CCS BARD

DEADLINE – February 1

1. A brief (700 – 900 words) statement of purpose describing your interest in the graduate program, goals that you would like to achieve while at CCS Bard, previous academic and professional preparation, and familiarity with contemporary art issues and related discourses.

2. A brief (500-700 words) proposal for a curated project that you would like to realize. Include a list of suggested works.

3. A curriculum vitae.

4. Official transcripts from undergraduate institutions, sent directly to CCS Bard.

5. Two [2] letters of recommendation (see below for instructions on how to register your recommenders using the online application).

Begin An Application

Applicants for admission must hold an B.A., B.S., or B.F.A. degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, or a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from a college or university outside the United States. An applicant’s undergraduate major need not be in art history or the studio arts; however, applicants must demonstrate that they have a broad knowledge of the history of art, as well as an acquaintance with the contemporary visual arts.

In addition to the application materials listed above, international students must provide evidence of proficiency in English—for example, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

To receive visa documentation, international applicants must submit proof that their income from all sources will be sufficient to meet expenses for the duration of their study in the United States. A Certification of Finances must be completed. Evidence may come from the following sources:

1. An affidavit from a bank

2. Certification by parents, or sponsors, of their ability to provide the necessary funds

3. Certification, by an employer, of anticipated income

The graduate curriculum is organized to encourage ongoing discussion of curatorial issues among students of varied backgrounds and interests. To this end, half of each student’s courses are taken with his or her entering class.

Consequently, only limited transfer credits (no more than 4 credits or the equivalent of two courses) will be given for course work completed elsewhere. Requests for transfer of credit must be made when a student applies for admission and will be reviewed by the Graduate Committee. Transfer credits may be used only to meet elective course requirements. Students receiving 4 transfer credits in a single distribution area will be required to take at least one further elective in that area during their studies at CCS Bard.

January 1 – February 1 FAFSA submitted for students who are U.S. citizens

February 1 Application for admission and International Student financial aid application due to CCS Bard

March 31 Notification of admission and financial aid awards

April 15 New students’ decision to enroll and $515 enrollment deposit due

July Fall tuition payment due

December Spring tuition payment due

The graduate program offers significant scholarship and fellowship awards on the basis of need, as determined annually through the federal government and Bard College. CCS Bard fellowships are awarded on the basis of achievement and promise, as determined by the Graduate Committee in its review of applications for admission. Scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis as determined by the students’ financial need. Students, who are U.S. citizens, may also apply for federal loans. These programs are briefly described below. More detailed information can be obtained from CCS Bard. Financial aid is administered by the Bard College Office of Financial Aid.

Eligibility for financial aid is based on merit and financial need. Financial need for U.S. citizens is assessed by a uniform method, using data provided by the student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form should be filed electronically at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa as soon after January 1 as possible and no later than February 1.

Students whose admission and financial aid applications are completed by February 1 will be notified of financial aid awards by March 31. To be eligible for federal student aid, applicants must not be in default of repayment of federal student loans or owe refunds on federal student grants. Awards of financial aid are made without reference to age, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, disability, marital status, race, or sexual orientation.

Financial Aid Support
CCS Bard provides four different financial aid options for international students and U.S. citizens alike. The awards include the following: CCS Bard Scholarships; CCS Bard Fellowships; The Lowery Stokes Sims Diversity Scholarships; and the Forge Scholarship for Indigenous Art. More information on the individual financial aid options are below:

CCS Bard Scholarships
CCS Bard Scholarships are an award provided to admitted students based on their individual financial need. Evaluation for this award is based on the FAFSA for U.S. citizens and the International Student Financial Aid Application for International Students. The award is renewable for the second year of the graduate program and is applied toward the cost of tuition each semester.

CCS Bard Fellowships
CCS Bard Fellowships are an award provided to admitted students based on their individual academic merit. Evaluation for this award is based on the admitted students application materials. This award is renewable for the second year of the graduate program and is applied toward the cost of tuition each semester.

