Graduate Students

Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Our graduate programs applaud experimentation, and you will be encouraged to cross disciplines and explore concepts unbound to any one medium or academic department in the realization of impactful work. We provide a context, awareness, and understanding much greater than any single-discipline approach could provide.

Our Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago
At SAIC, the United States' 2nd largest collection of art and artifacts- our own Art Institute of Chicago museum- is an integral part of your educational experience. Students have open access to the museum, its research library and its collections, which span 5,000 years of human history and represent cultures from around the globe.

Facilities and Resources
SAIC provides students with training and access to an array of facilities and resources from day one. From time-honored processes, like pouring molten metal and throwing clay, to state-of-the-art 3D printing and laser cutting, a variety of tools are at your disposal. Three media centers also loan out a variety of photography and filmmaking equipment.

Chicago
Approachable and culturally rich, Chicago is an amazing city comprised of 77 distinct neighborhoods. SAIC is at the center of the city's art and design scene, with faculty and alumni connections providing you with a multitude of networking opportunities.

Comprehensive Education
SAIC encourages you to produce well-informed work that engages social, philosophical, and scientific aspects of our complex world. Our departments encourage graduate students to reforge their identities as researchers, writers, cultural leaders, pedagogues, and therapists in response to the richness of a studio and museum school.

Professional Opportunities
SAIC Graduate students are encouraged to grow their professional skills through opportunities including Teaching Assistantships, Teaching Fellowships, Exhibition Fellowships, Graduate Assistantships, F News, Internships, and exhibition opportunities. Additionally, our dedicated Career and Professional Experience office offers support to graduate students and alumni as they pursue their professional goals.