Master of Fine Arts Degree

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SFA MFA Degree

Admissions

Deadlines
(Note destination of materials due to either / or both the Graduate Admissions Office and the SFA School of Art. Refer to MA Requirements or consult Graduate Advisor.) 

  • April 1 for summer or fall admissions.
  • October 20 for spring admission.
  • February 1 to be considered for assistantships funded by the Alumni Office.

Requirements:    

  • For admission requirements, refer to MA Requirements of consult the Graduate Advisor.
  • Students who hold an MA degree in Art must present a candidacy exhibition with artist's statement after the first semester of residence. (See subsection below.)
  • Approval of the candidacy show by a majority of the faculty is required to continue in the MFA program.

 Curriculum

Description of Courses

  • Art 530 / 531 are studio courses that are team-taught with group critiques.
  • Art 575 / 576 are courses of independent study with a professor. Approval of the instructor is required before registration.
  • Art 597 is a special topics course conducted as a class rather than independent study. With approval of the Graduate Advisor, these courses may be taken where appropriate.

Students are urged to take the Teaching College ART course (581) or the Professional Practices course (592) as electives. If taking both, 592 will be counted as a studio elective.

Course Distribution

  • A total of 6 hours must be taken in 530 / 531 courses for the MFA, no more than 6 hours in any one semester, in addition to the 12 hours for the MA, if the student is enrolled in or has completed the MA in Art at SFA.
  • Incoming students with an MA in Art from another institution are required to take a minimum of 9 hours in the 530 / 531 courses.
15 hrs. 

 Studio Major courses and 530/531, 575/576 or 597 (3 hrs. for the MFA plus the 12 hrs. for the MA)

15 hrs. 
 500-level art history (6 hrs. for the MFA plus the 9 hrs. for the MA)

9 hrs. 
 Studio Minor courses and 530/531, 575/576 or 597 (3 hrs. for the MFA plus the 6 hrs. for the MA)

15 hrs. 
 Electives as advised, including 530/531, 575/576 or 597 (6 hrs. for the MFA plus the 9 hrs. for the MA; 12 total hours must be studio)

6 hrs.
 ART 591 MFA Exhibition. Students may enroll only after the Thesis Proposal is approved by the Associate Vice-President of Graduate Studies and Research.
_____

60 hrs.
  

 Time limit

Normally, the MFA is completed within two years beyond the MA. 
All work for MFA degree must be completed within six years of the time the student is first enrolled in the MFA degree program. See the Graduate Bulletin for extension policies.

 Graduate Advising / Degree Plan Sheet and Degree Plan

Graduate Students are responsible to know University and School of Art policies and procedures and to keep track of their progress through the program.  To assist students in this endeavor, the School's Graduate Advisor will provide guidance and instruction and work with the Director of the School of Art and the Graduate Faculty to maintain records and review the students' progress.

 Prior to registering for courses, new graduate students are to meet with the Graduate Advisor to:

  1. Set up an initial degree plan sheet, which may be revised later in consultation with the Graduate Advisor or Director of the School.
  2. Be advised and receive a current copy of this Graduate Guide and the Art History and Studio Study Guide, MA Comprehensive Exam.

Returning Graduate Students are to meet with the Graduate Advisor or Director of the School prior to registering for courses.  The student’s major professor may be consulted. All graduate students must attend the initial School of Art Graduate Student Orientation meeting each semester. Graduate students are expected to contribute to the cultural life of the School of Art and participate in its activities.  Graduate Students are role models for their undergraduate counterparts and should conduct themselves accordingly by taking a leadership role in attending School of Art events (such as gallery openings, guest presentations) and by actively participating in special programs (workshops, symposia, etc.).

MFA Candidacy Exhibition

Each student is required to mount a public exhibition of his or her work, accompanied by an artist's statement after completing 36 hours of coursework for the MFA. If the student is completing an MA in Art degree from SFA, the MA exhibition serves for the MFA candidacy.

  • The exhibition is to be a solo show.
  • The exhibition and statement will be evaluated by the Art Graduate faculty and must be approved by a majority of the faculty to continue in the MFA program.
  • The exhibition must take place during the spring or fall semesters and conclude by Friday before Commencement day. A majority of the Art Graduate faculty are not available at other times. Summer semesters, interim or holidays are unacceptable.
  • The exhibition generally lasts three days to allow all Art Graduate faculty to view the work.

 MFA Thesis Exhibition Defense

 The Thesis Exhibition Defense requires that the student demonstrate critical analysis of their work in a digital or slide presentation, which is traditionally expected of the artist in applying for a position or exhibiting work professionally.

Part  A:  A public digital or slide presentation of thesis work. Provide an introduction, statement of purpose, background, and working methods as related to the images shown. 

  • Time: 25-30 minutes presentation, followed by 5-10 minutes for general audience questions directly related to the presentation, followed by 5-10 minutes for faculty questions.
  • A majority vote by closed ballot of faculty in attendance is required for a candidate to proceed to Part B of the examination. A five-member MFA Public Presentation Committee is elected annually to evaluate the presentations and cast the official vote; however, all graduate faculty in attendance may vote.
  • The candidate is limited to three attempts to pass Part A.
  • The time and venue of the presentation will be chosen in consultation with the Thesis Director and the candidate within the first two weeks of the semester of the thesis exhibition.
  • It is the candidate's responsibility to publicize the event.
  • Attendance at these presentations is a required component of 530/531 coursework.

Part B: The four-member Thesis Advisory Committee (Thesis Director, two Committee Members, and Graduate School Representative) conduct a 45-60 minute examination referencing the thesis art works and the support document at the location of the exhibition.