Master of Fine Arts
The UNCG M.F.A. in Studio Arts is a full time, rigorous, and relevant program designed for visual artists whose work demonstrates a high level of proficiency in studio practice and art history. The program attracts students from undergraduate programs across the country, especially those located in Ohio, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Georgia. International students studying in the United States apply to the program. Their countries of origin include the United Kingdom, China, Japan, India, and South America. Applicants are required to have an undergraduate education in the visual arts and to complete successfully a minimum of thirty-nine credit hours in studio art and fifteen credit hours in art history, earning a B.A. or B.F.A. degree. On occasion faculty elect to waive some of the undergraduate art history requirements in recognition of the fact that the average number of undergraduate credit hours required by peer institutions is from nine to twelve. Students must be prepared for intense study in their chosen concentrations in a context of continual critical dialog.
THe Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a two-year sixty-hour degree. Students complete the coursework in studio art, art criticism, art history, and electives as well as thesis work. The objective of the M.F.A. program is to produce self-critical, creative artists capable of engaging the contemporary art world independently and self-reliantly through continuing development of their technical abilities and professional opportunities. The work of the graduate students encompasses a broad range of practices, aesthetic issues, personal explorations, and technical approaches.
The Master of Art Education program is not accepting applicants at this time.
To request additional information from the Graduate School please Click here and to find out about our 2007 MFA Graduates click here
Who to contact
Nikki Blair
Director of Graduate Studies
139 Gatewood
P. O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5728
nlblair1@yahoo.com
Ms. Pat Wasserboehr
Head, Department of Art
P. O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 256-1092
p_wasser@uncg.edu
Ms. Jennifer Hutchens
Graduate Program Secretary
P. O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5248
jlhutche@uncg.edu
Admission Information
Application Deadline
January 25 – Contact the Department for portfolio and interview date.
No GRE required.
Application requirements specific to the Art Department
(in addition to the application to the Graduate School)
These are sent directly to the Graduate School:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The Graduate School
241 Mossman Bldg
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
These are sent directly to the Department of Art:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The Department of Art
138 Gatewood Bldg
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
Specific Course Requirements
Requirements for admission to the M.F.A. program: The student should have 39 hours or the equivalent of undergraduate credits in studio art and 15 hours of art history. All candidates for admission must submit slides of recent work. Candidates are also encouraged to attend a Portfolio and Interview Day following the deadline for applications.
Requirements for completion of the M.F.A. program: The student must complete 60 hours of course work in studio art, art criticism, art history and electives, pass all required examinations, and complete thesis work. This is a full time 2 year program.
required core courses (9 hours):
ART 600 - Writing Art Criticism (3)
ART 620 - Drawing (4)
ART 622 - Drawing Marathon (2)
studio courses (26-30 hours)
To be selected from the following:
ART 520 - Anatomy for the Artist (3)
ART 525 - Advanced Metal Casting (3)
ART 529 - The Multi-Media Print (3)
ART 531 - Painting (3)
ART 535 - Variable Topics in Painting (3)
ART 540 - Digital Visualization and Methods (3)
ART 545 - Interactive Web Design (3)
ART 550 - Sculpture/Installation (3)
ART 557 - Site-Specific Sculpture (3)
ART 589 - Experimental Course (when topic is appropriate)
ART 622 - Drawing Marathon (2)
ART 626 - Woodcut and Wood Engraving (4)
ART 627 - Lithography (4)
ART 628 - Etching (4)
ART 629 - Studio Problems in Drawing, Painting, or Printmaking (4)
ART 631, 632 - Painting and Drawing (2) (2)
ART 633, 634 - Painting and Drawing (4) (4)
ART 635 - Variable Topics in Painting (4)
ART 636, 637 - Painting Research Seminar (4) (4)
ART 641 - Design (4)
ART 649 - Studio Problems in Design (4)
ART 655, 656 - Sculpture (2) (2)
ART 657, 658 - Sculpture (4) (4)
ART 659 - Studio Problems in Sculpture (4)
ART 682 - Ceramics (4)
ART 685 - Photography (4)
ART 711 - Experimental Course (when topic is appropriate)
Art History courses (9 hours)
To be selected from the following:
ART 500 - Traditions of Art Criticism (3)
ART 501 - Topics in the History of Art (3)
ART 502 - Historiography and Methodology (3)
ART 601 - Public Art (3)
ART 602 - The Teaching of Art from Vasari to Albers (3)
ART 605 - Perspectives in Contemporary Art (3)
ART 606 - A Study of the Artist (3)
ART 618 - Topics in the History of Art (3)
ART 619 - Research Problems in Art History, Art Criticism (3)
electives (12 hours)
Elective hours may be selected from any of the courses listed above, from other 500- and 600-level courses taught in the Department of Art, or from 500- and 600-level courses taught in related areas with the permission of the student’s advisor and the department head.
