Application deadline: January 5, 2021
Pratt Institute’s MFA in Photography is a two-year (four-semester) terminal degree program. The program welcomes advanced applicants with interests in contemporary art practices—of all varieties—that rely heavily on the role of photographic imagery and imaging. This can include artists who use lens-based cameras; photosensitive materials and/or sensors; re-photography, aggregation, and quotation; and all approaches that fall under the umbrella of the photographic—including research and critical positions with relation to the histories and practices of photography, both still and moving.
Our pedagogy encompasses both lens- and print-based technologies alongside the history and context for the making of photographic images, objects, and installations in the 21st century. Fluency in the language and currency of images in our cultural and media landscapes is a core value of our program.
The curriculum includes Acts of Recognition, a seminar that introduces perspectives on art, ethics, visual culture, race, and equity. This required course focuses on photography and lens-based media and the politics of representation through art history, cultural studies, critical race theory, gender studies, and queer studies.
In addition to courses in photographic and interdisciplinary practice, each student in the program works independently in their own 160-square foot private studio. Graduate students in Photography also utilize shared state-of-the-art production facilities and tools to help them produce a variety of photographic works.
Each student mounts a capstone thesis exhibition during their final semester in the program.
The 2021 Visiting Artist and Critic in Photography will be Jibade-Khalil Huffman.
The student’s studio experience is augmented by the Pratt Photography Talks and Visiting Artists Lecture Series, which together bring approximately 12 relevant artists and scholars to engage each year for talks and studio visits. During the course of the program, there are robust opportunities for individual studio visits with visiting artists, critics, curators, and writers, as well as exhibition opportunities in person and online.
The MFA program initiated Teaching Photographs in October 2019 which to date includes: Ariella Aisha Azoulay, Fia Backström, Pradeep Dalal, Leslie Hewitt, Matt Keegan, Gelare Khoshgozaran, Anouk Kruithof, Julie Pochron, Josephine Pryde, Stephanie Syjuco, Sara VanDerBeek, Deborah Willis, and Carmen Winant. An archive of this ongoing project lives at teachingphotographs.info.
Core MFA Photography faculty currently include Program Director Sara Greenberger Rafferty, Allen Frame, and Ann Mandelbaum. Affiliated faculty include the Chair of the Photography Department Shannon Ebner, Farah Al Qasimi, Anna Collette, K8 Hardy, Patrice Helmar, Stephen Hilger, Carissa Rodriguez, Carrie Schneider, and Carla Shapiro, in addition to Fine Arts and Photography faculty teaching core and elective classes throughout the interdisciplinary program.
For applicants: View admissions requirements, and apply online. Request information to receive our full-color catalog and emails about special virtual events, requirements, deadlines, and more.
Scholarships: Graduate merit-based scholarships are available to incoming domestic and international students based on merit. All students are considered upon acceptance; No scholarship application is necessary.
Schedule a virtual visit at www.pratt.edu/visit.
Contact: T 800 331 0834 / admissions [at] pratt.edu
Admissions information sessions
Friday, November 20, 8am–12pm EST / Friday, December 4, 8am–12pm EST / Saturday, December 5, 1pm–5pm EST
To register: Photo Registration Form
Pratt Institute is ranked among the top design schools by BusinessWeek and fifth in the world out of 50 art and design colleges by QS World University Ranking by Subject. Most of Pratt’s individual programs are ranked among the top five and ten in the country. Top ranked programs, a distinguished faculty of practicing professionals, and ideally located campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan make Pratt an ideal choice for graduate study.
