Studio Art

Master of Fine Arts degree available in painting, printmaking or sculpture.

TCU offers a two-year (60-semester-hour) program in art leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. Areas of specialization include painting, sculpture, and printmaking. The faculty welcomes applicants whose work displays high quality, originality and sustained visual ideas.

Program Prerequisites

B.F.A., or equivalent, including concentration in intended specialty as evidenced by appropriate credit, an acceptable portfolio of work, a statement of professional experience and goals, and letters of recommendation. Admission to the program is based on:

  • Portfolio acceptable to faculty committee
  • Strong G.P.A. in undergraduate art courses
  • Statement of professional experience and goals
  • Good overall academic G.P.A.
  • Three letters of recommendation.

Degree Requirements

A total of at least four semesters of graduate work is required. At least 60 semester hours must be earned, including no less than 12 in one area of specialization, and one hour in Thesis Exhibition. Six hours of Graduate Seminar, 12 hours of Art 60120 and 6 hours of Art History are required. Three hours of Art History must be 60603 Art Since 1945 or another contemporary art history course. The other 3 hours in art history may be chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee. The remaining hours may be selected with the approval of the student's thesis committee, but with no more than 6 hours taken outside the department.

Suggested Credit-Hour Distribution:

First Year:

1st Semester

Studio

9

Grad. Critique

3

Seminar

3

Total

15

2nd Semester

Studio

9

Grad. Critique

3

Art History

3

Total

15

Second Year:

1st Semester

Studio

9

Grad. Critique

3

Seminar

3

Total

15

2nd Semester

Studio

8

Grad. Critique

3

Thesis Exhibition

1

Art History

3

Total

15

Sequential Summary:

First semester-request appointment of thesis committee; complete sequence of courses as approved by committee; complete any conditions contained in the admission letter from the Graduate Office. Second semester-complete sequence of courses as approved by committee; seek candidacy approval of committee. Third semester-request committee approval for preparation of Thesis Exhibition; complete sequence of courses approved by committee. Fourth semester-enroll for Art 70991 Thesis Exhibition with major adviser as chair of committee; complete approved sequence of courses; give careful attention to the special deadlines for graduating students as they are outlined in the Bulletin or "Information and Deadlines for Graduation" available from the Graduate Office. Students are advised to work at least two weeks ahead of deadlines to avoid disappointments caused by unexpected delays and schedule conflicts.

Thesis Committees:

Students admitted to the program will be assigned a temporary adviser in their major or specialty area until an ultimate area of specialization is determined. In the first six weeks of study the student must request, in writing, that the department chair appoint a faculty member as a permanent major adviser. The student must confer with the proposed major adviser, and ensure that the faculty member is prepared to accept the student before requesting the chair to appoint the major adviser. The student may also suggest the names of two other faculty members to serve on the thesis committee. The thesis committee is formally appointed by the Graduate Office on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

While every effort will be made to compose a committee of the student's first choices, it may be necessary to make changes in light of the student's field of concentration, and the load or commitments of the faculty members.

A student may request, in writing, to the chair of the department, that a change be made of the major adviser, or committee members, if the field of specialization changes, or if other justifiable reasons arise that would make the continuation of the existing committee contrary to the best interests of the student or the program.

The major adviser will be responsible for committee activities, for aiding the student in matters of the program and for informing the chair of the department, in writing, of the progress of the student.

Colloquia:

Colloquia are offered by the faculty of the department. These are intended to serve the specific purpose of establishing a personal and informal means of communication between students and faculty. The colloquia will feature presentations and discussions by on and off-campus speakers, faculty and members of the Department of Art and Art History.

Candidacy:

Admission to candidacy requires the approval of the thesis committee of each student. Admission to candidacy is expected no later than the end of the first academic year of graduate study. Those who have not been admitted to candidacy by the beginning of the second academic year may not earn additional credits. Those who wish additional elective credits may continue for a probationary period of not more than 12 semester hours as a 'non-degree' student. Further enrollment will be permitted only if a student is re-admitted to the degree program.

Exhibition:

Thesis exhibition enrollment requires admission to candidacy as a prerequisite. Actual installation of the thesis exhibition requires approval of the thesis committee. The written portion of the thesis exhibition also requires committee approval. This written portion, and the format of the permanent record of the thesis exhibition, will be determined by the committee. The written portion of the MFA requirement is to be called 'Thesis Exhibition Statement' and will contain the following:

  1. Title page;
  2. Approval (signatures) page;
  3. Index to the written portion;
  4. Curriculum Vitae of the student;
  5. List of illustrations (with title, media, dimensions);
  6. Narration;
  7. Illustrations in the form of photographs.

The narration (6 above) will take one of the following formats:

  • Program notes of an explanatory nature from the student's work in the exhibition;
  • Student's personal evaluation of the art forms contained in the exhibit;
  • Contemporary or historical perspectives supporting the student's exhibit.

Three bound copies of the Thesis Exhibition Statement are required. Two of these are retained by the Library and one by the Department of Art and Art History. Each copy will contain digital images of the work which lists the title, date, media and dimensions.

Graduate Assistantships:

Graduate assistantships are offered each year to qualified candidates. Graduate assistants have an obligation of eight hours a week in service to the Department. They are given a full tuition waiver. Departmental assistants are given a full tuition waiver plus a stipend. Graduate and departmental assistants are assigned a private studio space.





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