COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is a 60-unit graduate degree designed to develop advanced artistic practice, critical thinking, and professional skills across various areas of concentration. The program includes 12 units of graduate seminars and critiques, where students engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and receive continuous feedback on their creative work. This includes ART 281A and ART 281B, both of which are required for a total of 6 units each, emphasizing presentation, critique, and refinement of artistic ideas within a collaborative environment.In addition to critiques, students complete 6 units of seminars focused on contemporary art theory and criticism through ART 282A and ART 282B, with the latter fulfilling the GWAR requirement. A 3-unit additional course is required, allowing students to choose between museum and gallery operations or artists teaching art, which helps prepare them for professional roles in exhibition spaces or education. The program also requires 6 units of upper-division art history to ensure a strong understanding of historical and cultural contexts. Students further develop communication skills through a 3-unit professional writing course, ART 200W, which also satisfies the GWAR requirement.Students complete 24 units of electives, providing flexibility to explore specialized interests and expand their artistic practice. A 3-unit special study course, ART 298A, focuses on planning the final MFA project. The program concludes with a 3-unit culminating experience, ART 298B, where students complete and present their final creative project. Overall, the 60-unit structure balances studio practice, theoretical study, and professional development, preparing graduates for careers as practicing artists, educators, and professionals in the contemporary art world.