Graduate Study
Portfolio Requirements
- School of Art and School for American Crafts
- School of Design
- School of Film and Animation
- School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, Imaging Arts & Photography
- Mailing Instructions
School of Art and School for American Crafts
Portfolios submitted to the School of Art and the School for American Crafts should consist of at least 20 examples of the applicant’s best visual work. The work can be presented as a digital portfolio of stand-alone computer files that will run on a MAC or PC. 35mm slides displayed in 8 1/2” x 11” vinyl protective slide pages, are also acceptable.
School of Design
Portfolios submitted to the School of Design should contain samples of the applicant’s work, including a combination of drawings, two- and three-dimensional design, photo imaging, website design, product renderings, CAD drawings, page layouts, etc. Visual content is dependent upon the applicant’s experience and the program for which the applicant is applying. The portfolio should consist of 20 to 40 samples of the applicant’s best work. Slides, CD-ROMs, DVDs, or a combination are acceptable. They must be stand-alone files that will run on a MAC or PC.
School of Film and Animation
The review committee is looking for work that is original in concept and content. It does not need to necessarily be motion media, but should be visual or aural. Examples include films/videos, photos, drawing, paintings, sculpture, stop motion puppets, script, storyboards and original music.
The applicant must present what they consider to be the best of their work, not all their work. The film or videos should total 15 minutes or less. A complete work is preferable to a “demo reel”. If there are no short works then a 15-minute excerpt of a longer piece is acceptable.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to place their portfolios on a web or FTP site that can be easily accessed by RIT faculty for review. Your application should then include a URL web or FTP address where your portfolio can be found. If your portfolio is placed on a shared web or FTP site that contains other files, be sure the filename contains your full name as you applied.
Movie files must be in QuickTime, MPEG2, MPEG4, or HG.264 format. No AVI or other digital video architecture files, NTSC or ATSC(HD) only. Still images should be jpeg or tiff format.
If you cannot submit your portfolio via a web or FTP site, videos should be on mini-DV, DVDCAM, DVD or DVDROM. Still images should be on DVDROM or DCROM and be jpeg or tiff format. 35mm slides are acceptable but must be in sleeves. No boxes or carousel trays. No more than 30 images. Sound design should be no longer than 10 minutes and on CD format.
Please include an inventory sheet or table of contents with your portfolio, and if it is not obvious, clearly indicate what your contribution was to group and collaborative pieces.
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
The portfolio submitted for the MFA program in imaging art-photography in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences must consist of 20 examples of the applicant’s best work. Portfolio materials should be presented on a CD-ROM and/or DVD.
Mailing Instructions
All materials must be sent to:
Rochester Institute of Technology
Office of Graduate Enrollment Services
Bausch & Lomb Center
58 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623