Master of Fine Arts Program
The Master of Fine Arts program in the School of Art allows students the freedom to further develop both their artistic and scholarly skills within the field of Art.
Many mature artists point to their MFA years as the first (and sometimes only) opportunity they have had to focus with such intensity on their art work. Students are given the freedom and support to bring a level of maturity and accomplishment to their work that is very difficult to attain on your own.
Our program emphasises production and independent study, critical and strategic development. Our students are free to cross and mix disciplines within the School and from other parts of the University.
The Master of Fine Arts in Art is a 60-hour program that emphasizes both theory and practice in the production, history, and teaching of the visual arts. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate artistic proficiency in at least one of the following disciplines:
We are currently not accepting MFA applications in Sculpture and Metals.
Candidates will also be expected to demonstrate an ability to communicate ideas in both a written and oral manner.
A typical program for the Master of Fine Arts degree will include at least 60 semester hours of graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree. These 60 hours may be programmed as follows:
- At least 36 semester hours must be taken in the School of Art, of these at least 24 must be at the 400 level.
- At least 24 semester hours must be in the student's major studio area, of these at least 18 must be at the 400 level.
- At least 12 semester hours must be taken in art history, or nine hours may be taken in art history with three hours in related areas such as aesthetics, philosophy, or anthropology, or MFA Seminar.
- At least three hours of MFA Seminar. Taking the MFA Seminar under heading "C" does not substitute for this requirement.
- Six hours of 496 M.F.A. Exhibition and Supportive Statement. This will involve a comprehensive exhibition of studio work, an exhibition-related written project, and a comprehensive oral examination. Candidacy review must take place before a student can enroll in Art 496 or schedule the MFA exhibition and must include approval of proposal for the supportive statement.
The accumulation of 60 semester credit hours is not the primary criterion in evaluating final achievement. Instead, it is the exhibition and demonstration of the student's competency and his/her intellectual maturity and that these expectations be deemed proficient in his/her area of the arts. In view of this, a major requirement will be a comprehensive showing of the student's visual work along with a written project and an oral examination of the intellectual implications of his/her work.
Students may also participate in an experience of internship or apprenticeship. This may take the form of a guided teaching experience or work in a professional area related to the student's area of interest. (Conceivably this might involve local industry, school, etc.) The exact nature of this experience will be worked out through counseling between the major adviser and the student and will be tailored to best suit the needs of each student. This project will be subject to approval of the student's graduate committee.
Faculty
