MassArt Jobs

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Also known as: MassArt

5 Star Employer Ranking
621 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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MassArt Academic Calendar

MassArt Employer Profile

2025 Academic Calendar

🎉
New Year's Day Holiday
1 January 2025
University closed for New Year's observance, impacting staff and early planning for spring semester.
📅
Spring Semester Begins
13 January 2025approximate
First day of classes for spring term, welcoming students back for art and design courses.
🕊️
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
20 January 2025
Holiday honoring civil rights, classes suspended for reflection and community events.
🇺🇸
Presidents' Day
17 February 2025
Federal holiday, no classes, opportunity for mid-semester breaks.
🏖️
Spring Break Begins
10 March 2025approximate
Week-long break for rest and travel, crucial for creative recharge.
🛫
Spring Break Ends
16 March 2025approximate
Return to classes after break, resuming studio work.
📚
Last Day of Spring Classes
2 May 2025approximate
Conclusion of spring semester coursework.
📝
Spring Final Exams
5 May 2025approximate
Period for portfolio reviews and assessments.
🎓
Commencement Ceremony
16 May 2025approximate
Graduation event celebrating student achievements.
🎖️
Memorial Day
26 May 2025
Holiday remembering military personnel, university closed.
☀️
Summer Session Starts
2 June 2025approximate
Beginning of optional summer courses.
🇺🇸
Independence Day
4 July 2025
National holiday, no classes.
🏖️
Summer Session Ends
8 August 2025approximate
Conclusion of summer term.
🍂
Fall Semester Begins
3 September 2025approximate
Start of fall classes.
🛠️
Labor Day
1 September 2025
Holiday before fall start.
🌿
Indigenous Peoples' Day
13 October 2025
Observance, classes may be suspended.
🦃
Thanksgiving Break Begins
26 November 2025
Start of Thanksgiving recess.
🍁
Thanksgiving Break Ends
30 November 2025
Return from break.
📚
Last Day of Fall Classes
12 December 2025approximate
End of fall coursework.
📝
Fall Final Exams
15 December 2025approximate
Assessment period.

2026 Admission Key Dates

Are you planning on applying to MassArt next year? Then you need to know the important dates and deadlines for the admissions process at MassArt. You can check them out below…

📅
Early Action Application Deadline
1 November 2025
Deadline for early undergraduate applications to MassArt.
🗓️
Regular Decision Application Deadline
15 January 2026
Standard deadline for fall 2026 entry.
🎨
Portfolio Submission Deadline
1 February 2026
Required for art and design programs.
💰
Financial Aid Deadline
1 March 2026
FAFSA submission for aid consideration.
📬
Admission Decisions Released
1 April 2026approximate
Notifications sent to applicants.
Enrollment Deposit Deadline
1 May 2026
Secure spot for fall 2026.
🔄
Transfer Application Deadline
15 March 2026
For transferring students.
🌍
International Student Deadline
15 February 2026
Earlier for visa processing.
🏆
Scholarship Application Deadline
31 January 2026
For merit-based awards.
👋
Orientation Registration Opens
1 June 2026approximate
For admitted students.

The academic calendar at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) serves as the foundational framework for the institution's educational rhythm, guiding students, faculty, and staff through a year of creative exploration and academic rigor. As the oldest and only publicly funded free-standing art school in the United States, MassArt's calendar reflects its unique commitment to fostering artistic innovation within a structured yet flexible environment. The calendar typically divides the year into fall and spring semesters, with an optional summer session, allowing for intensive studio work, critiques, and exhibitions that define the art and design curriculum. This structure has evolved since MassArt's founding in 1873, adapting to the needs of a diverse student body while maintaining traditions like extended breaks for personal projects and travel, which are crucial for inspiration in creative fields.

Compared to other universities, MassArt's calendar emphasizes hands-on learning with fewer traditional lecture-based terms and more emphasis on portfolio development and collaborative projects. For students, this means aligning personal schedules with key periods for coursework submission, gallery openings, and internships, impacting everything from mental health to career preparation. Faculty benefit from designated times for research and professional development, while staff coordinate administrative tasks around these cycles. International students often find the calendar aligns well with global holidays, though adjustments for visa requirements and cultural observances are necessary. Admissions processes integrate seamlessly, with deadlines timed to allow prospective artists to prepare portfolios during less intensive periods.

