To apply for admission to the English and the Visual Arts Program (EVA) for the Summer semester, applicants must submit the following materials:

• Application for Undergraduate Admission
• Statement of Intent
• Transcripts all high schools/colleges attended
• Portfolio (15–20 images) 
• Demonstration of English proficiency (TOEFL, TOEFL ibt Home Edition, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, Pearson PTE test results)

Accepted students who enroll will be required to submit financial documents. For more information about the financial documents requirement, please see the undergraduate application requirements.

Recommended Deadline: April 1

Applicants who apply directly to the undergraduate program, but do not meet the English proficiency requirements for degree study, will automatically be reviewed for admission to the English and the Visual Arts Program. 

Students who successfully complete the summer, fall and spring semesters of the English and the Visual Arts Program will continue their studies in the BFA program the following fall semester.

Students that begin the English and the Visual Arts Program in the summer may choose to test out of the program between the summer/fall and fall/spring semesters by submitting a new BFA-qualifying English proficiency exam score. Students are required to report the new test score to the Assistant Director of Special Programs, via email at eva@sva.edu in order to have their application reevaluated for placement in the BFA program. 

Accepted EVA students who have paid their enrollment fee will receive an invitation to request their I-20 in the online Terra Dotta portal. Once all required information has been submitted, the International Students Office will review your materials and contact you if any additional documents are required.

In order to register for classes, students will first need to submit a tuition payment to the Office of Student Accounts.

More information regarding this process may be found here.

If you have any questions about the I-20 and F-1 visa process, please contact the International Students Office at iso@sva.edu.

In order to register for classes, incoming students must submit the SVA Student Health Form. You may find more information here.

For questions regarding the SVA Student Health form, please contact Student Health and Counseling Services at health@sva.edu.

English and the Visual Arts: Summer In-person Program

This seven-week immersion into the English language will also serve as an introduction to New York’s vibrant art scene. The studio courses grant 6 undergraduate studio credits upon successful completion. The program includes six English and the Visual Arts classes per week.

EVD-0010-A Acting and Improvisation

Summer semester: no credit

Through guided exercises in acting and improvisation, students will work on developing their pronunciation, fluency and confidence in speaking English.

EVD-0013-A Public Speaking Workshop

Summer semester: no credit

This course will cover public speaking including informative, persuasive, demonstrative and motivational speeches. Students will learn to speak clearly and confidently by using notes or scripted speech. Planning will include speaking from a personal point of view or from your own expertise as well as relaying ideas and information found through research. Learning to relax and feel comfortable while “speaking on one’s feet” will be an important part of this course.

EVD-0015-A Bridge to the Humanities

Summer semester: no credit

This course will introduce students to courses and disciplines offered by the Humanities and Sciences Department while improving academic vocabulary, note-taking and listening comprehension skills. Each week, students will view a new academic lecture and will be required to participate in asynchronous discussion threads and complete written assignments that display comprehension of the lecture and acquisition of new vocabulary. Lecture subjects include education, literature, science, sociology and the law as it relates to artists.

EVD-0020-A Writing and Speaking About Art

Summer semester: no credit

Through reading and research assignments, students will build the vocabulary to discuss and analyze art, including their own. We will also cover how to present artwork and write critiques.

EVD-0025-A The Art of New York

Summer semester: no credit

This course will introduce students to New York City’s exciting art scene through field trips to museums and galleries. Lectures will be given at each venue and students will complete a written assignment in the museum or gallery.

EVD-0035-A Developing the Essay

Summer semester: no credit

Students will develop the skills needed to write personal and persuasive essays. Reading, discussion, class presentations and assignments based on research with MLA citation will be part of this course.

FII-1005-A Drawing with Mixed Media

Summer semester: 3 studio credits

This course will help students to discard old habits and any fears about drawing, and discover the connection between the eyes (technique), the brain and the heart. A variety of mediums and subjects will be introduced to provide new perspectives and techniques in drawing.

PHI-1005-A New York City Through Digital Photography

Summer semester: 3 studio credits

Using digital photography to see and to explore New York City, students will visit various sites and neighborhoods and work on specific photographic assignments. Each student will produce a book that documents these experiences and that also represents the student’s artistic vision. Presentation of work and critiques will be included.

English and the Visual Arts: Fall and Spring

In the fall and spring semesters, students must register for a weekly minimum of 12 hours of study in English and the Visual Arts per semester. Students must register for EVD-0050/EVD-0055, Reading Strategies I and II, and EVD-0060/EVD-0065, Writing Strategies I and II. Students must also register for two EVA elective courses per semester in both the fall and spring semesters.