The Lowery Stokes Sims Diversity Scholarships
The purpose of these scholarships is to support educational diversity at CCS Bard consistent with its mission. The Lowery Stokes Sims Scholarships will be awarded to students with backgrounds and experiences that are under-represented in the curatorial and museum field. No separate application is required. Questions may be directed to ccsadmissions@bard.edu.

The Forge Scholarship for Indigenous Art
Bard College initiated The Forge Scholarship for Indigenous Art at the Center for Curatorial Studies as part of a larger endowment gift to strengthen the commitment to and scholarship around Indigenous contemporary art and its histories. The Forge Scholarship for Indigenous Art supports students who wish to study, research, and focus on Indigenous art in the CCS Bard graduate program. Its aim is to broadly support work that creates resonant and innovative platforms for Indigenous artists and practitioners.

The recipient of the Forge Scholarship will be advised by the Fellow in Indigenous Art History and Curatorial Studies, a faculty appointment at CCS Bard, and take CCS courses hosted at Forge Project, a Native-led non-profit organization with a lending collection of Indigenous art, whose mandate is to cultivate and advance Indigenous leadership in arts and culture. In addition, they will have the opportunity to collaborate with a range of other Bard faculty and programs, including the Center for Indigenous Studies.

The Forge Scholarship provides full tuition coverage to the CCS Bard graduate program as well as a stipend to help offset living expenses based on demonstrated financial need. The Scholarship will be automatically renewed in the second year of the program as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing. The next Forge Scholarship will be awarded for the fall 2025 / spring 2026 academic year. Applicants should outline their interest in the Scholarship and relevant academic and curatorial interests in their application to CCS Bard (due February 1, 2025). No separate application is required. Questions may be directed to ccsadmissions@bard.edu.

International Student Aid
International students, although not eligible for financial assistance from the federal government of the United States, may qualify for aid administered by Bard College, including CCS Bard Scholarship, CCS Bard Fellowship, The Lowery Stokes Sims Diversity Scholarships, and The Forge Scholarship for Indigenous Art. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you wish to apply for financial aid, you will need to fill out the following form: International Student Financial Aid Application.

Graduate students may be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. To be eligible, the student must have a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file, be at least half-time status and be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The borrower of an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is responsible for interest payments while in school. You have the option to defer payments of interest and principal until after you graduate.

Eligible students may borrow up to $20,500 each academic year. The interest rate for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan is always fixed for the life of that loan. However, interest rates will be determined each June for new loans being made for the upcoming award year, which runs from July 1 to the following June 30.

Repayment begins six months after graduation, or after a student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.

Please visit studentaid.gov for the most current interest rates and additional loan information.

Graduate students can access the Federal PLUS Loan program to cover the portion of the cost of education not covered by other financial aid. This loan is guaranteed by the federal government and may be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half time. A credit check is required.

CCS Bard is committed to providing substantial financial aid for students in order to offset tuition and cost of living expenses. Our Graduate Program is distinguished by its commitment to supporting its students and helping ensure that their time at CCS, and their careers afterwards, are properly planned so as to be as unburdened by debt as possible. Please see our Financial Aid section for more details. Tuition for the 2024–2025 academic year is $40,742 and may vary from year to year. Fees include a yearly $220 registration fee, a $225 security deposit, and a yearly $470 Health Services fee. A $120 fee is charged prior to graduation. Students who take longer than two years to complete their work toward the master’s degree are charged a maintenance-of-status fee of $500 per year.

New students must pay a $515 enrollment deposit by April 15. The deposit is applied towards the student’s tuition and is nonrefundable. Tuition and fees for the academic year will be billed in two equal installments. Billing statements will reflect charges and financial aid awards, including all Federal Direct Loan applications on file. Unpaid balances will be subject to a late payment fee of $100 and finance charges of 1 percent per month (12 percent per annum). A student who has outstanding indebtedness to Bard College will not be allowed to register or re-register, receive a transcript of record, have academic credits certified, or have a degree granted.

