Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Arts program in art introduces students to graduate study in the field of art, enabling students to professionalize and advance their studio art practice. Students develop an expert understanding of how a medium of their choosing, from ceramics to painting, can be used in the field of contemporary art, while also leveraging the creativity and problem-solving inherent in art practice to inform the rest of their professional life.

Program Description

This two-year degree consists of 30 credit hours of coursework and culminates in a practice-based thesis project. The coursework consists of existing graduate-level studio art and seminar courses. Situated between the BFA in art, and the MFA in art, the MA is designed for local students that have already earned previous degrees, either in art or in a complementary field. Potential students include from professions as varied as K-12 teachers or project managers.

At a Glance

• College/school: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

• 30 credit hours and a portfolio
• Required Core (3 credit hours)
  • ARA 589 Writing Art and Design Criticism (3)
  • ARS 586 Theories of Contemporary Art (3)
• Electives (21 credit hours)
  • Research (6 credit hours)
    • ART 592 Research (6)
• Culminating Experience (0 credit hours)
  • portfolio (0)
• Additional Curriculum Information
  • A total of six credit hours of ART 592 is taken; students take one credit hour of ART 592 each semester for the first three semesters.
  • They should take these first three credit hours with their committee chair or with a faculty member from an appropriate discipline.
  • Students take a further three credits of ART 592 with their committee chair in their final semester, leading to the culminating group exhibition.
  • The culminating experience (a portfolio) is a group exhibition of MA students in the Harry Wood Gallery in the art building on the Tempe campus.
  • Students create a small body of work, two to three pieces, to enter in this show.
  • This body of work is evaluated by the students' committee for a pass or fail grade on their portfolio.
  • The 21 credit hours of electives can be met with any lecture, studio, research or seminar class at the 500- or 600-level or any 500- or 600-level ART or ARA course offered at ASU.
  • Students choose these classes with the help of the graduate program manager and their committee chair to enhance their interdisciplinary investigation.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements:
  • All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  • graduate admission application and application fee
  • official transcripts
  • current resume or CV
  • portfolio
  • letter of intent
  • one letter of recommendation
  • proof of English proficiency
• Additional Admission Information
  • An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
  • Admission is a two-step process.
  • Although applicants fill out one application through the online graduate application process, they must be admitted to both the MA program and the Graduate College.
  • The portfolio should include a combination of 10 images sized with a maximum dimension of 1024 pixels and video files with less than 60 MB each; it should be accompanied by an image list.
  • The statement of intent (not to exceed 1,000 words) should address the applicant's artistic interests, reasons for applying to graduate school in general, and the ASU School of Art in particular, as well as personal artistic goals.
  • The letter of recommendation should be from professional colleagues from either within or outside the field of art.

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall
  • Session | Modality | Deadline | Type
    • Session A/C | In Person | 04/15 | Final

Career Opportunities

An MA in Art provides employment opportunities with charter schools, art museums, nonprofit organizations and recreational or community-oriented service groups that offer art instruction. A master's degree may earn art educators an increased salary in some districts, and it provides the potential for advancement to administrative positions. School of Art graduates are prepared to initiate creative careers as artists, scholars and educators in the public and private spheres. Graduates can apply the skills derived from this degree to other fields, leveraging the creativity and creative problem-solving that are key to art making.