This sample SOP was used by a non-native English speaker to apply to a master’s program in Art Education in the USA

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Statement of Purpose – Art Education

As I prepare to earn my bachelor’s degree in Visual Art, I am eager to continue my education in the most inspiring and challenging setting possible, which leads me to apply to your graduate program in Art Education. Through postgraduate studies I hope to improve my creative abilities, broaden my point of view, and cultivate the ability to be both an innovative artist and an influential teacher. In my native country, the arts are often viewed as a diversion or a hobby rather than a serious field of study, which is why I feel compelled to go to the US, where the arts are much more respected and developed. Your graduate program, with its abundant resources and diverse student body, can give me inspiration and training beyond what would be possible if I remained in my native country, and I am thus very much looking forward to commencing my graduate studies.

As an undergraduate, I have cultivated the independent abilities that a creator must have. I view artistic creation as a behavioral process of self-discovery and satisfaction, and it is therefore vital for artists to observe the world around them. My professors have taught me how to complete an art creation on my own, transforming the objects around me into my own creative language. I have developed a particular interest in fine art and an aspiration to work as an arts educator in the future, and I believe that the abilities that I have developed will help support my further research and creative productions as a graduate student.

In addition to the courses I have taken, I have also been active in department activities and events. For example, I the Exhibition Leader of the Department’s Student Union, and I planned two exhibitions during this time, including the Department Exhibition and the Faculty-Student Joint Exhibitions. In addition, I served as the leader of the graduation exhibition tour, in charge of distributing tasks to crew members and managing various details. I was also invited by a professor to volunteer in the department’s academic seminar, where my main role was to give guided tours of the exhibition and distribute tasks to volunteers. These combined experiences made me a much more well-rounded person, confident in my leadership and communication abilities.

With the above experiences, I consider myself thoroughly prepared for the challenge of further studies in your graduate school. I am eager to learn from the talented professors and inspired students there, while at the same time adapting to a new culture, which will help open my mind and give me new perspectives. After completing my studies, I would ideally hope to work for a period in the USA to acquire practical experience in an international setting. In the long-term, I plan to return to my native country and pursue work as an arts educator, using what I learn to inspire the next generation of artists. I believe that a true artist can have a deep and long-lasting impact on society, and after receiving the training you offer, I hope to begin working towards changing the conception of the arts in my home country and the surrounding region.

This sample SOP was used by a non-native English speaker to apply to a master’s program in Art History.

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Statement of Purpose – Art History

My decision to pursue master’s studies in the History of Art and Painting stems largely from my father, a prominent professor of Art History. I had the chance to attend his two courses, History of Greek Art and Thoughts on Contemporary Painting, in which I began to learn about how artists conveyed their aesthetic vision and emotions via artwork from ancient times to the present. I learned about the profound meanings behind these creations, including the historical background, politics, society, culture, and lifestyles. Thus, I became inspired to further my education of this discipline. A work of art can convey numerous messages, reflecting the culture and the time that inspired their creation. In other words, art represents a unique way to explore culture and people, both past and present, and by engaging in further studies related to the history of art, I expect to enrich my own creativity and my understanding of the world around me.

My predisposition for drawing and painting led me to major in Western Art Studies in the university. Through courses such as History of Western Art, History of Roman Art, Thoughts of Contemporary Painting, and Theory of Renaissance Paintings, I developed a comprehensive understanding of the history of different art forms. In addition, courses such as Aesthetics, Arts with the Anatomy, Sociology of Art and Psychology of Art gave me a chance to delve deeper into the meaning and possibilities of art. Although my major courses focused primarily on western art studies, my professors also introduced us to many eastern artists and their methods of expression, which helped to open my mind to the vastness of this complex world and the immense potential within it. My university education thus prepares me for my proposed studies, as I have already acquired a solid base to further research the evolution and impact of art.

While I was in the university, I also devoted much of my time to extracurricular activities and leadership positions. For example, I took part in the Student Association and served as an Activity Leader, responsible for planning various events and celebrations. In September of 2012, I held a solo sketch exhibition, which was my first experience organizing every aspect of an exhibition by myself, from renting the venue, inviting guests and designing the poster to actually preparing the exhibition and arranging the opening and closing ceremonies. This was quite different from the previous group exhibitions that I had joined, and it taught me to be more assertive and creative in order to display my artworks in the best way and thus accurately convey my ideas to the viewers.

In addition to the above, I worked part-time in the National Exchange Commission, where I assisted with the planning of community empowerment programs and did the overall planning and design for the local community. Also, I had the good fortune to work in our department’s office as an ambassador, where I helped the international exchange students with any problems that they had. In hindsight, these were very rewarding and meaningful experiences for me, as I got to meet people from different countries, learned about their different cultures, and improved my teamwork and communication skills. This cultural exchange experience gave me a window into the global village, and it played a part in my decision to pursue further studies overseas.

By joining your master’s program, I hope to move beyond my specialty in western art, expanding my knowledge of the east and the history of art and painting in general. At the same time, I look forward to studying alongside people from different cultures and learning about alternate viewpoints, as this will open new horizons for me in terms of my own creativity as well as my future career pursuits. After completing my master’s degree, I hope to continue on to a doctoral program, as I recognize the value of advanced education and research, and I hope to take my education as far as possible.

Regarding my long-term goals, I aspire to become a teacher of art history, introducing the next generation to the value and the possibilities of art. Therefore, my decision to study abroad relates not only to my personal interests but also my professional goals. I am looking forward to sharing my experience of different cultures and characteristics to my peers and students in the future, and after receiving the world-class education offered at your university, I know that I will be capable of attaining my goals and contributing to my society in the future.