Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Art M.F.A.Art Department
College of Liberal Arts
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Art, E201 Regis Center for Art, 405 21st Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-8096; fax: 612-625-7881).
Email:
artdept@umn.edu
Website: http://www.art.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The master of fine arts program places major emphasis on creative artistic work of high quality. It promotes not only the conceptual and technical education of the professional artist in their artistic practice, encouraging critical inquiry, excellence, and an understanding of the history of art, but also an experimental approach toward each media. The following areas of concentration are available: ceramics, drawing and painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and experimental and media arts. The MFA is considered the terminal degree in the field of fine arts and is typically the degree required to teach at the college or university level.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.00.
Special Application Requirements:
Admission to the M.F.A. program is highly competitive. In addition to meeting the University's application requirements, students applying to the program must demonstrate a high degree of capability and commitment in their artistic portfolio and in their statements of artistic and academic intent. Applicants must submit a portfolio electronically with documentation of artwork completed in the three years prior to admission. Instructions for submitting the portfolio and supplemental materials including three letters of recommendation may be found at the department's website: www.art.umn.edu
Students are admitted for fall semester only.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan B: Plan B requires
58
major credits and
6
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project:Candidates demonstrate their visual research accomplishments through participation in the MFA thesis exhibition in the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, a supporting paper, and a final oral examination.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 2.80
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
The MFA program requires a total of 64 credits. It is typically a three-year program and studio space is provided for a maximum of three consecutive years for the pursuit of appropriate artistic research. MFA candidates plan programs with their advisors with approval of the director of graduate studies. The program requires all coursework be completed by the end of the second year of the program.
Students who will teach during their time in the MFA program will be required to register for the 1-credit MFA teaching colloquium prior to a graduate teaching appointment.
In the third year of the MFA program, candidates are required to register for 9 ARTS 8990 credits per semester and a 1-credit writing workshop in the fall.
Candidates must be reviewed annually for progress through the program. At the end of the final year, candidates demonstrate their artistic research accomplishments through participation in the MFA thesis exhibition held in the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, a supporting paper, and a final oral examination.
Seminar Courses
Take the following courses for a total of 9 credits:
ARTS 8404 - MFA Thesis Research + Writing
(3.0 cr)
ARTS 8403 - MFA Professional Practices and Teaching Pedagogy
(3.0 cr)
ARTS 8402 - Theoretical Constructions in Contemporary Art
(3.0 cr)
MFA Critique Seminar
Take ARTS 8410 in the fall of 1st year, the fall of 2nd year, and the spring of 2nd year, for a total of 9 credits.
Take 9 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ARTS 8410 - MFA Critique Seminar
(3.0 cr)
Studio Credits
ARTS 8420 and 8450 can be repeated multiple times for credit.
Take 24 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ARTS 8420 - MFA Studio
(1.0-6.0 cr)
Take 16 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ARTS 8990 - MFA Creative Thesis
(1.0-9.0 cr)
Art Theory or Art History Courses
Take at least 6 credits from outside art to fulfill the art theory or art history course requirements. Courses can be selected from the following departments, or in consultation with the advisor and director of graduate studies.
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 5xxx
·
ARTH 8xxx
·
THE 5xxx
·
THE 8xxx
·
ADES 5xxx
·
ADES 8xxx
·
APST 5xxx
·
APST 8xxx
·
ARCH 5xxx
·
ARCH 8xxx
·
DES 5xxx
·
DES 8xxx
·
GDES 5xxx
·
GDES 8xxx
·
HSG 5xxx
·
HSG 8xxx
·
IDES 5xxx
·
IDES 8xxx
·
LA 5xxx
·
LA 8xxx
·
MST 5xxx
·
MST 8xxx
·
RM 5xxx
·
RM 8xxx
·
CSCL 5xxx
·
CSCL 8xxx
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 36.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -9.0 [max 18.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |