Visual Art, M.F.A

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The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art is a terminal degree that incorporates a comprehensive background in the fine arts as well as advanced development in areas of studio specialization. The degree offers students advanced coursework in art history, critical theory and practiced criticism, combining studio and academic experience to provide students the opportunity to synthesize information at a higher level while engaging in original research and the development of a significant body of creative work.

The Department of Art, Art History & Design offers study in the areas selected from but not limited to book and publication arts, ceramics, digital-media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. The degree program’s interdisciplinary objective is to ensure that students are not bound by a single discipline or particular medium, providing the opportunity and encouragement to explore new possibilities in the search for the most effective visual format for the expression of their ideas. Students will be expected to re-define boundaries of traditional media and to incorporate materials from art history, theory, criticism, and other academic disciplines of their choice. Equal emphasis is placed upon the creation of artwork and its intellectual, conceptual, and social contexts.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

conduct creative and scholarly research to critically inform the production of work.
evaluate, synthesize, and communicate their understanding of visual art and design in relation to historical precedents and the contemporary global context at an advanced level.
create and apply new and various scientific methods and/or technologies within their creative and scholarly projects.
apply visual literacy, art historical knowledge, and problem-solving skills to pursue advanced study and/or employment within a creative profession (i.e., knowledge of/functioning within profession).
utilize ethical decision-making and disciplinary values in course projects and critical discussions.

Contact Information

Miya Hannan, Assistant Professor
Department of Art, Art History & Design
(775)784-6779
miyah@unr.edu

Admission Requirements

Master of Fine Art students are admitted in fall semester only. The departmental deadline for application is February 15. The department website gives specific admission, application, and degree requirements at https://www.unr.edu/art/degrees-and-programs/master-of-fine-arts.

Entrance to the program is determined via a review of the full application. Department faculty will conduct the application and portfolio review. Students pursuing the Master of Fine Arts degree must satisfy all graduate school requirements and specific departmental requirements.

I. Program Requirements

An MFA candidate must be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 9 credits per semester). Candidates must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. The MFA program requires a public exhibition of a cohesive body of work after 30 credit hours to confirm the student’s eligibility for advancement to MFA candidacy. At the conclusion of 60 credit hours a public solo thesis exhibition created, curated, installed and publicized by the candidate must be presented. A formal written thesis, public artist lecture, and oral examination are also required at the time of the thesis exhibition.

The degree requires sixty credit hours (three years of study) from the following:

A. Required Courses (54-57 units)

ART 649 - Professional Practices for Artists (3 units)
ART 650 - Critique Seminar (3 units)
ART 698 - Seminar in Visual Arts (3 units) (6 units required)
ART 710 - Graduate Studio Practices (3 units) (24 units required)
ART 722 - Graduate Tutorial (3 units)
ART 737 - Theory and Criticism (3 units) (3 units required, may be repeated up to 6 units)
ART 747 - Directed Readings (3 units) (3 units required, may be repeated up to 6 units)
ART 777 - Graduate Exhibition (3 units)
ART 790 - Community Service in the Arts (3 units) (3 units required, may be repeated up to 6 units)

B. Electives (3-6 units)

Electives are not limited to Department of Art, Art History & Design courses. All electives must be arranged and approved on an individual basis and must be 600-700-level coursework. See MFA Graduate Director for advisement.

ART 603 - Problems in Drawing (3 units)
ART 613 - Problems in Ceramics (3 units)
ART 617 - Problems in Sculpture (3 units)
ART 626 - Problems in Printmaking (1 to 3 units)
ART 633 - Problems in Painting (3 units)
ART 640 - Problems in Photography (1 to 3 units)
ART 651 - Problems in Digital Media (1 to 3 units)
ART 654 - Problems in Videography (1 to 3 units)
ART 675 - History of Photography (3 units)
ART 692 - Individual Studies I (3 units)
ART 693 - Individual Studies in Art History (3 units)

II. Total Units

The degree requires sixty credit hours (three years of study).

Undergraduate Prerequisites

Prospective MFA students must present a Bachelor’s degree (not limited to an art degree) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average from an accredited university, school, or college. Test scores are not required.