Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art Major, MFA


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Admission
To become a candidate, the applicant must be admitted by the Office of Graduate and International Admissions and approved by the School of Art. In addition to the minimum admission requirements, the School of Art specifically requires the following.

  • A detailed letter of intent including statement requesting assistantship, if desired.
  • Three letters of recommendation from former professors or professionals in the field.
  • An undergraduate major in art or evidence of equivalent proficiency.
  • A portfolio to be evaluated by the faculty.

Further information is available by writing to the School of Art.

Requirements
A minimum of 60 hours to include the following.

  • Successful completion of 20 hours of studio in a concentration area. An inter-area program must be approved by the graduate faculty only after the second semester in residence. Ten hours of concentration must be in second-year courses.
  • A minimum of 9 hours of graduate-level academic (non-studio) courses of which at least 6 hours are to be in art history.
  • 11 hours of electives consisting of any combination of courses offered by the university for graduate credit.
  • Project in Lieu of Thesis (20 hours). A third year of semi-independent study. Student must have completed all other course work prior to registration.

Four semesters (normally the first 40 hours) beyond the bachelor’s degree are required in residence. An exception is made for working professional designers who may complete their first 20 hours, with the permission of the faculty, on a part-time basis. Residence is defined by the School of Art as a minimum enrollment of 6 hours per semester and use of School of Art facilities so that students are available for discussion and criticism.

The candidate’s committee will consist of a minimum of three members and a maximum of six members and will be appointed prior to registration for 599. The committee must consist of one faculty member from the candidate’s concentration area (designated as chairperson) and a faculty member from outside the concentration area. The inclusion of an art history faculty member on each committee is encouraged.

With the completion of all requirements for the MFA, the student must produce an exhibition and, in the presence of that work, must satisfactorily complete an oral examination.

Academic Standards

  • First-year evaluation. At the end of the first two semesters in residence, the student must present a portfolio for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to continue in the program.
  • Second-year evaluation. With completion of all course work, the student must present work for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to register for Project in Lieu of Thesis.
  • If, in a review by the student’s major area faculty, the student’s progress is deemed insufficient, the faculty may recommend a work period without advancement toward the degree, probation with specific goals set for a specific time, or dismissal.

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