COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is a 60-unit graduate degree designed to provide advanced training in studio practice, critical analysis, and professional development in the visual arts. The program includes 12 units of graduate seminars and critiques within the student’s area of concentration, focusing on continuous feedback and refinement of creative work. Students complete ART 281A and ART 281B, each required for 6 units, which emphasize interdisciplinary critique, presentation, and the development of artistic ideas in a collaborative environment.In addition, students complete 6 units of seminars in 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, helping them prepare for careers in exhibition spaces, arts administration, or education. The program also includes 6 units of upper-division art history to strengthen historical and contextual understanding, along with a 3-unit professional writing course, ART 200W, which enhances written communication skills in contemporary art contexts.Students have flexibility through 24 units of electives, enabling them to explore specialized interests and expand their artistic practice. A 3-unit special study course, ART 298A, is focused 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 work. Overall, the 60-unit structure ensures a balance of studio practice, theoretical knowledge, and professional preparation, equipping graduates for careers as artists, educators, and professionals in the contemporary art field.