct 97
Kathi,
The Instituto Allende in San Miguel Allende, Gto, Mexico, offers a BFA/
MFA program that is accredited in Canada and the USA and it offers "life
experience" credits towards these degrees. The school also appreciates
some of the constrictions its students are working under and offers very
flexible residency requirements. To find out more about the Instituto,
visit their website at http://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx or contact
the director Sr. Rodolfo Fernandez Harris at ferrha@mpsnet.com.mx. He
will be glad to give you all the details of their programs. You can also
contact me directly and I will give you any help that I can.
Don Harris
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