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 610 | Experimental Course: [Topic] (Graduate Teaching Practicum) | 6 |
| ART 610 | Experimental Course: [Topic] (Issues and Practices (3 terms, every fall)) | 9 |
| or ART 510 | Experimental Course: [Topic] | |
| ART 608 | Workshop: [Topic] (Writing for Artists (or other graduate level writing course)) | 3 |
| ART 612 | Graduate Critique (5 terms at 3 credits per term) | 15 |
| 2 terms of graduate level Art History (1 must be contemporary) | 8 | |
| Theory Seminar (such as ARH 607, ART 507, or other university theory course approved by the Director of Graduate Study | 4 | |
| ART 614 | Graduate Studio (4 credits per term for 6 terms, completed in the first two years)) 1 | 24 |
| ART 609 | Terminal Project | 18 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 90 | |
Additional Requirements
- 3-year program (must have at least nine terms of full-time enrollment, with a minimum of nine
credits each term, during the academic year)
• Satisfaction of the Division of Graduate Studies minimum degree requirements relevant to this
program’s Master of Fine Arts students which includes grades, incompletes, as well as other
criteria listed on the division’s site.
• Participation in at least two graduate reviews
• Public exhibition of the MFA Terminal Project 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.