Master of Fine Arts Program

Requirements for Matriculation

These requirements are in addition to the college’s general requirements for admission to the Master of Arts program. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from a recognized institution shall be considered an acceptable equivalent for the general requirements of a BA, subject to the determination of the department’s MFA Committee in concurrence with the Office of Graduate Studies.

1. In addition to three letters of reference, each candidate for admission shall submit a portfolio of work as prescribed by the committee. This portfolio shall be examined by the committee, which shall have the authority to accept or reject the candidate.
   
   
2. Undergraduate study should consist of at least 30 credits in art; students shall have taken the equivalent of a two-semester survey course plus two elective courses in the history of art.
   
   
3. Normally, each candidate for admission will be interviewed by a member of the committee. This requirement may be waived at the department’s option.
   
   
4. Applicants must demonstrate satisfactory standards of spoken and written English. For applicants whose first language is not English: (a) Interviews are required of those applicants who hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited American institution of higher education; (b) All other applicants must submit proof of having achieved a score of 600 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Requirements for the MFA

The following requirements reflect changes to the curriculum that are effective Fall 2013.

Students may now declare a concentration in the areas of Painting, Sculpture, Installation, Photography, Ceramics, Media, Social Practice Art. This designation will be registered in the Art Department office.

1. Completion of 54 credits consisting of the following:
   
   
   1. Two courses in the history of art (see graduate-level art history electives) (6 credits).
      
      
   2. ARTS 724, Contemporary Issues in the Visual Arts (3 credits).
      
      
   3. Two seminars, each with a different topic, must be taken under ARTS 730 and/or 731 (6 credits).
      
      
   4. Two elective courses to be selected with departmental approval from ARTS 727.1, 727.2, 728 (6 credits).
      
      
   5. Four MFA Graduate Seminars, one each semester: meets Tuesday evenings  (12 credits).
      
      
   6. One MFA Writing Seminar (3 credits).
      
      
   7. Four Individual Studio Practice (12 credits).
      
      
   8. Two continued Individual Studio Practice OR additional Electives OR Seminars. (6 credits).
      
      
2. Student work in the specialized area shall be reviewed and graded by the MFA Committee each semester. The committee shall be authorized to approve or reject a student for continuation in the program, to place a student on probation, and to approve a student for the MFA degree.
   
   
3. A grade-point average of 3.0 shall be maintained.
   
   
4. Participation in the program is usually full-time, and the degree is normally completed within two years. Exceptions may be granted by the committee.
   
   
5. Students will do all of their creative work on campus except by permission of the committee.