Art (MFA)
The graduate program seeks to prepare students for serious artistic practice. The objectives for students are not only to arrive at an accomplished body of work, but also to develop the practices and critical-thinking skills necessary to develop and sustain the work beyond school.
The program focuses on individual studio practice, the cultivation of a visual language, material process, and conceptual approach relevant to each student’s intentions and sensibility. Students are challenged to devise strategies of experimentation and research and to cultivate an ability to articulate ideas and critical responses to work. As part of a larger community, students are expected to have a significant understanding of the historical frameworks and the contemporary discourse of art.
The MFA curriculum is designed to provide both interdisciplinary discourse and disciplinary depth. MFA students have much of their course work in common through classes such as Graduate Critique (ART 612), theory and history seminars, and special topics courses. Graduate review and thesis committees are made up of faculty members across the range of media concentrations. Through Issues and Practices seminars and independent studies, students also have opportunities to concentrate on particular areas of specialization. Specialized facilities and equipment are available in the eight media areas that compose the department—art & technology, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, and fibers.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Develop of an accomplished, independent, professional level body of work.
- Conduct independent research and analysis in the discipline
- Demonstrate critical thinking and articulation of their creative work, including effective oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrate competencies and strategies for experimentation, materially and conceptually, which will sustain the work beyond graduation
- Understand historical and contemporary contexts, and professional discourse in the discipline. 6. Demonstrate understanding of professional practices
Art Major
A minimum of 24 credits must be graded with a grade of mid-B or better.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 612 | Graduate Critique 1 | 15 |
| Two graduate-level art history (ARH) courses; one must be contemporary history | 8 | |
| One art theory and criticism seminar | 4 | |
| One writing course | 3 | |
| Issues and Practices chosen from ARTC, ARTD, ARTF, ARTM, ARTO, ARTP, or ARTR | ||
| ARTS 609 | Terminal Creative Project MFA (or Terminal Creative Project M.F.A. chosen from ARTC, ARTD, ARTF, ARTM, ARTO, ARTP, or ARTR) | 18 |
| ART 614 | Graduate Studio 3 | 24 |
| Additional art credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 81 | |
| 1 | Five courses |
| 2 | One course each year |
| 3 | Six courses in first two years |
Additional Requirements
- Participation in at least two graduate reviews - one prior to reclassification to graduate master's candidacy and a second prior to the MFA exhibition
- Public exhibition of the MFA thesis and final review with the terminal project committee
- Terminal creative project report
Residency Requirements
Nine consecutive terms of full-time enrollment, not including summer session, is the minimum residence requirement. Under special circumstances, an official University of Oregon leave of absence may be requested.