Students must register for studio and art history requirements in their field of study. Students must register for at least 12 credits per semester and may register for up to 15 credits per semester at no additional tuition charge.

EVD-0050 Reading Strategies I

Fall semester: no credit

Students will develop their vocabulary and critical reading and thinking skills through discussion of essays, short stories and related media. Students will be required to keep a reading journal.

EVD-0055 Reading Strategies II

Spring semester: no credit

This is the second part of a two-semester course. See EVD-0050 for course description.

EVD-0060 Writing Strategies I

Fall semester: no credit

This course will focus on essay writing using class readings and discussions as a basis for writing. Students will learn the fundamentals of grammar, sentence and paragraph logic, idea development, organization and sentence structure, as well as how to cite sources appropriately.

EVD-0065 Writing Strategies II

Spring semester: no credit

This is the second part of a two-semester course. See EVD-0060 for course description.

Course #

EVD-0070-A The Language of Art: The New York Art Scene and You

Fall semester: no credit

This course will highlight the art of emerging NY artists as well as famous and lesser-known artists from around the globe as a springboard for art discussion and critique strategies improvement. Students will view images by these artists, followed by in-depth discussions. They will develop critiquing skills, ask and answer thought-provoking questions, and build a substantial art vocabulary. Students will also give commentary on artists of their choice and engage in critiques of their own artwork.

EVD-0071-A The Language of Art: Literature, Performing and Visual Arts

Spring semester: no credit

We will explore how different art genres interrelate from World War II to the present. Students will be encouraged to examine their own artistic, social and cultural influences. We will use readings, films and museum visits as a springboard for discussion and class presentations.

EVD-0073-A TOEFL Strategies

Fall semester: no credit

The Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) will be used as the material for this course in improved academic language skills. Through reading selections, spoken English, problem solving, writing and listening exercises, participants will learn academic vocabulary, sharpen verbal skills and listening acuity. Writing practice, specifically targeting essay questions, will increase both grammar accuracy and critical thinking ability. Weekly discussions of topics typically brought up in the TOEFL will add an interactive component.

EVD-0078 Speak Fluently

One semester: no credit

Students will build fluency through acting and improvisation techniques. These exercises will help students to feel at ease with public speaking and class discussion of significant topics.

EVD-0231 Improve Your Fluency

One semester: no credit

This course will improve conversation, pronunciation and vocabulary through class discussion and structured debates to help students develop confidence and spontaneity. Reading and listening comprehension through select articles and videos will provide stimulating course content. Students will write short responses and keep a vocabulary journal.

EVD-0283 Improve Your Vocabulary

One semester: no credit

This course will help you to increase your word power through TED Talks and news broadcasts, short video clips and articles, as well as participation in engaging discussions, presentations and exercises that elicit the natural use of words. You will study a wide variety of vocabulary words used in academic settings, and learn about word forms (noun, verb, adjective, adverb). A personal vocabulary journal will be required.

EVD-0288 Acting the Memoir

One semester: no credit

In this course students will read published memoirs, write their own memoirs and enact them within the structure of the improvisational techniques of the famed acting technique, The Method. This multifaceted learning experience will enrich each student’s communication and speaking skills.

EVD-0334 Contemporary Culture in Context 

One semester: no credit

Experience contemporary English language and explore different cultures through selected readings and screenings that will cover exciting stories on a variety of topics. This will provide a springboard for class discussions. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the course material and draw cross-cultural comparisons.

EVD-0336-A English Through Popular Music

Spring semester: no credit

Drawing on materials from contemporary music, this course will focus on song lyrics as a means of targeting vocabulary and grammatical forms. These materials will also prompt discussions about arts and culture. The semester is divided according to genre, beginning with ballads and folk songs, and followed by classic rock & roll, hip-hop and recent music hits. There will be weekly vocabulary and grammar quizzes, and each student will give a multimedia presentation of a song of their choice during the semester.

EVD-0338 English for Everyday Use

One semester: no credit

In this course students will learn useful idiomatic vocabulary and grammar while acting out real-life situations, such as shopping, a job interview, being at the airport, ordering food at a restaurant and negotiating apartment rentals in NY. We will dramatize a new real-life scenario in each session and students will see their communication skills grow.

EVD-0341 English for Professional Communication

One semester: no credit

This course will develop communication skills as they relate to formal correspondence for academic and professional environments, and interview skills for jobs or internships, as well as networking skills. Fluency and pronunciation will be an important part of this course to build communicative confidence.