Art–M.A.

General Information

This selective program emphasizing studio art is intended to include several phases of professional competence in the department with the possible inclusion of other disciplines outside the department when necessary. The Master’s degree requires a minimum of thirty credit hours of which eighteen are in the student’s studio areas of interest (major) while the other twelve hours are distributed between art history, theory and museum studies. Each student, with a faculty advisor, will develop an individual program of study. The student and faculty will meet on a regular basis to evaluate the student’s work.

Admission

Art applicants must submit an application and application fee, undergraduate college transcripts, three (3) letters of recommendation, a letter of intent and a minimum of ten work examples to the Graduate Office, Culkin Hall. Work examples may be sent in the following formats: 1. color slides; 2. paper mounted pieces smaller than 18 x 21 inches may be sent in a portfolio; 3. graphic design will accept imagery on a CD-ROM (Macintosh format). All work examples will be returned after the review process is completed. The reviewing committee will submit a recommendation of acceptance or rejection and will inform the applicant of the decision.

Students with less than 71 hours in art or an allied subject (subject to approval of the Graduate committee) are required to take supplemental undergraduate studio courses before they begin the MA degree program. We require that all the students in the Fine Arts oriented area of the program be full time (nine to twelve credits per semester). The graduate coordinator will consult with a graduate faculty member in the area of the student’s main interest to make this judgement.

Degree Candidacy

When the student has completed twelve to fifteen hours of course work, she/he must (with the aid of the advisor) file for degree candidacy. At this point there will be a thorough review of the students work. Degree candidacy applications must be filed with the Art Department and the Dean of Graduate Studies. A cumulative average of 3.0 or better is required for the awarding of degree candidacy status.

Graduation

When the student has completed the program of study, the Graduate Director will certify to the Graduate Office that all course requirements have been met and that the student has met all requirements for graduation. Since the program is designed for each student, the Graduate Program Director, in consultation with the student’s advisor, will recommend a culminating evaluation.

Thesis Exhibition

1. An exhibition will be scheduled during the final month of the student’s study or at a time agreeable to both the student, the student’s advisor, and the Graduate Director.
2. The Graduate Director will schedule a time for an oral defense of the exhibition. The student’s advisor will serve as Chair of the Orals Committee. At that time, the Oral Examination Committee, selected by the student and advisor, will respond to the student’s defense of his or her work.
3. The result of the examination will be forwarded by the Graduate Director to the Dean of Graduate Studies.