Who should Apply
The èƽ PhD in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory is a research-based, low-residency PhD for artists, theorists, curators, and creative thinkers in a broad sense who want to push the boundaries of how we understand art, culture, and human experience. Earn your PhD with three years of coursework (60 credits) followed by the dissertation.
Qualified holders of a BA or BFA are invited to apply. Students entering the program with an MA in art, philosophy, or related disciplines or an MFA may be eligible to transfer up to 5 credits toward the PhD, reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
For inquiries and to schedule an interview, contact our Director of Admissions, Dr. Jeanne Moore:
How to Apply
Upcoming Application Deadlines
Rolling admissions for May 2026 Enrollment. Begin your èƽ journey with the Summer residency in Italy.
Apply by April 13, 2026 for September 2026 Enrollment. Your Fall program begins online.
Step 1: Create a profile and fill out an using the èƽ Virtual Campus (Blackbaud). You will use this profile to track your application status and upload materials.
Step 2: Review your checklist on your virtual campus profile and submit documents as they are ready. You will be asked to submit the following information:
- Current curriculum vitae
- minimum of 750 words
- One academic writing sample, 10-20 pages double-spaced
- Optional: artist statement of no more than 500 words
- Optional: ten to twenty images or other documentation of creative practice. Submit as a Google Drive folder or link to website
All written documents should be attached as a PDF document. Application materials can be sent in stages.
Step 3: Three letters of recommendation must be sent by the references to èƽ through your virtual campus portal. The letters are preferably written on letterhead, and at least two of the three letters should come from faculty who can support the applicant’s ability to perform PhD level scholarship.
Step 4: Arrange for your academic institutions to send official sealed copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts to:
èƽ Admissions Committee
63 Federal Street, Portland, ME 04101
or by secure email to: admissions@idsva.edu
Step 5: Once your materials have been submitted, a representative from the admissions committee will be in touch to arrange for an admissions interview.
Step 6: Apply for Financial Aid (if necessary): Go to and log in or create a new account. When prompted, enter the èƽ school code G41888. Admitted applicants who have submitted the FAFSA will be eligible for both an èƽ Scholarship and Federal Student Loans. Learn more about .
Driskell Fellowship: èƽ awards one David Driskell Fellowship to each incoming cohort. Driskell Fellows are students who show promise in carrying forward David Driskell's mission to encourage worldwide community and equality through art, particularly in the field of African American studies and the African Diaspora. Applications for the Driskell Fellow can be found .
Requirements
Degree Requirements: Applicants must hold a BA or a BFA degree. Preference will be given to applicants with completed courses in art, philosophy, and related subjects. Applicants with a master’s level degree, including the MFA, are encouraged to apply; up to 5 credits may be transferred toward the PhD, depending on the quality of the application. Criteria for evaluation will include undergraduate and graduate transcripts (when applicable) from accredited institutions of higher learning. The minimum grade point average in both cases is 3.0. A working knowledge of art history, critical theory, and philosophy should be demonstrated in the transcripts.
Statement of Intent: Applicants should submit an essay of purpose that describes their interest in pursuing doctoral studies in the arts, indicates related elements of their personal/artistic journey, and offers a preliminary sense of what themes and questions they hope to explore through a course of study in philosophy, aesthetics, and art theory. We welcome applications showing interest in developing research in any field of the theoretical humanities and in any art discipline, including curatorial studies, anthropology, cultural studies, etc. For more detailed information, please .
Writing Sample: Applicants should provide a writing sample of academic quality and style, such as a paper written for coursework, publication, or a portion of a senior thesis or MA thesis. The sample should be between 10-20 pages double-spaced.
Letters of Recommendation: Applicants should provide three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should come from faculty who can support the applicant’s ability to perform PhD level scholarship. For those applying who hold an MFA, the third recommendation may address the applicant’s studio practice in terms of philosophical significance and promise.
Portfolio and Artist Statement: Candidates who have a studio practice may also submit a portfolio and artist statement. The admissions committee will consider the portfolio and artist statement as a means of contextualizing the application and not as a determining factor in the admissions process.
Credit Transfer: Students may transfer up to five credits completed at other schools toward the èƽ PhD. Graduate work is considered for transfer on an individual basis by the Director of the School. The work must be of acceptable quality and appropriate to the èƽ course of study.
Admission Deferral: Accepted applicants admitted into a particular enrollment may defer admission to a later enrollment without penalty. If, however, admission is delayed for more than one year beyond the initial acceptance, the accepted applicant is required to reapply; readmission is not guaranteed.
International Students: Foreign students are welcome to apply and can pursue doctoral study from their country of residence. èƽ can issue F-1 Visas to foreign students for the residencies held in the U.S. This means that foreign students can travel to the U.S. to attend the one-week residency held in New York City. The Visa does not provide for full-time residence in the U.S.
Questions: Contact the Director of Admissions, Jeanne Moore, at 207-200-1164 / info@idsva.edu
