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 Program Director, and Dean), a student may receive graduate-level credit for coursework at the 100, 200 or 300-level by proposing a Directed Study (ART 596), 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 interest 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 (GPD) for each area (Artisanry, Fine Arts, Visual Design) guides all phases of the degree programs within their area and assures uniformity in the administration of their program. The Assistant Dean exercises overall authority of the Graduate Program below the level of the Dean. In instances where matters of policy are involved or when consultation is in order, the Assistant Dean and GPD’s confer 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, students are assigned a primary faculty advisor. At the same time or before the middle of the second semester, a Graduate Committee (normally two members of the college faculty in addition to the primary advisor) will be identified. The Graduate Program Director in the student’s discipline takes part in advising, solving problems with graduate committees, dismissals, and leaves of absence. The GPD also has discussions with graduate committees & graduate students regarding progress through the program. The GPD reviews, signs and forwards Directed and Independent Studies. The 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 Program Director’s approval is also required before forwarding to the Assistant Dean.
 

The role of the committee is to help students meet the demands of the program and to counsel on the development of their work. Its major task is to review the student’s work. Twice each semester, at the mid-point and at the end, the committee meets to do this. It identifies important problems which need to be addressed and provides verbal and written opinions concerning progress. These reviews are obligatory and essential parts of the total graduate experience. The committee also approves students’ thesis topics and the visual thesis and written reports.