Art, M.F.A.

The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree in studio art. Students who earn the M.F.A. will be able to show a substantial body of work of uniformly high quality and distinct originality. The student will also have an intellectual grasp of the broad context, historical and current, within which the artist functions. The degree program is designed to comprise a two-year focused period of study, terminating with the M.F.A. qualifying exhibition and oral exam.

Facilities for and faculty expertise in ceramics, creative computation, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound, and time-based media feature among the opportunities for students. The system of critiques and seminars is designed to encourage development between media and diverse experimentation within disciplines, as well as depth of mastery. A goal of the graduate program of the Division of Art is to encourage a wide range of creation in its students, primarily through open, studio-based investigation. Admission is based on the selection committee’s estimation of the applicant’s ability to succeed in the thesis plan. This plan may be altered should the work evolve in a manner that necessitates a change.