Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Requirements

Total credits: 60

Additional conditions

• Students may take an UNDERGRADUATE course as a studio or academic elective FOR GRADUATE CREDIT under the following arrangement. Graduate-level Directed Study (ART 596) is used to permit a student to take an existing undergraduate CVPA course; the student sits in on the course but does additional, graduate-level work. Only existing 300 and 400-level courses can be taken as Directed Studies.
• At times, it may be appropriate for a graduate student to need the introductory studio information contained in 100 and 200-level courses. In special circumstances (as determined by the advisor, the chair, Graduate Director, and Dean), a student may receive graduate-level credit for coursework at the 100 or 200-level by proposing an Independent Study (ART 595), which includes attendance in the introductory class as well as additional graduate-level work with the faculty sponsor outside of class.
• Graduate level Independent Study may also be used for a specific area of interst or research that is not covered by an existing CVPA graduate or undergraduate course.
• For both Directed and Independent Studies, students must file the appropriate forms and obtain required approvals. Studies outside of CVPA would use the Independent Study process.
• Up to six 400-level credits may be applied to the MFA with a grade of B or better. These credits may be used for art history (see Admission with Deficiencies above), or academic/studio elective coursework.
• A maximum of nine studio credits is recommended per semester.
• Waiver of a required course must be approved by the Major Advisor, Graduate Director, and Dean. The waiver of a course is not a waiver of credits, which must be completed fully. Notation of waiver will be entered into a student’s record.
• The allowed six transfer credits may be applied as elective credits but not major studio credits.

Graduation

The Major Advisor will do a preliminary certification and then forward it to the Graduate Director for approval and recommendation of graduation to the Dean. Completion and approval are required of both the visual thesis and written report.

Dismissal

A student is liable for academic dismissal if:

• the grade point average falls below 3.0,
• more than 8 credits graded C+ or below are received, or
• progress toward developing work of an appropriate level of quality is inadequate in the opinion of the Graduate Committee, the Director of MFA Programs, and the Dean.

Advisement

The MFA Graduate Program Director guides all phases of the Master of Fine Arts degree programs and assures uniformity in their administration. The MFA Graduate Program Director exercises overall authority below the level of the Dean. In instances where matters of policy are involved or when consultation is in order, the Director confers with the college’s Graduate Committee. The Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts retains final authority in the college for the graduate programs.

Upon admission to the university you are assigned a primary faculty advisor. At the same time or before the middle of your second semester, your Graduate Committee, normally two other members of the college faculty in addition to the primary advisor, will be identified. The MFA Graduate Director takes part in advising, solving problems with graduate committees, dismissals, leaves of absence. The Graduate Director also has discussions with graduate committees & graduate students about their progress through the program.  The Graduate Director  reviews and approves Directed and Independent Studies. The graduate student’s primary thesis advisor must approve all course registrations and programs of study.

It is customary for the student’s graduate committee to remain in place for the duration of his or her studies. To make a change in the committee membership, approval by the primary advisor and other members of the committee is required, as is consent by those faculty the student wishes to add to his or her committee. The Graduate Director’s approval is also required, and in special circumstances the Graduate Director will consult with the CVPA Graduate Committee members.
 

The role of your committee is to help you meet the demands of the program and to counsel you on the development of your work. Its major task is to review your work. Twice each semester, at the mid-point and at the end, the committee meets to do this. It identifies important problems which you should address and issues verbal and written opinions concerning your progress. These reviews are obligatory and essential parts of the total graduate experience. The committee also approves your thesis topic and the visual thesis and written reports.