Course of Study
Working with MFA faculty during the first and second years, students are encouraged to explore new media, models, and ideas as they develop a proposal for a culminating solo exhibition project in their third year. Individual faculty discussions, peer critiques, seminars on current issues, and presentations by visiting artists help students broaden their field of inquiry. Upon successful completion of the candidacy review at the end of the second year, students work with a faculty advisor to produce a solo public exhibition or present their work in another appropriate form in the spring of the third year.
The Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design’s Studio MFA degree is a three-year, full-residency program. Students complete at least 90 credits, distributed as follows:
Coursework | Credits |
---|
Contemporary Art Practice Directed Studies | 40 credits |
Visiting Artist Program Seminar | 12 credits |
Contemporary Art History/Theory | 12 credits |
Graduate Seminars | 12 credits |
Electives (outside the department) | 8 credits |
Graduate Exhibition Project | 6 credits |
Total | 90 credits |
The following are a few examples of courses that fulfill the above requirements:
ARH 598 & 599 Contemporary Art I & II (8 credits)
A two-quarter sequence investigating global developments in visual arts of the past decade. May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 530 Critical Theories of Art (4 credits)
Introduction to and overview of major issues in contemporary art theory, including intellectual history, theoretical antecedents, theories of aesthetics, and current critical concerns. Through reading and discussion, the course provides a basis for developing a common critical language and an opportunity for an in-depth exploration of contemporary art practices in relation to a variety of cultural and historical topics. Maximum 4 credits. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: ARH 550.
ART 578 Group Critique (2 credits)
Weekly group discussion of student work-in-progress with rotating graduate faculty members. Evaluation of studio work is informed by reading and other contextual materials selected by students and faculty. Visiting artists, curators, critics, or other arts professionals participate occasionally. May be repeated for a maximum of 40 credits. Required for MFA Studio. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 580 Directed Studies Studio Practice (2 credits)
Consultation and directed study in studio practice production with a supervising faculty member. In-depth discussions and assessment of graduate student’s work-in-progress in relation to contemporary art practices and criticism, historical practices, technical and formal concerns and/or related interdisciplinary interests. Directed assignments and course of study will be given as appropriate. May be repeated for a maximum of 40 credits. Required for MFA Studio. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 581 Special Topics and Exhibition Strategies Seminar (2 credits)
First-term examines selected issues in contemporary art and culture. The instructor’s current research interests determine course material. Course format consists of assigned readings, discussion, and a writing component. Includes a survey of local, as well as national and international resources. Second term is a survey of exhibition strategies preparing students for the installation of their Graduate Project exhibitions in Spring Term of the second year. Field trips, presentations, screenings, and assigned lectures may be included. May be repeated twice for a maximum of 4 credits. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 582 SEM: Artists as Writers (2 credits)
Explores the role of writing and research in contemporary art practice. The course considers some of the reasons visual artists write, reviews various types of historical and contemporary artists’ writing, and explores basic research methods. Readings, discussion, individual and group projects form a basis out of which students begin to develop a means of written expression that compliments their visual work. Third-year MFA candidates complete the first draft of their Graduate Project Statement. May be repeated twice for a maximum of 4 credit. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 583 SEM: Teaching Visual Culture (2 credits)
Explores teaching at local and national institutions as preparation for teaching in higher education. This seminar includes curriculum development, syllabi development, assessment, and educational objectives viewed through the lens of issues in contemporary art education and visual culture. Maximum 2 credits. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
ART 585 Professional Practices (2 credits)
Explores various topics in contemporary art, concentrating on specific issues of professional development for graduate students. Through lectures, research, reading, and writing, a variety of tools and strategies directly related to contemporary art world practices will be taught. The students will be required to apply these issues to their specific art production. Prerequisite: second-year standing in the Master of Fine Arts Program. Maximum 2 credits.
ART 586 Visiting Artist Program (2 credits)
Course focuses on exposing students to different strategies in presenting work. Students in this course visit artist studios, gain insight from remote and live artist lectures and engage in in-depth discussion with visiting artists. On occasion, visiting artists conduct one-on-one visits with students at the MFA studios. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits. Required for MFA. Prerequisite: graduate standing.