HELP 2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Studio Art, MFA Print Degree Planner | Print-Friendly Page     Add to Portfolio

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Program Description

The MFA in Studio Art is designed to enable students to develop superior studio art proficiency, knowledge of studio procedures, and a depth of understanding of art history and criticism sufficient to allow them to function independently as studio artists after graduation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Demonstrate superior studio art proficiencies and knowledge of studio procedures;
• Reach a depth of understanding of art history and criticism necessary to afford them the ability to function as studio artists and/or educators;
• Display their full comprehension of advanced principles and processes in a solo MFA final thesis exhibition of their work.

The MFA requires a student to have a close working relationship with faculty and an intensity of sustained studio effort to realize the expected level of creative output. If efforts by the student are scattered by time and distance, this working relationship is compromised and the student’s achievements diminish. Enrollment will be limited to ten to fifteen students committed to an intense two-to-three year course of study in the program. Enrollments in the following courses will be restricted to students admitted into the MFA program: ARTS 5312 , ARTS 5313 , ARTS 5314 , ARTS 5315 , ARTS 5316 , ARTS 5317 , ARTS 5318 , ARTS 5391 , ARTS 5395 , and ARTS 5398 .

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting university criteria for admission to graduate studies, an applicant must meet the following requirements for admission to the MFA program:

1. Earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or an earned graduate degree in art from an institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations.
2. Earned at least 15 hours of upper-level Studio Art.
3. Provide a CD-R (no DVD or CD-RW disks) of .jpg image files (at least 150 dpi) of applicant’s art work.
4. Submit a typed essay (300-500 words) written by the applicant, explaining the applicant’s interest and objectives in graduate studies.
5. Provide three letters of recommendation from faculty or other persons familiar with the applicant’s interest and ability in art.

All application materials should be sent to the university’s College of Graduate Studies.

All applications for admission, including the applicant’s transcripts, essay, letters of recommendation and portfolio, will be reviewed by the Art Graduate Admissions Committee. College graduates who do not meet the above admission requirements may petition to enter the MFA program by conditional admission. The Art Graduate Faculty Committee reserves the right to interview students seeking conditional admission to the program. Students who have been conditionally admitted will have the first 9 semester hours of their studio work critiqued by the graduate art faculty to determine whether they qualify to continue in the program.

The deadline to apply for the MFA in Studio Art is February 1.

A student wishing to enroll in graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student must first submit a letter requesting admission from the Art Faculty, a portfolio representing his or her art work and a 300-500 word essay. Each case will then be reviewed by the entire Department of Art faculty before a student is allowed to enroll.

In situations where the entire faculty is not available to review applications, the chair of the Department of Art will appoint a committee comprised of two professors and the chair to review the applicants.

Course Prerequisites

Students must have completed at least 6 semester hours of upper-division undergraduate course work in a field or the specific course prerequisite to enroll in 5000-level courses in that field. Additional undergraduate prerequisite course work may be required by the specific graduate program.

Transfer of Credit

Subject to the recommendation of the graduate faculty and a portfolio review, students may have up to 15 semester hours (not including exhibition) of graduate credit applied to the Master of Fine Arts program. The credits must have been earned as degree-eligible post-baccalaureate work. Credit that is more than ten years old will not be counted toward the MFA degree.