Historically, MassArt's calendar has incorporated locale-specific elements, such as aligning breaks with Massachusetts' vibrant arts scene events or national holidays that encourage community engagement. For instance, past calendars have featured extended periods around major art festivals, enabling students to participate without academic conflict. This thoughtful design helps in planning family travel, coordinating with rival schools' events for collaborative opportunities, and tracking deadlines for grants or exhibitions. The calendar's predictability aids in verifying historical dates for alumni records or institutional archives, ensuring continuity in MassArt's legacy of artistic excellence.

In terms of student impact, the calendar promotes a balance between rigorous studio time and restorative breaks, essential for preventing burnout in demanding creative programs. Prospective students should note how terms align with application cycles, while parents can use it to plan visits or support during high-stress periods like finals. Overall, understanding MassArt's academic calendar is key to maximizing the educational experience, from planning classes and exams to enjoying holidays and breaks that recharge creative energies.

Overview of Massachusetts College of Art and Design Academic Calendar

The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) academic calendar is meticulously designed to support the dynamic needs of an art and design-focused institution. Structured around two main semesters—fall and spring—with an optional summer term, it provides a rhythm that balances intensive studio work, critiques, and exhibitions. This setup differs from more traditional universities by incorporating flexible scheduling for creative projects, allowing students to immerse themselves in hands-on learning without rigid daily classes. Traditions at MassArt include community-oriented events tied to the calendar, such as annual art sales during certain breaks, fostering a sense of belonging among the diverse student body.

Holiday notes are particularly important, with the calendar respecting national observances like Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, often extending into short breaks for reflection and community service, which align with MassArt's values of social justice and artistic expression. For US-based students, this means opportunities to engage in local Boston arts scenes during downtime. The calendar also considers the impact on international students, incorporating buffers around global holidays to minimize conflicts. To get insights from peers, check out Rate My Professor for faculty reviews that can help in course selection aligned with the calendar. Whether you're planning work schedules or tracking deadlines, MassArt's calendar ensures a supportive framework for academic success.

Faculty and staff appreciate the calendar's predictability, which allows for professional development during intersessions. Compared to rival institutions like Rhode Island School of Design, MassArt's version offers more emphasis on public engagement, with breaks timed for participation in external art events. This overview highlights how the calendar not only structures the year but also enhances the overall educational experience at MassArt.

Semester Dates and Class Planning

At Massachusetts College of Art and Design, semester dates are crafted to optimize creative output, typically starting after major holidays to ensure a fresh beginning. Class planning involves selecting from a variety of studio-based courses, with tips including early registration to secure spots in popular workshops like painting or digital media. Students often rate their experiences highly when courses align with personal interests, as seen in Rate My Professor feedback, which can guide choices.

Planning tips include mapping out prerequisites and balancing workload across terms to avoid overload during critique-heavy periods. International students should factor in travel times, ensuring alignment with visa renewals. By reviewing historical patterns, one can anticipate semester lengths, aiding in coordinating family travel or part-time jobs.

Ratings from platforms like Rate My College emphasize the importance of flexible scheduling at MassArt, where semesters allow for interdisciplinary exploration.

Exam Schedules and Preparation

Exam schedules at MassArt often involve portfolio reviews and practical assessments rather than traditional tests, typically clustered at semester ends. Preparation tips include building study groups and utilizing campus resources like the library's art archives. Students find success by pacing projects throughout the term, as noted in professor ratings.

Understanding typical periods helps in managing stress, with buffers before holidays for final submissions.

Thanksgiving Break at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Thanksgiving break at MassArt provides a much-needed pause, allowing students to recharge amid Boston's fall foliage. Traditions include community potlucks or art-themed gatherings, with travel tips focusing on affordable options to nearby New England spots. Planning involves coordinating with family for visits, ensuring alignment with academic deadlines.

This break impacts work schedules, offering time for personal projects or internships in the arts sector.

Holidays and Breaks

MassArt's holidays and breaks incorporate US-specific observances like Thanksgiving and spring break, providing opportunities for travel and inspiration. Spring break often aligns with peak creative seasons, encouraging visits to museums or nature for artistic renewal. Travel tips include budgeting for domestic trips, while international students appreciate alignments with global calendars.

These periods help in planning family travel and tracking rival school events for networking.

Work Schedule and Deadlines

Faculty at MassArt manage work schedules around submission deadlines, with tips for balancing teaching and research. Deadlines for grants or exhibitions are strategically placed to avoid overlap with student critiques.

Faculty and Staff Notes

Meetings and grading periods are key in MassArt's calendar, with invites for employees to rate their employer. Job opportunities can be explored at higher ed jobs.

