Founded in 1826, MICA is among the top visual arts colleges in the nation. MICA has become the leader in the education of artists and designers by fostering a community of talented, creative individuals committed to redefining the boundaries of art and design and to expanding their own vision and perspective through rigorous study.

The MICA curriculum integrates writing, liberal arts coursework, and intensive studio practice, so that students become literate and knowledgeable of our cultural background and their place as artists and designers in creating and shaping culture. By the end of their studies at MICA, students are expected to be able to work independently in their chosen medium, to collaborate with others, to communicate with others, and to have a global perspective.

What makes your school’s art & design programs different & unique from other art & design school programs? What are the top 3 program features that make your program stand out?

1. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)  provides a distinctively different learning environment from many other art and design schools in that we believe in educating the whole person — professionally and personally, artistically and intellectually.  MICA’s programs of study balance challenging studio practice in art and design with rigorous liberal arts coursework, concurrent with student affairs and residential life programming intended to facilitate the personal, career and leadership development of the student.

2. MICA students can uniquely customize their studies in support of personal creative exploration and career goals by combining a major area of study with a studio concentration.  Imagine majoring in Architectural Design along with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Practice, or majoring in Painting with a concentration in Curatorial (Museum) Studies. Programs of study can be further individualized through the addition of internships, professional project-based research, study abroad, and community-based social engagement.  The possibilities are endless. 

3. MICA’s programs of study in art and design reflect deeply held institutional values and a commitment to developing leadership and social responsibility through collaborative and project-based coursework with individuals, non-profit organizations and communities. Many students at MICA consider themselves “Artist-Citizens” who can make a difference in the world. 

Can students take courses in other schools?

Through a long standing academic exchange program, MICA students can take courses at fourteen other Baltimore colleges and universities including nearby Johns Hopkins University.  Most popular courses taken at other schools are science, math, psychology and languages.  Students can also take elective courses in any major, studio concentration or liberal arts minor at the College.

What steps do you take to evaluate a student’s candidacy, apart from reviewing their creative portfolio?

In addition to the visual portion of the application for admission, MICA requires transcripts of grades, test scores, essays and letters of recommendation, which are carefully assessed to determine if the candidate is prepared to handle college-level work. Selective institutions such as MICA place equal weight on art and academics in the admission decision. MICA also asks students to provide a list of their extra-curricular activities during high school. the galleries and museums they have visited in the last two years along, and their favorite books and films. This supplemental information helps to paint a portrait of the candidate useful in determining if they are a good fit for MICA. 

What does your program look for most in the creative portfolio during admissions? What do you think makes an A+ portfolio? 


It is assumed that all applicants should include work in their portfolio that demonstrates a baseline of art and design competency and technical ability in their chosen medium(s).  Typically, this is the result of several years of art study.  However, the most successful candidates for admission are those who also exhibit a high level of conceptual development in the portfolio through work that is creative, innovative and includes multiple solutions to one problem.  In other words, portfolios that demonstrate a candidate’s ability to incorporate both their head and their hand. 

How are new technologies affecting students’ curriculums and/or ways of learning/collaborating at your school? 


Technologies that incorporate making, building, designing, sharing, printing, and collaborating permeate the curriculum at MICA and are reflected in the state-of-the-art facilities at MICA. And they are evolving at a rapid rate. For example, digital fabrication has revolutionized the possibilities for individuals to create and market products that were not even conceivable a few years ago.  Distance bridging systems, from Skype to Adobe Connect are allowing students to collaborate with faculty and other experts in their fields as well as other students from afar — such as current projects in which MICA students are working with students and faculty in Europe and Scandinavia on real time collaborations. 

How does your program help graduating students with internships or jobs? Can students expect job placement more at your program than in others? If so, how or why? What kinds of job opportunities have you seen students take once they completed their degrees?

MICA offers a complete array of career services through the Joseph Meyerhoff Career Development Center including a listing of more than 800 internships in Baltimore and across the U.S. as well as nearly 2000 job listings posted by prospective employers. The Center also offers a complete toolkit of strategies to get internships and jobs including counseling and workshops specific to a student’s major area of study.  As you can imagine, a painting major will most likely have different career goals than a graphic design major. Students interested in pursuing an advanced degree or wish to apply for a Fulbright Fellowship or Artist’s Residency are also advised and counseled.  The Center hosts job fairs on campus and the staff travel the country to make connections with recruitment personnel at cultural institutions, government and businesses.

As a result, MICA alumni are admitted to the most prestigious graduate schools including Yale, Harvard and UCLA.  They work for a far ranging list of companies and cultural institutions including Google, Adobe, HBO, the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian, Kate Spade, Anthropology, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Pixar.  They are published in the New York Times, Marvel Comics and are National Book Award Finalists. They have also gained the skills to start their own successful businesses from technology start-ups to owners of art galleries or design firms. The Chronicle of Higher Education has also named MICA a top Fulbright producer among specialty schools providing the funds for young alumni selected by this prestigious institution to travel and live in all parts of the world.

Are there any exciting developments for your programs that students should know about?

There are several new initiatives that are especially exciting for prospective students.  The first is the launch of two new major areas of  study — Game Design and Product Design — for which a new building is being constructed to open in the Fall of 2017 along with an expanded 3D prototyping facility.  Additionally, MICA has partnered with Johns Hopkins University to develop the JHU MICA Film Center where students from both institutions share space, facilities, faculty and coursework — an innovative program that capitalizes on our relative expertise. And lastly, MICA is the first art and design school to launch an entrepreneurship program through our Career Development Center which will provide education, training and funding to students and alumni who wish to become successful entrepreneurs.  

What is the most distinguished feature at your school?

Established in 1826, MICA is the oldest, continuously degree granting, art college in the U.S.A.

What is the best advice you have for students entering the art, design & architecture field? What role does the artist play today?

Not since the Renaissance has there been a better time to pursue these fields of study. Creativity and innovation, a natural ingredient in the study of art, design and architecture, are in great demand not only in these fields but in business and industry. So follow your dream! 

Interviewed by Theresa Bedoya, Dean & Vice President, Admission & Financial Aid

APPLICATION MATERIALS

MICA Online Application or Common App

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

12-20 pieces 

WRITING SAMPLE

Personal Essay 

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

1 Counselor Required 

APPLICATIONS DEADLINES

Early Decision: Nov 15
Early Action: Dec 15
Early Action II: Jan 15 
Regular Decision: Feb 15

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

TOEFL: 80 (iBT)
IELTS: 6.5
PTE: n/a

ALUMNI

Jeff Koons, Artist
Abbi Jacobson, Performance Artist
Derek Blanks, Photographer
Martha Colburn, Filmmaker 
Gaia, Street Artist
Al Hurwitz, Artist
James Kochalka, Cartoonist
John Lehr, Photographer
Michael Owen, Artist
Joyce Scott, Artist
Elizabeth Turk, Artist
Errol Webber Jr., Cinematographer
Reggie Wells, Makeup Artist

DID YOU KNOW?

The Baltimore Collegetown Network’s Website (www.baltimorecollegetown.org) is also a great resource if you want to hang out with people who aren’t artists; the site has a complete schedule of what’s happening at the region’s colleges and universities, and you’ll also be able to find information on everything from arts/culture, to restaurants/clubs and sports/recreation.

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

1300 W Mt Royal Ave,
Baltimore, MD 21217

+1 (410)-669-9200