Degree Programs

All correspondence should be addressed to:

Admissions
Att: PhD Program or MA Program
Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture
38 West 86th Street
New York, NY 10024

Download the 2013 Application Form

The following should be submitted with the application form:

1. A nonrefundable application fee of $65, in the form of a check or money order made payable to Bard Graduate Center.

2.A personal statement of not more than 500 words explaining why the applicant has chosen the decorative arts, design history, and material culture as a field of graduate study. The statement should be specific, especially as to career goals.

3. A sample of written scholarly work (e.g., a college research paper, published article, or extended catalogue entry). Applicants to the doctoral program must submit a copy of a master’s thesis or a Qualifying Paper. This writing sample should be a research paper, academic in form and tone. Students who do not have a term paper to submit should consult the Academic Programs Office about the kind of work that is appropriate.

4. A C.V. outlining the applicant’s education, current and previous employment, and experience, if any, in the decorative arts, design
history, and material culture.

The following should be sent separately:

1. Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
Please note that copies are considered official only if they are sent
directly to the BGC from the issuing institution. Unofficial transcript
copies sent by the applicant will not be accepted.

2.Three letters of recommendation from instructors or professional
colleagues. The letters should be addressed to the Graduate
Committee, signed across the seal, and sent directly to the BGC by the
authors. Copies sent by the applicant will not be accepted. Please use
the forms provided.

3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report, sent by the
Educational Testing Service to the BGC at the applicant’s request.
The applicant is required to take the General Test. The BGC’s score
report code number is 2020. Only official copies will be accepted. For
information, call 609.771.7670. All applicants must take the GRE by December 15, 2011. The GRE submitted for admission consideration must not be more than three years old. Applications without GRE scores will make the applicant ineligible for interview consideration.

4. International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English
and should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
TOEFL scores should be sent to the BGC by the Educational Testing
Service. Other evidence of English proficiency will be accepted only
with the approval of the Graduate Committee. The BGC’s TOEFL
number is 5034.

After an initial review of applications and prescreening by a faculty
committee, a number of candidates will be invited to interview, either
in person or via telephone, with the Graduate Committee.

Applicants are contacted during February to arrange an appointment
with the committee and are strongly encouraged to interview in person.

All application materials submitted become the property of the Bard
Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture.

Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an open house at
the BGC during the fall term to meet with faculty, senior staff, and
students and to learn more about our programs and areas of special
interest. We welcome questions about the program and about the
admission process. If you have further questions, please contact Dean
Elena Pinto Simon via e-mail at simon@bgc.bard.edu or by telephone at 212.501.3057.

The admission deadline is January 4, 2013.