The Department of Art's MFA in Contemporary Art Practice is a
two-year full-residency program. Students complete at least 90 credits,
distributed in the following way:
40 credits Contemporary Art Practice/Directed Studies
12 credits Visiting Artist Program/Group Critique
12 credits Contemporary Art History/Theory
8 credits Electives (outside Art Department)
12 credits Graduate Seminars
6 credits Exhibition Project/Statement
Working with designated faculty during the first year, students are
encouraged to explore new media, models and ideas as they develop a
proposal for creative activity that culminates with an exhibition
project in the second year. Individual faculty discussions, peer
critiques, seminars in current issues/contemporary art history and
weekly lectures by nationally and internationally recognized visiting
artists help students broaden their field of inquiry.
Upon successful completion of the first-year candidacy review, students
work with a faculty advisor to produce their exhibition project. The
project is presented in a public exhibition or other appropriate form
in the spring quarter of the second year.
Space and Resources
Individual studio spaces for Studio Practice students and group
workspace for Social Practice students are provided for duration of the
program. The Department of Art has several galleries, state-of-the-art
computer graphics and multimedia facilities, a foundry, a welding
studio, a printmaking studio with etching and lithography presses, a
darkroom, wood and metal workshops and a slide library. All members of
the faculty are professional artists actively engaged in their
respective fields.
Assistantships
Teaching assistantships may be applied for after admission and are
awarded competitively each year. Students awarded teaching
assistantships receive partial tuition remission and a stipend. Teaching
Assistants are mentored by faculty in undergraduate courses while they
investigate methods and concepts of teaching visual culture in seminar.
Upon successful completion of the first term practicum, students teach
independently for up to two additional quarters.
Travel
The
program includes annual trips to major urban art centers such as New
York, Los Angeles, Houston and Toronto. The Art Department's Summer
Travel Program to Italy is also open to graduate students who can earn
up to eight credits toward the degree in this manner.
