Studio Art M.F.A.

Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission into the MFA program.

Full Admission: The following requirements must be met by all students for full admission:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale on all prior advanced-level (junior, senior, and graduate) work.
3. Completion of the appropriate applications for graduate admission to the University.
4. Completion of at least 70 hours undergraduate preparation in art. Course prerequisites for admission are commensurate with the minimum upper-division field requirements of most B.F.A. studio emphasis programs. (Fulfillment of prerequisites is subject to approval by the Faculty Review Committee. The Committee may require leveling work if the student is deemed to lack specific studio courses at the undergraduate level).

   1. upper division studio (42 hrs.)

   2. upper division art history (9 hrs.)

   3. additional art electives (18 hrs.)

   4. thesis/exhibition (1 hr.)

5. Written rationale for graduate study.
6. An original research paper showing competence in the use of the English language and with conducting research.
7. Submission of a Portfolio. Portfolios should consist of 20 individual images on a CD. Digital submissions should be accompanied by a list containing the artist’s name, title, dimensions, media, and date of completion. Three-dimensional works may include multiple views/details.
8. CV/resume.
9. An artist's statement describing the applicant’s aesthetic interest or direction.
10. Three academic letters of recommendation.
11. Transcripts.
12. Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
13. An interview with the applicant may be required at the discretion of the faculty.
14. Consideration is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, first generation college graduate, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art is a 60-hour degree terminating in a graduate thesis exhibition.

Students may select from a two-dimensional, three-dimensional or mixed-media track. With approval of the graduate advisor, up to six hours of transfer graduate credit with a grade of "B" or better may apply towards this degree.

1. studio work to be chosen from one of three tracks (two -dimensional, three- dimensional, or mixed-media) (39 hrs.)
2. graduate art history (12 hrs.)
3. thesis/exhibition (9 hrs.)

All students admitted into the program are required to undergo a portfolio review. For students admitted under Full Admission, a Portfolio Review occurs after completion of 15 hours. Recommendations for actions will be at the discretion of the faculty. This review must be successfully completed before enrolling in additional hours.

Students may be dismissed from the program if the faculty, upon portfolio review, deem the student’s progress not sufficient, or that the portfolio holds insufficient potential.

Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) on all graduate work at UT Tyler. Students may be dismissed if their GPA falls below 3.0 for more than three semesters. Any grade below a “B” will not count toward the completion of the MFA.

Residency requirements: two long term semesters of 9 hours each.

Graduate students should take no more than 9 hours in a regular term and 6 hours during summer terms.