Degree Requirements

MFA Fine Arts is a full-time, interdisciplinary graduate program in the practice of contemporary art. We offer six kinds of courses: Mentorship, Studio, Crit, Talks, Seminars and Workshops. The normal course of study is two years of full-time enrollment. Satisfactory progress usually means that students complete 15 credits each semester, and pass an annual review of work. Students are required to register for Mentorship (3 credits), Studio (1 credit), 2 Crits (1.5 credits each) and Talks (2 credits) every semester.


Students have flexibility in Seminars and Workshops: In a given semester they can take any combination of Seminars and Workshops totaling 18 credits over their course of study.


Note: Courses in other departments may be substituted for Seminars and Workshops with permission from both the student’s advisor and the chair. Students whose practices involve 3D fabrication, animation, app development, coding, VR/XR and other digital media are encouraged to explore opportunities to collaborate with MFA Computer Arts students and to take courses in the MFA Computer Arts Department.


General Requirements

  • Completion of 60 credits, including all required courses, completion of a thesis project that passes annual review, a thesis presentation with a grade of B- or higher and a thesis portfolio with a grade of B- or higher. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in order to remain in good academic standing. Only course grades of B- or higher will be applied toward the degree. Students who receive a grade below B- may have to repeat the course (or an equivalent course that satisfies a degree requirement). Grades of less than B- are awarded credit and are used to calculate term and cumulative GPA.
  • A matriculation of two academic years. Students must complete their degree within four years, unless given an official extension by the provost.
  • Requirements - First Year

  • Requirements - Second Year

  • General Course Listing