The MFA stresses the crossing of conventional visual, technical, and conceptual boundaries, while maintaining more traditional areas of in-depth study in one medium. Students are encouraged to enter a dialogue with specialists in various media. To facilitate a critical inquiry into the creative process, students participate in regular critiques with other students, the faculty, visiting artists and critics. For two semesters, students enroll in a seminar on contemporary art, which is taught by various local curators.

The visiting artist program brings national and internationally recognized artists to campus, where they lecture, make individual studio visits and give group critiques. Past visiting artists/critics include: Graham Nickson, Mel Leipzig, Peter Waite, Phyllis Rosenzweig, Mark Bradford, Katherine Sherwood, Carolee Schneemann, Michael Schultheis, Reneé Stout, Hiraki Sawa, Nin Brudermann, Oliver Herring, Casey Reas, Michael Rees, Rainer Ganahl, Justine Cooper, Lily Cox-Richard, Mindy Shapero, Pae White, Virgil Marti, and Breal Madra.

The MFA requires 60 hours of course work distributed among courses determined in consultation with the graduate advisor. Graduate study culminates in a creative thesis consisting of the execution and exhibition of original works of art, and a critical statement about the work. The student’s thesis committee consists of two full time members of the fine arts or art history faculty. With permission, a limited number of 100-level courses in the department may be taken for graduate credit, when additional course work has been approved; courses at the 200-level may be repeated for credit with approval of the graduate advisor.

MFA FAQs

Courses in Fine Arts  (for fuller description click here):

Ceramic Decoration (FA 231)
Ceramic Restoration, Conservation, and Installation (FA 232)
Ceramic History and Technology (FA 233)
Ceramic Sculpture (FA 234)                                                                        
Industrial Ceramics/Model and Mold Making/Functional Forms (FA 235)
Architectural Ceramics (FS 236)
Advanced Ceramic Design in Wheel Throwing (FA 237)
Mosaic Design Applications (FA 238)
Industrial Ceramic Design/Mold Making (FA 239)
Advanced Ceramic Technology (FA 240)
Special Topics: Ceramics (FA 266)
Critical Practices: Ceramics (FA 267)
Special Topics: Sculpture (FA 271)
Critical Practices: Sculpture (FA 272)           

Drawing III (FA 211)           
Advanced Drawing Techniques (FA 241)
Special Topics: Drawing (FA 276)
Critical Practices: Drawing (FA 277)
Figure Painting: Observation and Gesture (FA 216)
Contemporary Painting (FA 246)
Problems in Color (FA 217)
Special Topics: Painting (FA 278)
Critical Practices: Painting (FA 279)

New Media: Digital Illustration (FA 251)                                   
New Media: Digital Imaging (FA 252)
New Media: Time-based Visual Expression (FA 253)           
New Media: Digital Printmaking (FA 281)
New Media: Mixed Media (FA 282)
New Media: Directed Research (FA 283)
Critical Practices: New Media (FA 284)
Special Topics: New Media  (FA 286)

Contemporary Photography (FA 261)
Advanced Photography: Exposure and Printing Techniques (FA 226
Advanced Photography: Digital Color Printing (FA 227)
Special Topics: Photography (FA 291)
Critical Practices: Photography (FA 292)           

Thesis Research (FA 299-300)