Historical and Future Calendars

Historical calendars at MassArt show patterns like consistent semester starts, useful for verifying past dates. Future projections maintain this structure, aiding long-term planning.

Events and Professor Ratings

Events like orientation and commencement are highlights, with invites to rate professors or view results for better planning.

2026 Academic Calendar

🎉
New Year's Day Holiday
1 January 2026
University closed.
📅
Spring Semester Begins
12 January 2026approximate
Classes start.
🕊️
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
19 January 2026
Holiday.
🇺🇸
Presidents' Day
16 February 2026
No classes.
🏖️
Spring Break Begins
9 March 2026approximate
Break starts.
🛫
Spring Break Ends
15 March 2026approximate
Classes resume.
📚
Last Day of Spring Classes
1 May 2026approximate
Term ends.
📝
Spring Final Exams
4 May 2026approximate
Exams period.
🎓
Commencement Ceremony
15 May 2026approximate
Graduation.
🎖️
Memorial Day
25 May 2026
Holiday.
☀️
Summer Session Starts
1 June 2026approximate
Summer begins.
🇺🇸
Independence Day Observed
3 July 2026
Holiday observance.
🏖️
Summer Session Ends
7 August 2026approximate
End of summer.
🍂
Fall Semester Begins
2 September 2026approximate
Fall start.
🛠️
Labor Day
7 September 2026
Holiday after start.
🌿
Indigenous Peoples' Day
12 October 2026
Observance.
🦃
Thanksgiving Break Begins
25 November 2026
Break starts.
🍁
Thanksgiving Break Ends
29 November 2026
Return.
📚
Last Day of Fall Classes
11 December 2026approximate
Fall ends.
📝
Fall Final Exams
14 December 2026approximate
Exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

📅When does the fall semester start at Massachusetts College of Art and Design?

The fall semester at MassArt typically begins in early September, after Labor Day, marking the start of intensive art and design courses. This timing allows students to settle in Boston and prepare portfolios. For planning, check Rate My Professor for course insights. Exact dates vary yearly.

🏖️Does MassArt have a spring break?

Yes, MassArt includes a spring break, usually in March, providing a week for travel or rest. It's ideal for visiting art galleries or family. Plan ahead using the academic calendar to coordinate with deadlines.

🦃What is the Thanksgiving break schedule at MassArt?

Thanksgiving break at MassArt generally spans Wednesday to Sunday in late November, aligning with the US holiday. Use this time for family travel or creative projects. Verify with the official calendar.

🗓️How can I plan my work schedule around MassArt's academic year?

MassArt's academic year features semesters from September to May, with breaks for holidays. Faculty can align research with intersessions. Explore higher ed jobs for opportunities.

📝What are the key admission deadlines for MassArt 2026 entry?

Key deadlines include early action in November 2025 and regular in January 2026. Prepare portfolios accordingly. International applicants note visa timelines.

🏫How does MassArt's calendar compare to rival schools?

MassArt's calendar is similar to RISD but emphasizes public art events. Track rival events for collaborations via the academic schedule.

☀️Are there summer sessions at MassArt?

Yes, optional summer sessions run from June to August, offering focused courses. Great for accelerating studies or exploring new media.

🎊What holidays does MassArt observe?

MassArt observes US holidays like MLK Day, Presidents' Day, and Independence Day, with no classes. Aligns with Boston's cultural scene.

📜How to verify historical academic dates at MassArt?

Historical dates can be verified through MassArt archives or past calendars, useful for alumni or research. Patterns show consistent structures.

🎓When is commencement at MassArt?

Commencement is typically in mid-May, celebrating graduates with art exhibitions. Families plan travel accordingly.

❄️Does MassArt have a winter break?

Yes, winter break follows fall finals in December, extending through New Year's, perfect for holidays and recharge.

How to rate professors at MassArt?

Visit Rate My Professor to share or view ratings, helping with class planning per the academic calendar.

📚What is the last day of classes in spring at MassArt?

Spring classes usually end in early May, before exams. This marks the transition to summer or graduation preparations.

📝Are there exam periods in MassArt's calendar?

Yes, exam periods follow the last day of classes, focusing on critiques and portfolios rather than written tests.
7 Jobs Found

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

621 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Staff / Administration
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Closes: Feb 1, 2026

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

621 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Closes: Feb 1, 2026

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

621 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Staff / Administration
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Closes: Jan 31, 2026

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

621 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Staff / Administration
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Closes: Jan 18, 2026