Program Overview

University of Iowa School of Art, Art History, and Design

The University of Iowa School of Art, Art History, and Design offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of art, art history, and design.

Undergraduate Programs

• Majors, Minors, and Certificates
  • BA in Art
  • BA in Art History
  • BFA in Art
  • Minor in Art
  • Minor in Art History
• Studio Arts Focus Areas
  • 3D Design
  • Ceramics
  • Graphic Design
  • Jewelry and Metal Arts
  • Painting and Drawing
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture
  • Intermedia
• Honors
• Experiential Learning
• Advising
• Awards and Scholarships
• Careers and Opportunities
• Transferring to Iowa

Graduate Programs

• Degrees and Certificates
  • Master of Arts in Art
  • Master of Fine Arts in Art
  • Master of Arts in Art History
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Art History
• Studio Arts Focus Areas
  • 3D Design
  • Ceramics
  • Graphic Design
  • Jewelry and Metal Arts
  • Painting and Drawing
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture & Intermedia
• Graduate Bulletins
  • Studio Art Graduate Bulletin
  • Art History Graduate Bulletin
• Graduate Calendar
• Admissions Process
• Advising
• Funding
• Careers and Opportunities

Master of Arts in Art

The Master of Arts in Art program focuses on the development of professional visual artists and ranks in the top ten programs at public universities. Students focus in two of eight disciplinary areas: painting and drawing, printmaking, ceramics, jewelry and metal arts, sculpture and intermedia, 3D design, graphic design, or photography.

Degree Requirements

• The MA program requires a minimum of 38 semester hours of graduate credit.
• The required 38 semester hours includes at least 16 semester hours in a primary studio area; 8 semester hours in a second studio area; and 6 semester hours in the history and theory of art, excluding readings and directed studies.
• MA students must hold a BA or BFA in art equivalent to that offered by the University of Iowa.
• Undergraduate deficiencies, if any, may be made up concurrently with graduate study but do not count toward the graduate degree requirements.
• MA students undergo a division-wide review for MA candidacy by the faculty during the third semester in residence.
• All except painting and drawing students must submit a written artist's statement.
• Students who pass the division-wide review are accepted to the MFA program by invitation only.
• MA students in intermedia and video art, and 3D design are required to write a thesis.
• They may earn 1 semester hour for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for ARTS:6000 MA Written Thesis, with approval of the thesis supervisor.
• Thesis credit earned in an MA program is not applicable toward MFA requirements.
• MA students in other studio art disciplines choose the thesis or non-thesis option in consultation with their discipline advisor.
• Students leave five images of MA work for the Graduate Archive.

Facilities

• Art Building West: The award-winning Art Building West was designed by New York architect Steven Holl. The building opened in 2006 and houses Studio and Art History classrooms, the Art Library, and administrative offices.
• Visual Arts Building: The Visual Arts Building, also designed by Steven Holl Architects, opened in 2016. Designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, it is the most up-to-date visual arts facility in the U.S. The site is directly adjacent to Art Building West.

Research and Creative Work

• Art History
  • Art History
  • Faculty Accomplishments
  • Student Accomplishments
  • Past Dissertations
• Studio Art
  • 3D Design
  • Ceramics
  • Graphic Design
  • Jewelry and Metal Arts
  • Painting and Drawing
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture & Intermedia
  • Student Accomplishments

People

• Faculty
• Visiting Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty
• Staff
• Graduate Students

About

• News
• Events
  • All Events
  • Student Exhibitions
  • Visiting Artists and Scholars
  • MFA Virtual Exhibitions
• Facilities
  • Art Building West (ABW)
  • Visual Arts Building (VAB)
  • Equipment and Labs
  • Office of Visual Materials (Archives)
  • Thesis Rental Gallery
  • Art Library
  • Stanley Museum of Art
• Mission and History
• Outreach and Public Engagement
• Alumni
  • CLAS Alumni and Friends
  • UI Alumni and Friends
• Job Opportunities