Program Overview

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Book Arts, MFA

The MFA Book Arts Program is a 60-credit hour course of study in the fine art and traditional practices of making books by hand. Individual artistic expression is cultivated through the development of craft skills based in historical principles, practice, and technique. Courses in letterpress printing and publishing, typography, hand bookbinding, hand papermaking, artist books, and the history of the book provide training and context for the role of the book as a medium for expression in art and society.

Admissions

Applications are considered holistically, so no single factor determines acceptance to the program. The MFA Book Arts program is selective, and does not admit every applicant.

• A statement of purpose
• Resume
• Portfolio (in their area of experience)
• Three letters of reference

Non-degree Admission Requirements

An applicant may be admitted as a non-degree student if the applicant has either a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 graduate GPA. No more than 12 hours may be taken as a non-degree-seeking student and applied to a degree.

Curricular Requirements

Candidates for the MFA Book Arts degree must earn a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit, including:

• At least 6 hours in the history of the book
• 3 hours in a historical/theoretical course
• At least 36 hours in the book arts studio
• A minimum of 15 hours of electives within or outside the book arts program
• All coursework must be completed with a grade average of "B" or better
• All students must spend at least four semesters in residence

Required Courses

Code and Title	Hours
BA 520	Elements of Letterpress
BA 521	The Printed Book
BA 530	Elements of Bookbinding
BA 531	Case Binding and Edition Work
BA 541	Techniques of Hand Papermaking
BA 592	Graduate Seminar
BA 599	Creative Thesis Project (9 hours)

Areas of Emphasis

• Printing and Publishing
  • BA 505 | Introduction to Digital Design
  • BA 522 | Advanced Letterpress (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 523 | Artist Book & Fine Press Publ. (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 524 | Artist Books
  • BA 593 | Workshops In Book Arts
• Bookbinding
  • BA 532 | Leather Bound Books (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 533 | Advanced Bookbinding (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 534 | Boxmaking
  • BA 593 | Workshops In Book Arts
• Whole Book
  • BA 505 | Introduction to Digital Design
  • BA 522 | Advanced Letterpress (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 523 | Artist Book & Fine Press Publ. (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 524 | Artist Books
  • BA 532 | Leather Bound Books (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 533 | Advanced Bookbinding (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 534 | Boxmaking
  • BA 542 | Contemporary Hand Papermaking (3 to 6 hours)
  • BA 593 | Workshops In Book Arts

Electives

• BA 501 | Mat & Tech of Bookbinding
• BA 502 | Beyond Letterpress
• BA 504 | Art and Culture of Zines
• BA 505 | Introduction to Digital Design
• BA 510 | The Whole Book
• BA 522 | Advanced Letterpress (3 to 6 hours)
• BA 523 | Artist Book & Fine Press Publ. (3 to 6 hours)
• BA 524 | Artist Books
• BA 532 | Leather Bound Books (3 to 6 hours)
• BA 533 | Advanced Bookbinding (3 to 6 hours)
• BA 534 | Boxmaking
• BA 541 | Techniques of Hand Papermaking
• BA 542 | Contemporary Hand Papermaking (3 to 6 hours)
• BA 593 | Workshops In Book Arts
• BA 594 | Pract Teaching Book Arts
• BA 595 | Independent Project
• BA 596 | Dir Research Book Arts
• BA 597 | Internship
• CIS 656 | Electronic/Contemporary Pub.
• LS 555 | Intro Archival Studies
• LS 654 | Print Culture and Society
• ART 520 | Printmaking
• ART 620 | Printmaking

Transfer Credit

Up to 6 graduate credits, excluding thesis hours, may be transferred from another accredited university with approval of the student's advisory committee and the dean of the Graduate School.

Comprehensive Examination/Capstone Requirements

All MFA Book Arts students are required to complete a creative thesis project. The creative thesis project demonstrates, by means of a body of work, mastery of selected skills, a strong creative research agenda, and the capacity for critical and independent thought.

Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements

All requirements for the master's degree must be completed during the six years (18 consecutive semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded.

Student Progress Requirement

All graduate students must earn and maintain an overall graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better for all graduate courses undertaken at The University of Alabama.

Permission to Continue Admission

Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted to the MFA Book Arts program if they do not meet the GPA requirement for regular admission (GPA of 3.0). If such an applicant is admitted, they will need to obtain permission to continue in the program after the first 12 semester hours of graduate-level work have been completed.

Academic Misconduct Information

Student academic misconduct is not permitted. In the event of perceived academic misconduct, the University Academic Misconduct Policy will be followed.

Withdrawals or Leave of Absence Information

Students who need to withdraw from a course, the university or take a leave of absence should contact their academic advisor and the SLIS director.

Academic Grievances Information

Academic grievances are addressed according to the "University-Wide Academic Grievance Procedures" outlined in the University of Alabama Faculty Handbook.

Grades and Academic Standing

See the Graduate School Policy information.

Graduate School Deadlines Information

The University of Alabama Graduate School keeps a calendar of specific student deadlines available on the Graduate School website.

Application for Graduation Information

Once requirements for the degree are completed, each candidate for a master's degree must apply for graduation through the Office of the Graduate School prior to the deadline posted each semester on the University of Alabama's Registrar Academic Calendar.

Acquisition of Financial Support

All admitted and currently enrolled graduate students in good standing in the College of Communication & Information Sciences are eligible to apply for a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA), graduate research assistantship (GRA), and/or graduate administrative assistantship (GAA) position funded by the college.

Performance Expectations for Continuing Financial Support

• The student must be in good academic standing in a degree program in the College of Communication & Information Sciences and be making satisfactory academic progress to the completion of the degree.
• The student must complete all mandatory trainings and abide by all rules and policies held by The University of Alabama, College of Communication & Information Sciences, and the department of their work assignment.
• The student must adequately perform all duties assigned to them in a timely manner as defined by the supervisors of their work assignments.
• The student must remain clear of all infractions outlined under Conditions for Termination of Financial Support.

Conditions for Termination of Financial Support

Students who meet one or more of the following criteria may be subject to termination of financial support pending C&IS Office for Graduate Studies administrative review:

• Dereliction of Duty
• Academic Misconduct
• Insufficient Academic Progress
• Academic Warning & Academic Suspension

Programmatic Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for the MFA Book Arts Degree

The programmatic learning outcomes (PLOs) for students enrolled in the MFA Book Arts degree are:

1. Students will possess fundamental technical skills in the book arts.
2. Students will possess advanced technical skills in the area(s) of professional specialization.
3. Students will demonstrate a strong knowledge of the heritage, responsibilities, trends, and standards of the Book Arts profession, including an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the books arts.
4. Students will demonstrate an ability to think and speak critically about their own work and its place within contemporary book arts and book craft.