Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants should hold a Bachelor of Arts (with a major in Fine Arts) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Under special circumstances, applicants without a B.A. or B.F.A. degree or without a major in Fine Arts, but with outstanding artistic or professional qualifications, may be considered for admission. 

Admission is based on academic record, two letters of recommendation, and a portfolio of at least twenty slides, including examples of drawings. A resume of the applicant’s background should be included in the portfolio. Slide portfolios should be sent directly to the Department of Art. The department cannot be liable for loss or damage or for any transportation or mailing expense. 

Degree Requirements

• 36 credit hours of approved graduate work 

Additional studio (or art history) courses may be required to attain maturity and proficiency and to complete satisfactorily the comprehensives and thesis. The number and kinds of additional courses will be stipulated by the admissions committee at the time of admission. 

• One public oral examination after completion of each semester of ARTS-797 Master’s Thesis Seminar and mandatory attendance at all M.F.A. in Studio Art public oral examinations 
• A thesis exhibition of original works of art in the student’s area of specialization executed independently by the student in consultation with a thesis committee of two or three faculty members. Written and photographic documentation of approved thesis is also required. 
• Mandatory attendance at all visiting artist lectures and critiques 

Course Requirements

Areas of Specialization

Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Installation 

• ARTS-560 Drawing Practicum I (3) 
• ARTS-561 Drawing Practicum II (3) 
• ARTS-600 Twentieth Century Art Theory (3) 
• ARTS-601 Contemporary Art Theory (3) 
• ARTS-797 Master’s Thesis Seminar (3) (12 credit hours     total) 
• 3 credit hours from the following: 

graduate art history (ARTH) course 

ARTS-610 Multimedia Seminar (3) 

COMM-511 History of Documentary (3) 

COMM-517 History of Cross-Cultural Cinema (3) 

COMM-520 History of Animation (3) 

COMM-527 History of Photography (3) 

COMM-558 Survey of American Cinema (3) 

• 6 credit hours from the following studio courses: 

ARTS-520 Advanced Printmaking (3) 

ARTS-530 Advanced Sculpture (3) 

ARTS-560 Drawing Practicum I (3) 

ARTS-561 Drawing Practicum II (3) 

ARTS-670 Composing with Media (3) 

• 3 credit hours from other graduate course approved by the department chair  

Area of Specialization

Multimedia 

• ARTS-600 Twentieth Century Art Theory (3) 
• ARTS-601 Contemporary Art Theory (3) 
• ARTS-610 Multimedia Seminar (3) (6 credit hours total) 
• ARTS-797 Master’s Thesis Seminar (3) (12 credit     hours total) 
• COMM-516 Topics in Film and Media Arts (3):     The Radical Image 
• approved graduate course (3) 
• 3 credit hours from the following: 

graduate art history (ARTH) course 

COMM-511 History of Documentary (3) 

COMM-517 History of Cross-Cultural Cinema (3) 

COMM-520 History of Animation (3) 

COMM-527 History of Photography (3) 

COMM-558 Survey of American Cinema (3) 

• 3 credit hours from the following: 

ARTS-560 Drawing Practicum I (3) 

ARTS-561 Drawing Practicum II (3) 

COMM-631 Film and Video Production I (3) 

COMM-634 Film and Video Production II (3) 

COMM-650 Digital Imaging (3) 

COMM-652 Web Studio (3) 

COMM-654 Motion Graphics and Effects I (3)