MFA Degree Requirements
The Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a three-year program that emphasizes conceptual development and critical understanding of contemporary issues.
Graduate Advising- Areas of Emphasis
- Degree Requirements
- Funding
- Apply
Areas of Emphasis
- 2D Studies
- 3D & Extended Media
- Photography | Video | Imaging
- Illustration, Design & Animation
- Interdisciplinary Practice
GRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
RECENT MFA EXHIBITIONS
Degree Requirements
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
DESCRIPTION
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Ideation
DESCRIPTION
ART 696A – Contemporary Art: Concepts and Issues (taken in the first semester)
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
3 units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Studio Critique
DESCRIPTION
ART 642 – Graduate Interdisciplinary Critique (taken twice in the first four semesters0
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
6 units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Critical Methods
DESCRIPTION
ARH 531 – Studio Introduction to Contemporary Art (taken in the second semester)
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
3 Units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Professional Practice
DESCRIPTION
ART 596A – Graduate Professional Practice (taken in the fifth semester)
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
3 Units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Studio Art
DESCRIPTION
Coursework in studio art area, as approved by the student’s faculty advisor
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
33 units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Art History
DESCRIPTION
Selected from graduate-level Art History offerings (in addition to ARH 531).
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
6 Units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Electives
DESCRIPTION
Unrestricted electives, as approved by the student’s faculty advisor.
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
6 units
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Thesis Exhibition
DESCRIPTION
In lieu of a written thesis, an original group of works must be presented to the public in the form of a Thesis Exhibition.
REQUIRED NUMBER OF UNITS (60)
Funding
- Through Graduate Assistantships and other forms of aid, students are guaranteed 3 years of full funding. This includes the full cost of tuition (students are still responsible for university, program and course fees) plus a $10,000 annual stipend.
- GA’s, Tuition waviers, Fellowships
- Production support- Marcia Grand Centiennial Award, Helen Gross Award
- Travel support- Small Grants, Medici
Marcia Grand Centennial Sculpture Competition
Building on the excellence of its graduate programs, the Marcia Grand Centennial Sculpture Prize Competition is intended to provide MFA-seeking graduate students with up to $10,000 to support the completion of work in the sculptural/3D arts. The work supported by this award can be presented on or off campus; possible projects include:
- Land-art
- Site-specific sculpture/installation
- “Traditional” sculptural work
- Performance-based work incorporating 3 dimensional components.
Helen Gross Award
The Helen Gross Award is a generous gift from Joseph Gross to support talented young artists who have shown remarkable ability in their areas of study, along with a record of exhibitions of their own work as well as others. The scholarship is intended to provide MFA seeking graduates who have passed candidacy review with a $2,000 award to support the cost of their thesis exhibition. This award is presented at an annual luncheon hosted by Joseph Gross for the award recipient and the School of Art Director.
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