Visual and Performing Arts, MF - George Mason Un

The MFA in Visual and Performing Arts is a terminal degree that emphasizes creative work and skill building, preparing students to be professional artists, scholars, or university-level educators. The curriculum blends creative and critical approaches, allowing students to explore interdisciplinary projects in various art forms, including dance, graphic design, theater, and visual art.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MFA in Visual and Performing Arts is a terminal degree designed to prepare students as professional artists and scholars. The program emphasizes creative work and skill building, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and abilities to work within their specialty and teach at the university level. The curriculum is tailored for talented and dedicated students who are ready to explore creative inquiry in a supportive environment that encourages exploration, analysis, synthesis, and artistic development.

Outline:

The MFA in Visual and Performing Arts is a 60-credit program with a core requirement of 30 credits and an additional 30 credits dedicated to the chosen concentration area and comprehensive experience.

Core Degree Requirements:

Research Methods (AVT 600): Research Methodologies (3 credits)
Graduate Seminar: Two credits of graduate seminar courses (2 credits)
Writing Seminar (AVT 621): Art Writing Seminar (3 credits)
Advanced Aesthetics (DANC 598): Philosophy and Aesthetics of Dance (3 credits)
Studies in History/Theory/Contemporary Trend (DANC 615): Contemporary Trends (3 credits)
Teaching Practicum (DANC 627): Advanced Teaching Seminar (3 credits)
Directed Reading (AVT 796): Directed Reading (1 credit)
Project: Six credits of directed choreography/project (6 credits)
Thesis: Six credits of thesis (6 credits)

Concentration Requirements:

Dance (DANC):
DANC 510:
DANC 560:
DANC 570:
DANC 571:
DANC 790:
DANC 672:
Select 12 credits from the following:
DANC 525:
DANC 545:
Graphic Design (GD):
AVT 614:
AVT 617:
Select 6 credits from the following:
AVT 519:
AVT 619:
AVT 596:
AVT 599:
Other graduate studio courses as approved by director
AVT 641:
AVT 646:
AVT 647:
AVT 648:
Theater (THR):
THR 539:
THR 560:
THR 691:
THR 790:
Track Requirements:
Professional Track:
THR 694:
THR 696:
THR 697:
THR 698:
THR 699:
Academic Track:
Emphasis Requirements:
Acting Emphasis:
THR 525:
THR 590:
THR 599:
THR 610:
THR 620:
THR 694:
THR 696:
Design & Technology Emphasis:
THR 530:
THR 590:
THR 599:
THR 630:
THR 694:
THR 699:
AMGT 602:
AMGT 609:
AMGT 706:
AMGT 752:
GAME 635:
GAME 650:
AVT 682:
AVT 686:
AVT 687:
AVT 688:
FAVS 599:
Directing Emphasis:
THR 540:
THR 590:
THR 599:
THR 640:
THR 694:
THR 698:
THR 755:
FAVS 599:
Musical Theater Emphasis:
THR 525:
THR 590:
THR 599:
THR 610:
THR 620:
THR 694:
THR 696:
THR 755:
MUSI 621:
MUSI 688:
MUSI 699:
Playwriting & Dramaturgy Emphasis:
THR 571:
THR 590:
THR 599:
THR 694:
THR 697:
THR 740:
Visual Art (VART):
Select 9 credits from the following:
AVT 596:
AVT 599:
Other courses as approved by director
AVT 599:
AVT 610:
AVT Emphasis Courses:
Areas of Emphasis:
InterArts:
New Media Art: Select four from the following courses:
AVT 616:
AVT 676:
AVT 682:
AVT 684:
AVT 685:
AVT 686:
AVT 687:
AVT 688:
Other courses as approved by director
Painting and Drawing:
AVT 522:
AVT 523:
AVT 599:
AVT 622:
AVT 632:
AVT 633:
AVT 634:
AVT 635:
Other courses as approved by director
Photography:
AVT 652:
AVT 653:
AVT 654:
AVT 655:
Other courses as approved by director
Printmaking:
AVT 642:
AVT 643:
AVT 644:
AVT 645:
Other courses as approved by director
Sculpture:
AVT 662:
AVT 663:
AVT 664:

Careers:

The MFA in Visual and Performing Arts prepares students for careers as professional artists, working in technology or arts-related fields, and teaching at the university level.

Other:

Students with extensive professional experience may be eligible to craft an individualized program of study, subject to approval by the Graduate Committee and the CVPA Assistant Dean.
The program is highly selective, and applicants are expected to have a strong portfolio demonstrating their artistic abilities and potential.
The program emphasizes a combination of creative and critical approaches to artistic practice.
Students have the opportunity to combine art forms in projects that may be installation, performance, publishing, time-based, or writing-based.

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George Mason University is a public research university located in Fairfax, Virginia. It is recognized as a top 50 public R1 research university, signifying its commitment to high-quality research and academic excellence.

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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements:

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified on the Graduate Admissions policy page. Specific graduate admissions requirements can be found on the College of Visual and Performing Arts Graduate Admissions requirements pages.

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Visual and Performing Arts, MFA

Program Overview