No refund of any fees will be made in the event that a student withdraws from the program at any time after registration, except as herein specified. In all cases, the student must submit an official request for withdrawal to the Graduate Committee. The date of submission of such a request will determine the amount of refund. Students who officially withdraw before the first day of classes for the term in question will be given a full refund of all charges, less the nonrefundable tuition deposit. If the official withdrawal from the program occurs after the first day of classes in a given term, tuition is refunded as follows: If the withdrawal occurs within the first week of classes, 75 percent of tuition is refunded; within the second week, 60 percent of tuition is refunded; within the third or fourth weeks, 30 percent of tuition is refunded; after four weeks, no refunds are given. Registration and student health insurance fees are not refundable.

Refunds to financial aid recipients who withdraw from the program will be affected by a reduction in the amount of the grant; any institutional grant, scholarship, or fellowship will be reduced by the same percentage as indicated in the tuition-refund schedule above. Refunds to recipients of federal aid (Federal Stafford Loan) who withdraw will be calculated according to the federal refund policy concerning the amount of the Federal Stafford Loan to be returned to the lender. A student who is considering withdrawal may wish to confer with the Office of Student Accounts and the Office of Financial Aid concerning any anticipated refund and the amount of the Federal Stafford Loan that Bard College must return to the lender, since this amount will have a direct bearing on the amount of refund, if any, that the College will provide the student.

No refund is made in cases of suspension or expulsion.

Bard College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a regional accrediting agency approved by the United States Education Department. Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104; phone 267-284-5000. https://www.msche.org/institution/0267/

The New York State Education Department has registered the following courses of study leading to Bard College bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees: the bachelor of arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of science, master of arts in curatorial studies, master of arts in teaching, master of fine arts, master of business administration in sustainability, master of music in vocal arts, master of music in conducting, master of music in curatorial, critical, and performance studies, master of science in environmental policy, master of science in climate science and policy, master of education in environmental education, master of science and master of arts in economic theory and policy, and the master of arts, master of philosophy, and doctor of philosophy degrees in decorative arts, design history, and material culture. New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education, Office of College and University Evaluation, Room 960 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234; phone 518-474-1551. http://www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html

Bard is also a member of the American Council on Education, American Council of Learned Societies, Association of American Colleges and Universities, College Entrance Examination Board, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, Education Records Bureau, and Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and Universities.

Accommodations and Meal Plans

There is limited campus housing for graduate students. Apartments and houses for rent can be found near the Bard College campus, and CCS Bard maintains a list of real estate agents who can assist students in finding housing.

During the academic year, graduate students may purchase a prepaid credit card that can be used at the Bard College dining facilities.

Medical Records and Health Insurance Prior to arrival at Bard, all students are required to complete a health packet, which includes documentation of a recent physical examination and complete immunization records. New York State law requires that all students born after January 1, 1957, provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. Additionally, students must be provided information about meningococcal meningitis and must document having received the vaccine or sign a waiver declining it. All students must provide proof of health insurance.

Bard College offers students accident and health insurance, which includes use of the Bard College Health Service. For information about immunization requirements and health insurance, call the Bard Health Services at (845) 758-7433.

Bard College complies with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This act assures students attending a postsecondary institution that they will have the right to inspect and review certain of their educational records and, by following the guidelines provided by the College, to correct inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal hearings. It protects students’ rights to privacy by limiting transfer of these records without their consent, except in specific circumstances. Students have the right to file complaints with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. College policy relating to the maintenance of student records is available, on request, from the Office of the Registrar.

Bard College is committed to ensuring equal access to its educational programs and equal employment without regard to an individual’s sex, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, ex-offender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Students, employees, applicants, and other members of Bard College community (including, but not limited to, vendors, visitors, and guests) shall not be subject to discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or otherwise treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Similarly, the College will not tolerate harassing, violent, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct by its students, employees, or any other member of, or visitor to, the College community. This includes, without limitation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, and domestic violence.