COURSE CURRICULUM

This MFA Studio Art program is a structured, practice-intensive terminal degree that builds directly on an initial MA phase. All students first enter at the MA level, and continuation into the MFA is not automatic; it is determined through faculty review at the end of the MA stage, meaning the program functions as a staged progression rather than a single continuous admission into the MFA.The MFA requires a total of 60 semester hours, with 30 hours completed during the MA phase and an additional 30 hours completed after advancement to candidacy. The curriculum is centered on advanced studio production in a chosen focus area such as ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture, though students may also engage with related fields like digital media, installation, drawing, and graphic design depending on faculty expertise and advisory approval. The structure balances intensive studio practice with theoretical, historical, and critique-based study to support the development of a cohesive professional artistic practice.Required coursework includes repeated graduate seminars and critique courses (ART 511 and ART 525/625), which emphasize ongoing critical evaluation, artistic discourse, and professional development. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to studio electives (30 hours), allowing students to deepen technical mastery and conceptual direction in their selected medium. Additional requirements include 9 hours of art history coursework and 9 hours of graduate electives outside the studio area to broaden intellectual and interdisciplinary engagement.Progression into the MFA is contingent upon successful MA-level performance and a formal MA oral review, after which faculty recommend advancement. The MFA phase then culminates in a candidacy review and a final thesis consisting of a public exhibition, written paper, and oral defense, ensuring both practical and critical demonstration of artistic maturity.