admission to candidacy
To be formally admitted to candidacy for the M.F.A. degree, students must have successfully completed two semesters of full-time graduate work, including ART 620 and 622, removed all deficiencies, possess a B (3.0) average in all courses taken during the first two semesters, and have an overall grade record consistent with the regulations stated in The Graduate School Bulletin. In addition, the application to candidacy must be approved by a committee of the Art Department graduate faculty to be appointed by the department head. The committee will meet with students to review work and sign candidacy forms early in the fall semester of the second year of graduate work. Students are limited to two candidacy reviews. If a student is not admitted to candidacy during the first review, the review team will issue written recommendations for further studies. The second review will take place within a year of the first. Failure to pass candidacy for the second time will prohibit the student from continuing in the program.
comprehensive examinations
Studio Comprehensive
Once the student has passed candidacy, completed 16 hours of graduate studio work, has a B (3.0) average, has been in residency for two semesters, and has a thesis committee, a meeting is arranged to review the studentŐs work and consider the following options: 1) independent work to strengthen studio skills, 2) further structured course study, or 3) clearance to take the studio comprehensive. When clearance has been granted, the student should prepare a comprehensive selection of studio work to present to the committee and complete the “Application for Thesis” form, available in the Art Department office. The student is responsible for consulting with the committee chairman to arrange the date, time, and place for the studio comprehensive. Students must pass the studio comprehensive prior to beginning thesis work.
Art History Comprehensive
This written examination is scheduled each semester and tests competence in art history with identifications of 25 specific works and three to four general essay questions.
thesis (2-6 hours)
After passing candidacy the student consults with the department head to select a thesis chair, who then selects three other members of the thesis committee. One member of this group should be from the art history faculty or from another department or school on campus if the studentŐs minor area is other than art history. Students may undertake final thesis work (ART 699 - Thesis) only after passing the studio comprehensive and receiving the approval of their thesis committee members.
Early in the final semester of thesis work, the student should arrange a meeting of the thesis committee. At this meeting the committee should discuss all aspects of final thesis work, including the thesis paper, the oral examination, and the thesis exhibition.
The thesis paper should be five to ten pages in length, conform to Graduate School requirements, and be signed by all committee members before submission to The Graduate School. The body of work submitted for the thesis exhibition must receive final approval of all committee members.
Student Work
Take a look at the 2005 Thesis Exhibition website for more examples of recent UNCG graduate work.
Janet Oliver, "Lifted by Little Red Birds," 66" x 116",oil, pastel, sand beeswas, on canvas
Bill Klingensmith, "Tree #21" 22" x 30" Charcoal, Conte Crayon, Pencil, Inkjet print on Paper
Scherrie DeBord, "Untitled" 2003 Sewn Drawings, thread on waxed paper
Philip Ashe, "Untitled" 2002 18" x 9" x 40" Cast Iron
Barrett Fiser, "no. 03052104", 2002 enamel on panel
