¶The MFA is the terminal degree in studio art. The curriculum is devised to develop the students' abilities to perform creative research that is experimental, expansive and divergent in order to extend their base of information and knowledge. Students are expect to resolve and refine issues in their own creative research in order to exhibit mature and unique works and to be able to discuss and write about those works in both a personal and broader context. The normal period of study is three years in residence.
¶The MFA Degree offers for the following concentrations: ceramics, electronic arts, glass, fiber, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Students must complete 60 credit hours including (see catalog for further details):
¶Note that graduate students courses students may receive elective graduate credits from courses 300-level & above courses which are not required for the undergraduate degree in the student's area of media specialization. Also courses numbered 300 & above may also be selected from programs outside the Department if they are deemed relevant by the student's program advisor. All elective courses require consent of the instructor and the graduate advisor.
¶Note ART 699 Directed Work/Advanced Individual Projects require consent of instructor and Department Chair. There is a maximum of 3 credits of ART 699 per semester and a total of 15 credit hours may count toward MFA degree.
¶Up to 29 credits of post BA or BFA course work may be transferred in to the MFA program's total of 60 credits. These courses must be 300 level and above, not required for the undergraduate degree, must have resulted in the receipt of a grade of “B” or higher, and be recommended by the program advisor and the graduate chair for transfer.
¶The MFA offers three sequential course levels each media/studio concentration. Level I is prerequisite to Level II etc. Courses are repeatable; each carries a maximum of 6 credit hours per semester and requires consent of instructor. Conditional and unclassified graduate students enroll at level I only.
¶Level I emphasizes creative exploration through research and evaluation in a personal direction; level II encourages development through analysis and definition; level III focuses on refinement and synthesis.❦