Studio Art, MFA

Program Description

The Master of Fine Arts degree is a comprehensive three-year program designed to guide Candidates toward expertise in studio art and design practices, aesthetics, and scholarly inquiry while expanding proficiency in art history, criticism, and theory. In addition, Candidates have opportunities to acquire experience in classroom instruction and pedagogy, professional development, and gallery practices.

The MFA is a distinguished terminal degree that prepares Candidates to excel as professional practicing artists in a global context and in careers in higher education.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge of the key critical and theoretical frameworks that pertain to their discipline(s) and area(s) of concentration and research;
• Engage with and analyze their own work within these frameworks;
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, methodologies, and discursive vocabularies in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary context relative to their proposed thesis exhibition or project;
• Apply their knowledge in the discipline and concentration(s) of choice, media, and techniques to create a thesis project or exhibition that explores the contextual framework as related to their research and creative scholarship;
• Articulate ways in which the combination of their scholarly inquiry, practice, and thesis project or exhibition and written thesis are a part of and contribute to the fields of contemporary Studio Art and Design during applicable critiques, public presentation, and oral defense.

Course Prerequisites

Candidates 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, Candidates 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.

For Additional Information

Website:
http://cla.tamucc.edu/art/Graduate.html

Campus Address:
Center for the Arts (CA), Room 105
phone: (361) 825-2317

Mailing Address:
Department of Art, Unit 5721, College of Liberal Arts
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5721

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 Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, earned bachelor’s degree relative to Graphic Design, or 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 or Graphic Design course work.
3. Submit a completed Graduate School Admission application via the College of Graduate Studies website.
4. Submit a 300-500 word typed essay written by the applicant, explaining their interest and objectives for graduate studies via the College of Graduate Studies website.
5. Provide three letters of recommendation from faculty or persons familiar with the applicant’s interest and ability in art via the College of Graduate Studies website.
6. Provide (20) examples of applicant’s artwork via current submission requirements and/or via email to the Department of Art & Design Graduate Coordinator including title, media, dimensions, and year for each artwork (jpg image files, 1920 pixels on the longest side, at least 150 dpi).

A Candidate wishing to enroll in graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student must first submit a letter requesting admission from the Department of Art & Design faculty, a portfolio representing their art work and a 300-500 word essay. The faculty of the Department of Art & Design will review all applications for admission and will consider the applicant’s transcripts, essay, letters of recommendation, and portfolio. College graduates who do not meet the above admission requirements may petition to enter the MFA program by conditional admission. The faculty reserves the right to interview Candidates seeking conditional admission to the program. Candidates who have been conditionally admitted will have their first 9 semester hours of course work critiqued by the graduate faculty to determine whether they qualify to continue in the program.

The deadline to apply for the MFA in Studio Art is listed on the Department of Art & Design Website.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Candidates must complete 60 semester hours in art with a minimum 3.0 GPA. No more than two grades of C earned at this university will be accepted as credit for this degree.

MFA Studio Art Program Requirements with a concentration in Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Interdisciplinary Art

General Requirements

Requirements	Credit Hours
Studio Art	36
Art History/Theory & Methods/Research Topics	12
MFA Seminar	6
MFA Project and Thesis	6
Total Credit Hours	60

The distribution of credit hour requirements is as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Studio Art
Select an area of concentration:		36
Concentration in Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture
Select 18 semester hours focused on a primary concentration in one discipline 1,2
Select up to 9 semester hours of Studio Art electives in concentration area
Select at least 9 semester hours of Studio Art electives outside of concentration area
Concentration in Interdisciplinary Art
Select 36 semester hours in Studio Art or Design courses in any Studio Art program area across the department 1,2
Art History/Theory & Methods/Research Topics
ARTS 5392	Art Theory and Methods	3
ARTS 5393	Seminar in Art History and Aesthetics	3
Research topics 3
ARTS 5393	Seminar in Art History and Aesthetics (research topic)	3
ARTS 5394	Directed Research (research topic)	3
MFA Seminar
ARTS 5191	Graduate Professional Practices Seminar (repeat 3 times) 4	3
ARTS 5192	Graduate Critique Seminar (repeat 3 times) 5	3
MFA Project and Thesis
ARTS 5398	MFA Project	3
ARTS 5395	MFA Thesis	3
Total Hours		60

¹

Enrollment in Graphic Design is subject to the approval of the Graphic Design faculty. If deemed necessary, the faculty may require the Candidate complete up to 9 hours of leveling coursework as a prerequisite to enrollment

²

Up to 6 semester hours can be completed in graduate level creative-based courses beyond the Department of Art & Design in consultation between the Graduate Coordinator and area of concentration faculty, or Thesis Committee.

³

Graduate level research-based course beyond the Department of Art & Design in consultation with Graduate Coordinator (see MFA Handbook for list of options)

⁴

This seminar covers professional development and academic pedagogy.
1 semester hour course taken each Fall - Candidates from all three years are enrolled

⁵

This course supports preparation for the first year review, second-year review, and Oral Defense.
1 semester hour course taken each spring - Candidates from all three years are enrolled together

MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design with separate tracks in Professional Practices or Academic Appointment

General Requirements

Requirements	Credit Hours
Graphic Design	36
Open Electives	6
Art History/Theory & Methods	6
MFA Project and Thesis	12
Total Credit Hours	60

The distribution of requirements is seen in the following outline:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Graphic Design
Select 30 semester hours of Graphic Design in area of concentration		30
ARTS 5314	MFA Studio in Art: Graphic Design
Select 6 semester hours of Graduate Teaching Assistant Practicum in area of concentration		6
ARTS 5397	Graduate Teaching Assistant Practicum
Open Electives
Select 6 semester hours of graduate electives		6
Art History/Theory & Methods
ARTS 5392	Art Theory and Methods 1	3
ARTS 5393	Seminar in Art History and Aesthetics 1	3
MFA Project and Thesis
ARTS 5398	MFA Project	6
ARTS 5395	MFA Thesis	6
Total Hours		60

¹

The 6 semester hours can both be in Art History and Criticism courses with varying topics.

