Is Tyler School of Art competitive?

Since 1935, Tyler School of Art, Temple University has offered students the combination of a world renowned faculty of dedicated teachers, accomplished studio artists, and highly respected scholars with the resources of a major university.

From advanced technology to the most traditional methods, Tyler is dedicated to providing education in the arts to aspiring and talented students who share our belief that the arts are fundamental to life in the 21st century. 

What makes your school’s art & design programs different & unique from other art & design school programs?

Located in one of the most culturally vibrant, and historic cities in the country, the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia provides students with an education in the arts that both challenges and encourages creative exploration and prepares them to be active participants and leaders in the arts.

With the support of our world renown faculty, Tyler School of Art students are exposed to both traditional techniques and advanced technologies keeping them competitive with their disciplines.

The Tyler School of Art offers a wide range of majors from aBA in Visual Studies, BSEd/MEd in Art Education, Certificate in Community Arts Practices, BA/MA/PHd in Art History, BS/MArch in Architecture, BS in Architecture Preservation, BS in Facilities Management, BFA/MFA in Ceramics, BFA/MFA in Fibers Materials Studies, BFA/MFA in Glass, BFA/MFA in Graphic and Interactive Design, BFA/MFA in Painting and Drawing, BFA/MFA in Sculpture, BFA/MFA in Metals/Jewelry/CADCAM, and a BFA /MFA in Photography.

Our students are able to creatively explore multi disciplinary studios within Tyler as well as academic disciplines within Temple University thus providing them with incredibly versatile opportunities and connections on a global scale.

What are the top 3 program features that make your program stand out?

With state of the art technology in a newly constructed 300,000 sq ft facility (in 2009), our students have the capacity to maximize the scale of their work –from our 2-ton gantry cranes in our sculpture studio to large format printers to our industrial size gas and electric kilns- just to name a few.  

Our digital fabrication studios allow our students easy access to 3d printers, 3d scanners, laser cutting, embroidery, and vinyl cutting technology.

The Tyler School of Art educates students to have an impact of art on a local and global scale through community engagement as well as international exploration and research.

Can students take courses in other schools?

Temple University offers a total of 421 academic programs (as of July 2014) and is regarded to be a national leader in education, research and healthcare.  With that said, our students have the opportunity to take courses in other majors offered at Temple and can pursue double majors, minors or certificates.  All Tyler and Temple students’ curricula include a general education component that helps students make connections from academic knowledge to experience.  The coursework develops strong communication skills, critical thinking skills, the ability to apply abstract theories and ideas to concrete experiences and practices, and problem-solving skills.  

Tyler students can also choose to study abroad at either one of our Temple Rome or Temple Japan campuses where both studio and liberal arts courses are offered or may choose from one of the many other approved education abroad partnership programs.

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

Applicants to the Tyler School of Art are evaluated both academically and artistically to determine whether they are admissible.

Applicants must meet the academic standards of Temple University while also passing the Tyler School of Art’s portfolio review in order to be admitted. Applicants can arrange portfolio reviews in person, on-line or off site portfolio events. 

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

This really depends on which program our applicant has applied for.

Architecture and Art History applicants are not required to submit a portfolio (although they certainly can as supplemental material). However, these applicants are first and foremost assessed academically.

BSEd Art Education and BA Visual Studies applicants are required to submit a portfolio of 5-10 works of art that are creatively diverse, but should also include at least 2 observational drawings. These applicants are also required to complete a drawing exercise and writing exercise in addition to their portfolio.

Our BFA applicants have a more comprehensive portfolio which requires them to submit anywhere from 15-20 pieces portfolio and must include at least 5 direct observational drawings. The remaining pieces in the portfolio can be in one’s preferred medium. A self-portrait from observation is also required, as well as a statement of intent. These are the three items our admissions staff evaluated per applicant. 

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

This is an incredibly exciting time for art students. They are being encouraged to break boundaries and explore the arts using new technologies. Some are finding ways to merge traditional techniques with breakthrough technology thus acknowledging the dichotomy rather than ignoring it. The Tyler School of Art believes it is equally important to hone traditional techniques while also position oneself to remain competitive with advanced ever-changing technology. 

In fact, while in the stages of designing our new facility, it was imperative that Tyler’s new space housed state of the art technologies and tools without taking away any historic methods- both are central to our curricula.

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?

As soon as you become a Tyler student you become an important member to a much larger community — a community of creators, makers, thinkers, doers, leaders, educators, and inventors. In addition to their capstone courses in the majors, our students are provided with workshops, lectures, networking events, weekly newsletter updates as well as resources from the Temple Career Center to prepare them for careers and professional practice.  

Our students have been featured in Forbes magazines 30 under 30’s Art and Style category for their successful businesses. 

Whether it is pursuing a higher degree for an MFA, MArch or PhD, becoming an entrepreneur and starting your own business; teaching, writing, or research;or joining an established team as a creative director or designer, our Tyler students enter the work force confident in their skills and ability to succeed.

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

The Tyler School of Art is committed to working with our students and developing new programs that can provide different and new pathways into the arts. We are excited to announce the launch of our new low residency MFA in Illustration degree. We also offer a undergraduate and graduate certificate in Community Art Practices. Lastly, we have created an intensive design MArch track that helps professionals with degree in all different areas obtain a masters in architecture. All of these programs were developed as a response to student desire.

What is the most distinguished feature at your school?

Temple Contemporary, previous known as Temple Gallery, provides our students and community with progressive programming and whose mission states to creatively re-imagine the social function of art through questions of local relevance and international significance. Temple Contemporary utilizes our urban campus by engaging the surrounding community through exhibitions, and public programs.

Most recent is the reForm exhibit, which commissioned artist and faculty Pepon Osorio. This installation, which has garnered attention by the New York Times,and Art in America addresses the issue of school closures in Philadelphia through video interviews and  items from Fairhill Elementary School were gathered and installed in one of Tyler’s classrooms.

We are very fortunate to have a space, which encourages active participation in the arts and community on both a local and global scale.

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

The most paramount advice for anyone considering or entering the arts is the following —Every thing you interact with in life has gone through a creative process. The creative arts, design and architecture are monumental for so many industries and with an increasingly more digital, and graphic visual culture, creative minds and artist will be in high demand. Continue to explore, build your artistic vernacular and never stop creating.

Interviewed by Grace Ahn Klensin
Senior Admissions Counselor

FACT!

The Temple Option is an admissions path for talented students whose potential for academic success is not accurately captured by standardized test scores.

Students who choose the Temple Option will submit self-reflective, short-answers to a few specially designed, open-ended questions instead of their SAT or ACT scores. 

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