Skip to main content.
CVPA at UMassD

Artisanry
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC)

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Artisanry is for students who already have earned a baccalaureate degree and who are interested in pursuing further study. This one-year, nine-credit program is for those who want to extend learning by participating within a community of undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students to focus solely upon studio development.

The Artisanry PBC can assist you as you enter professional practice and/or prepare you to apply to MFA degree programs. Should a PBC student be accepted into the UMass Dartmouth MFA program, the relevant PBC credits can count toward the MFA degree.

PBC students:

  • have full use of studio facilities
  • attend visiting artist lectures
  • participate in all media area activities/topic based seminars
  • enroll in technical studio or academic courses at reduced credit load

Regularly scheduled critiques occur, and a comprehensive show of studio work will be presented upon completion. The Artisanry PBC culminates in an exhibition that is planned and executed by PBC students and installed in commercial spaces in New Bedford.

Artisanry PBC students take 4.5 credits per semester; a 3 credit course in Portfolio Development for the maturing maker, and a 1.5 credit elective course.

Fall courses:

  • ART 508 (Portfolio Intensive I) - 3 credits
  • Elective - 1.5 credits

Spring courses:

  • ART 509 (Portfolio Intensive II) - 3 credits
  • Elective - 1.5 credits

Ceramics Option

Students may choose from media-area support courses, such as Clay/Glaze Formulation, Glaze Calc, Moldmaking, Throwing, Kiln Building, professional practices in Ceramics, or any other course of interest.

Fibers Option 

Students may choose Weaving, Textile Design CAD, Screen Printing, History of Craft, Papermaking, Professional Practices, or any other course of interest.

Recent achievements of PBC students:

  • Adjunct professor, SUNY New Paltz
  • Ceramic residency, University of Tasmania, Australia
  • Exhibition, 2017 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Emerging Artist Exhibition, Portland, Oregon
  • Group exhibition, Gallery of Visual Arts, University of Montana
  • Massachusetts Cultural Fellowship Grant
  • Group exhibition, Lexington Arts & Crafts Society, Lexington, MA
  • Group exhibition, Allegheny College
  • Group exhibition, Hunter College
  • Owner, Mudflat Studio, Somerville, MA
  • Owner, Studio Touya, featured in Ceramics Monthly
  • Resident artist, Archie Bray Foundation
  • Solo exhibition, M16 Artspace, Canberra, Australia

University requirements for graduate admissions

  • Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
  • Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
  • Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts. 
  • Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
  • International students: official TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details. We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Marine Science and Technology (MS, PSM, PhD), Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical, and Public Policy. 
  • All official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

  • References. Document listing two references and the contact information for each.
  • Portfolio of 10 images representing your artwork, process of thinking, implementation of concepts, and studio production. The portfolio is the equivalent of the entrance examinations which other academic areas often require. Please submit the portfolio via slideroom.

Program deadlines

Back to top of screen