Special Requirements

First-Year Review and Second-Year Review

The Department of Art & Design faculty will review each candidate’s work following completion of 20 semester hours or the first year of graduate study, and following completion of 40 semester hours or the second year of graduate study before permitting advancement toward completion of an MFA Project and MFA Thesis.

Exit Requirements

In addition to meeting the university requirement of a 3.0 GPA or greater, candidates for the MFA in Studio Art must meet the following exit requirements according to concentration and emphasis of the candidate’s respective degree plan.

Upon approval of advancement toward an MFA Project and MFA Thesis via the Second-Year Review process, it is the MFA Candidate’s responsibility to adhere to forms and deadlines required by the College of Graduate Studies. 

The MFA Project and MFA Thesis is graded on a credit/noncredit basis. Candidates who fail to complete the exit requirements during the semester with begiven an “IP” (In Progress) until the Thesis and Project are completed.

After the exit requirements are submitted to the Candidate’s thesis committee for review, the Candidate will “pass,” or “fail.” The Thesis Committee will administer a comprehensive Oral Defense of the Candidate’s final MFA Thesis and MFA Project before the degree can be conferred. A failed Defense may be repeated once. A second failure will result in dismissal from the program.

Exit Requirements for the MFA in Studio Art Program with a concentration in Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Interdisciplinary Art program

MFA Project

The MFA Project (ARTS 5398 MFA Project (3 sch)) concentrates on the creation and execution of creative scholarship as related to the Candidate’s discipline, concentration area(s), and research. The creation and execution of those criteria require the following:

• Planning meeting with Director of University Galleries and Galleries Manager one semester prior to Exhibition
• Completion of MFA Exhibition Proposal the semester prior to Exhibition
• All communication, advertisement, and marketing leading up to the Exhibition in cooperation with CLA Events Specialist and TAMU-CC Marketing and Communications Department
• Installation of artwork
• Posted artist statement and labels
• Oral Defense scheduled within the exhibition dates structured with a minimum of 3 rounds of questions posed by members of the Thesis Committee
• Deinstallation of artwork
• Cleanup/repairs necessary to gallery/exhibition space

MFA Thesis

The MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395 MFA Thesis (3 sch)) concentrates on research and writing in creative scholarship as related to the Candidate’s discipline, concentration area(s), and research. The Thesis must include the following:

• 5,000-7,000-word written Thesis (exclusive of apparatus)
• Discussion of subject matter
• Discussion of techniques used
• Historical, theoretical, philosophical, and contemporary context for the project
• Bibliography formatted according to The Chicago Manual of Style
• Photographic documentation of the MFA Project Exhibition
• List of Figures
• Institutionally mandated front matter
• A bound copy submitted to the Mary and Jeff Bell Library, as per institutional mandate
• A bound copy and digital copy of the written Thesis and Exhibition documentation submitted to the Graduate Coordinator

Exit Requirements for the MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design with separate tracks in Professional Practices or Academic Appointment

The MFA Project and MFA Thesis in Graphic Design is completed over the course of two semesters. Typically, a Candidate will enroll in three semester hours of MFA Project (ARTS 5398 MFA Project (3 sch)) and three semester hours of MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395 MFA Thesis (3 sch)) during the fall semester. The Candidate would then complete their exit requirements during the spring semester by enrolling in three semester hours of MFA Project (ARTS 5398 MFA Project (3 sch)) and three semester hours of MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395 MFA Thesis (3 sch)).

MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design track in Professional Practices

MFA Project

A multi-media campaign project (ARTS 5398 MFA Project (3 sch)) for their client of choice will be presented in a professional format as either a bound printed deck or digital website, to include:

• Campaign Overview
• Client Research
• Creative Strategy
• Implementation Strategy
• Creative Development
• Asset Development
• Future Exploration
• Conclusion
• Additional Considerations Unique to Project
• Public Presentation and Oral Defense of Final Project

MFA Thesis

A 5,000-7,000-word written Thesis (ARTS 5395 MFA Thesis (3 sch)) will serve as the foundational context for the Candidate’s multi-media campaign, to be developed for their client of choice. It will discuss applicable research that supports their proposed design solutions, consider the client’s market and category competitive analyses, review target audience behaviors and demographics, and defend technical and conceptual methodologies of the proposed campaign content.

MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design track in Academic Appointment

MFA Project

The Candidate’s MFA Project (ARTS 5398 MFA Project (3 sch)) will demonstrate advanced critical thinking in analyzing industry history, theory, criticism, and practices to support their research. The Candidate will present and defend their final Project during a scheduled public Defense. Additionally, the Candidate will adapt their self-promotional materials for application to positions in Education to include a Teaching Philosophy, Statement of Research, and Student Work samples under the department’s Portfolio and Professional Practices Course.

MFA Thesis

A written Thesis (ARTS 5395 MFA Thesis (3 sch)) suitable for publication as outlined by the Candidate’s Thesis Committee.

Courses