M.F.A. Studio Art Major
The master of fine arts degree in studio art is designed for rigorous study in ceramics, digital art, drawing, painting, printmaking, or sculpture. Successful completion of the degree qualifies graduates to seek opportunities in higher education and the professional world of art. The 60 credit hour degree in studio art requires residency (regular studio presence) and culminates in a thesis/project and exhibition of each student’s work.
Standard Undergraduate Requirements
Students should not apply to the M.F.A. program in studio art unless they have completed a minimum of 36 undergraduate hours in art at an accredited institution. Applicants who do not meet this requirement should contact an undergraduate adviser for information on an undergraduate degree in art.
Admission and Application Requirements
Prospective art graduate students must apply to and be accepted by all of the following:
- The Office of Admissions (application and transcript approval),
- The Graduate School (application and graduate status approval) and
- The Art Program.
Steps for Art Program Admission
- Submit a digital portfolio consisting of 20 images of your artwork,
- Submit a 500- to 700-word letter of artistic intent, including a description of your M.F.A. studio interests,
- Submit three letters of academic and/or professional reference and
- Submit copies of all undergraduate transcripts.
Each application will be reviewed by the graduate art faculty. Program admission is granted upon written approval of three full-time graduate art faculty members. Notification of Art Program admission will be mailed or emailed to each applicant.
All materials should be submitted to the Graduate School by April 10th for full consideration.
Students who miss the April 10th deadline must contact the department at 806-651-2799.
General Information about M.F.A. Student Status
Students accepted into the M.F.A. program are reviewed each semester and prior to submission of their individual plan of study. Semester reviews will determine whether the student will remain a M.F.A. candidate, be placed on probation for a semester or dismissed from the program. All graduate students are required to work very closely with their major professor in order to schedule each semester’s review, which will normally take place around Nov. 10 for the fall semester and April 10 for the spring semester. Consult the Art Graduate Student Handbook for more details about semester reviews.
M.F.A. students who are placed on probation will have one semester to complete requirements and/or fulfill expectations.
M.F.A. Degree Requirements
(60 semester hours)
M.F.A. candidates may concentrate in the areas of painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, glass, printmaking, computer art, two-dimensional art or three-dimensional art.
15 semester hours in a major studio area of concentration
15 semester hours in an additional studio area
9 semester hours in art history, including:
12 semester hours of ARTS electives
Three semester hours of:
Six semester hours from:
(Terminal project/thesis to include an oral examination, an exhibition of M.F.A. studio work featuring the M.F.A. project and an extensive professional paper.)