Program Overview

Art, MFA

The Master of Fine Arts in art requires a minimum of 60 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a Graduate College program grade-point average of at least 3.00. A thesis is required. Students complete the degree with a subprogram in one of the following studio art disciplines: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, intermedia and video art, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or three-dimensional (3D) design.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking and conceptual problem solving within the particular focus and practice of their field;
• demonstrate a personal vocabulary, approach, and vision in creative work;
• demonstrate knowledge of historical, social, and cultural perspectives in relation to visual art and design;
• demonstrate technical proficiency in relation to the tools, techniques, and materials used in their field; and
• develop a professional package that includes a curriculum vitae/résumé, statement about their work, images of their work, and prepare materials (i.e., teaching and research statement, online portfolio, etc.) for specific careers as a professional emerging artist/designer or in teaching, art, or design-related positions.

Requirements Summary

• Primary Studio Art Discipline: 24 s.h.
• Secondary Studio Art Discipline: 12 s.h.
• Art History and Theory: 6 s.h.
• Electives: 18 s.h.
• Thesis:

Primary Studio Art Discipline

Students complete 24 s.h. of coursework in their primary studio art discipline, which is the same as their subprogram.

• Ceramics: Ceramics courses (prefix CERM) numbered 3000 and above
• Drawing: Drawing courses (prefix DRAW) numbered 3000 and above
• Graphic Design: Graphic design courses (prefix DSGN) numbered 3000 and above
• Intermedia and Visual Art: Intermedia and visual art courses (prefix INTM) numbered 3000 and above
• Jewelry and Metal Art: Jewelry and metal art courses (prefix MTLS) numbered 3000 and above
• Painting: Painting courses (prefix PNTG) numbered 3000 and above
• Photography: Photography courses (prefix PHTO) numbered 3000 and above
• Printmaking: Printmaking courses (prefix PRNT) numbered 3000 and above
• Sculpture: Sculpture courses (prefix SCLP) numbered 3000 and above
• Three-Dimensional Design: Three-dimensional design courses (prefix TDSN) numbered 3000 and above

Secondary Studio Art Discipline

Students complete 12 s.h. in one secondary studio arts discipline; this cannot be the same as the subprogram in which they are enrolled.

• Book Arts: Papermaking courses (prefix BKAT) numbered 3000 and above
• Other: Courses outside of the studio arts disciplines taken with program permission

Art History and Theory

Students complete 6 s.h. of coursework from ARTH:3000–6999, excluding ARTH:3985, ARTH:3995, ARTH:6020, and ARTH:6040.

Electives

In consultation with an advisor, students complete 18 s.h. of coursework numbered 3000 or above, excluding ARTS:6000.

Committee Review

Students must undergo an MFA committee review. Students are reviewed by their committees at the end of the semester prior to the semester they intend to graduate.

Thesis

MFA students in all subprograms are required to write a thesis. They may earn 1 s.h. of elective credit for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for ARTS:7000 MFA Written Thesis with approval of the thesis supervisor, but they are not required to enroll in this course. Thesis credit earned in an MFA program is not applicable to MA requirements.

Additional Requirements

Students provide five images of their MFA work for the Grad Archive.

Application Procedures

Prospective students may apply online. After submitting an application, applicants will receive email instructions on how to access their admissions profile. Applicants then upload the required supplemental documents through a secure portal.

• Required documents include transcripts from all colleges and universities an applicant has attended, contact information for three individuals who are able to assess an applicant's potential for graduate study, and a statement of purpose.

Portfolio Requirements

• Ceramics: 10 to 20 images
• Three-dimensional (3D) design, and jewelry and metal arts: eight images in the primary studio art discipline and two in a second discipline
• Graphic design: documentation of 15 to 20 projects
• Painting and drawing: eight images in the primary studio art medium (either painting or drawing) and two in a second medium
• Photography: 15 to 20 images
• Printmaking: 10 to 20 images
• Sculpture and intermedia:
  • Sculpture: 20 images in sculpture, including details, and two or three images in a second medium
  • Intermedia: documentation of 5 to 10 projects

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor.

• First Year:
  • Fall: Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Art history and theory course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
  • Spring: Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Secondary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Elective course (2 s.h.)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Secondary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Art history and theory course (3 s.h.)
  • Spring: Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (2 s.h.)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Secondary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), MFA Committee Review
  • Spring: ARTS:7000 MFA Written Thesis (1 s.h.), Primary studio art discipline course (4 s.h.), Elective course (4 s.h.), Exam: Master's Final Exam

Career Advancement

Many graduates pursue careers that match their degree specializations, for example, commercial or graphic designer, conservation or museum curator or administrator, art educator, public artist, or community art center coordinator or instructor.