COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Sculpture is an advanced graduate program that prepares students for professional careers in fine arts, education, museum work, and creative industries through intensive studio practice, creative research, and interdisciplinary learning. Students in the program regularly exhibit their work in professional galleries and often receive recognition through regional and national competitions, reflecting the program’s strong reputation for artistic excellence. Faculty members are accomplished artists and educators dedicated to high-quality teaching, mentorship, and service, while visiting artists, scholars, and critics provide students with valuable exposure to nationally and internationally recognized professionals through lectures, critiques, seminars, and private studio visits. Located near the cultural centers of Dallas and Fort Worth, the program offers students access to a rich arts environment with opportunities to exhibit work both on campus and in local galleries. As part of one of the nation’s most comprehensive visual arts schools, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the program maintains high academic and creative standards, and its M.F.A. degree is consistently ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Graduates are prepared for diverse career pathways including roles as professors, lecturers, technicians, workshop leaders, and K–12 art teachers. Many pursue professional studio practices, producing exhibitions and public art installations for airports, parks, urban spaces, and other public settings. Work may also be commissioned by private collectors, businesses, arts organizations, and government agencies. Graduates may become self-employed entrepreneurs or work for manufacturers and large-scale studios involved in fabrication and artistic production. Additional career opportunities include artwork restoration, film model production, set design, digital sculpture and prop making, exhibition design, art handling, and gallery installation. The curriculum includes courses such as Seminar in University Art Teaching, Professional Practices for the Studio Artist, Praxis: Rotating Topics, and M.F.A. Project courses focused on research and exhibition development, all of which support artistic growth and professional preparation. Overall, the program equips students with advanced conceptual, technical, and professional skills needed to succeed in contemporary sculpture, public art, education, and related creative industries.