Program Overview

---

Overview of the Department

The University of Waterloo Fine Arts Department Master of Fine Arts program in Studio Arts admitted the first cohort in the Fall of 1993. The MFA program encourages students to pursue their strengths as an artist to develop a professional practice. It demands professional standards in both commitment and awareness of contemporary issues and theory. The aim of a university MFA program is to produce successful professional artists, and the University of Waterloo has many unique features that help achieve this goal.

Program Objectives

The objective of the Master of Fine Arts Studio program is to foster an environment of focused research and experimentation within which students excel in their chosen area of artistic specializations. This focus is extremely important as the MFA is normally considered a terminal degree for practice-based research. The aim of the program is to lead students to a mastery of both materials and conceptual skills, guaranteeing a high level of professional competence in the visual arts – first as practitioners and second, as educators. The candidate’s work in the first year should be exploratory.

Pedagogical Development

In concert with their professional growth, University of Waterloo MFA students also develop their pedagogical skills. In two of their terms, MFA students are normally given paid Teaching Assistantships with faculty members or sessional instructors in classroom situations. This experience introduces students to formal classroom teaching. By assisting an individual instructor in an undergraduate course, teaching assistants gain experience in devising and presenting studio assignments, critiquing in-progress and completed assignments, and learning methodologies for evaluation and grading. In either their second or fourth term, graduate students gain further experience through teaching an introductory studio-based course taught to non-majors. This course is FINE 150.

Academic Integrity

All students in the program are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity. When the commission of an offence is determined, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accordance with Policy #71 (Student Discipline). For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the Office of Academic Integrity.

Academic / Program Requirements

Each student must complete the following required coursework:

• Self-directed individual Studio MFA courses in Terms 1, 2, and 3.
• 4 Graduate Seminars, in Terms 1, 2, 4, and 5.
• 3 elective courses, in Terms 1, 2, and 4. One of the elective courses Year One students can take is FINE 696 (Pedagogy in Fine Arts). The remaining two can be undergraduate courses from Fine Arts or another department at the 200-level or above.

MFA Milestones

Students must also pass a series of milestone critiques during the program. This includes participation in full-day group critiques at the end of the fall and winter semesters, with Fine Arts faculty and an invited guest (established artist, critic and/or curator). These critiques give students a chance to exhibit their work and present it orally in a professional setting.

Thesis Exhibition

The Graduate Thesis Exhibition represents the sum of the student’s achievements in studio practice. It should be a cohesive body of work that conveys a deep involvement with, and understanding of, the technical, theoretical, and aesthetic issues pertinent to the thesis. Examiners also pay close attention to how the student has responded to the exigencies of the exhibition space.

Thesis Support Paper

The Thesis Exhibition is accompanied by a thesis support paper which is an illustrated, written document that is expected to be an insightful and scholarly sound explication of the visual work in the Thesis Exhibition. The support paper is supervised by the faculty responsible for the series of graduate seminar courses and the student’s committee.

Thesis Defense

A Thesis Defense is an oral examination that takes place in the Thesis exhibition space, before an Examining Committee comprised of your committee, the Associate Chair (Graduate), and an External Examiner. The candidate’s two committee members and the External Examiner vote on the outcome of the candidate’s defense at its conclusion, while the Associate Chair (Graduate) acts as a non-voting Chair.

Funding

Students are expected to be aware of all funding aspects involved over the course of their program. It is also understood that the Faculty of Arts and Department of Fine Arts cannot be responsible for any financial shortcomings. Guaranteed funding for the MFA program is a combination of Teaching Assistantships, Sessional Teaching (FINE 150), and Scholarships.

Keith and Win Shantz International Scholarship

The most distinctive feature of our graduate program is the Keith and Win Shantz International Research Scholarship which is funded by a generous donation from Win Shantz, a prominent Waterloo supporter of the arts. The Shantz program is taken in Term 3 (Spring). This award is contingent on receiving an internship placement and allocated funds are expected to be applied to this professional practice experience.

Graduate Committee and Completion

In Term 1, MFA students are evaluated by the collective members of the Fine Arts faculty, giving both students and faculty an opportunity to introduce their interests and viewpoints. Group critiques are scheduled during the term for this purpose, and we encourage students to arrange to arrange studio visits with individual faculty members. After Term 1, students will be assigned an appropriate studio committee (co-supervisors) comprised of two faculty members.

Program Regulations

The Department of Fine Arts (and all other graduate programs) must follow all regulations of the University of Waterloo’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Office. These are outlined in the Graduate Studies Calendar which is available through the GSPA as well as the Current Graduate Students website. Departments are free to set more stringent regulations; however, once such regulations have been approved and published, the GSPA requires that the Department adhere to them.

University Resources

• Campus Wellness services are available to all students who may require mental or physical health aid.
• Counselling Services is located on the second floor of the Needles Hall expansion.
• The Centre is a go-to place for student administrative needs.
• AccessAbility Services offers adaptive technology, alternate format texts, campus orientation assistance, learning strategists, and student access van.
• Occupational Health assists with workplace accommodations for students with disabilities or medical conditions.
• Libraries: Dana Porter (DP) and the Davis Centre (DC) libraries are available for research and study.
• GRADventure is a central hub of professional development resources designed specifically for graduate students at the University of Waterloo.
• Writing and Communication Centre offers graduate-specific programming, including individual writing appointments, workshops, and online resources.
• Housing: Graduate Housing offers a variety of different services to meet the needs of graduate students.
• Waterloo Region: Explore Waterloo Region, Downtown Kitchener, The Working Centre, Spectrum Waterloo Region, and The Healing of the 7 Generations Community are some of the resources and community groups available.