Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions should be uploaded with your electronic application and may be used for departmental admission review purposes. If offered admission, you will be directed and required to submit to the JMU Graduate School an official transcript from any institution from which a degree has been awarded to finalize your admission. Transcripts are considered official if they are sent to JMU directly from the issuing institution.

Three letters of recommendation, a portfolio of the applicant's artwork, an artist's statement, transcripts of undergraduate degree work and a personal statement addressing the applicant's purpose in pursuing graduate studio work must be submitted as an indication of preparation for graduate study. The portfolio must consist of 10–15 examples of the applicant's work in digital format. The applicant for the Master of Fine Arts program must have at least half of the artwork in the portfolio in the intended area of emphasis. This portfolio must be submitted online to the School of Art, Design and Art History for examination before action on an application for graduate admission takes place.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT total score of 80 or above. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band score of 6.5 or above.
Transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate course work and degree confirmations should be submitted with the electronic application in the space provided, which will be used by the department for consideration for admission.