About This Program

Master of Fine Arts in Art is a terminal graduate degree in art with four areas of concentration: design, cinematic arts, intermedia, and glass. Each of these areas offers complex independent research and creative activity in line with contemporary professional practice. Students can expect to be challenged conceptually and technically while developing a mature body of work over a three-year period of study.

Competencies

1. Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate in–depth knowledge and competence in one or more areas of specialization.
2. Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate concepts and practice related to their work based on a theoretical, historical, and cultural understanding of contemporary art.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to present a significant body of work for the MFA exhibition.
4. Upon graduation, students will be able to prepare, and present professional content related to experience.
5. Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to articulate and analyze a body of work in writing.

Admissions Criteria

The application process for the MFA in Art has two steps. The first step is the application to UTA, known as ApplyUTA. For information on the second step and the complete process, which includes a visual portfolio, please go to our website.

Unconditional Admission

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Submit transcripts from all previous college or university work, and three letters of recommendation are required of all applicants. In addition, applicants should have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, as calculated by Graduate Admissions. Applicants must submit a portfolio and statement of intent. The Art and Art History faculty review all materials and positively recommend acceptance into the MFA program.

Provisional Admission

Those who have submitted their applications forms, but whose packets are incomplete, can be admitted provisionally if their GPA is at least 3.0, and if the program and Graduate Admissions have received official transcripts. In this case, incomplete materials could include letters of recommendation.

Probationary Admission

Those who have weaknesses in no more than two of the Degree Requirements (letters of recommendation, portfolio, statement of intent, and GPA), can be admitted on probation, with the condition that they make no less than a B in the first 12 hours of coursework in their art concentration. Such students must complete no fewer than 9 credits during the semester in which they are on probation.

Deferred Admission

Those who have weaknesses in no more than two of the Degree Requirements (letters of recommendation, portfolio, statement of intent, and GPA), and/or who have not submitted all of the materials required for unconditional admission, can have their applications deferred for one semester, until outstanding requirements and criteria are met.

International Student Admission

International applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or its foreign equivalent, a GPA of at least 3.0 as calculated by the Graduate School, 3 letters of recommendation, portfolio and letter of intent to be considered for admission. In addition, applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by earning a score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of at least 213 on the computer-based test, or a minimum score of 40 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The Internet-based TOEFL examination (TOEFL iBT) will be accepted as an alternative to the paper and computer-based TOEFL for admission purposes. Students taking TOEFL iBT must attain a minimum total test score of 79 and meet or exceed the following scores on each of the sections of the test:  

Writing: 22
Speaking: 21
Reading: 20
Listening: 16

Those who do not meet the English proficiency requirement must satisfactorily complete courses in the ESOL area, as approved by the program and the Graduate School.

graduate teaching assistantships

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position, the candidate must be admitted unconditionally. Decisions regarding funding are based on the needs of the department and the quality of the applicant. All GTA students must mentor with faculty for 18 credit hours prior to being assigned as Instructor of Record. GTA recipients are subject to all university standards and requirements for funding and must maintain a 3.0 GPA to have their awards renewed. Candidates whose native language is not English must submit a score of 45 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE-A), a score of 23 on the TOEFL iBT Speaking subtest, or a score of 45 on UT Arlington's SEA test. For more information please see: https://www.uta.edu/academics/schools-colleges/gradschool/faqs

departmental scholarships

The Department of Art & Art History provides modest competitive funding for research travel and supplies, particularly to students engaged in their capstone exhibition. The amount of this funding varies from year to year. Students accepted into film festivals, professional conferences and/or residencies in their second and third years are given priority.

Curriculum 

The Master of Fine Arts in Art requires sixty semester credit hours normally distributed over six semesters of a three-year program.

Courses outside the area of concentration (supporting and free electives) should be taken from faculty other than the major professor. It is strongly recommended that the students study with a minimum of three additional faculty members during the course of his/her program. Students are also encouraged to take a free elective outside the Art and Art History Department.

The supervisory committee will approve the course options (work) and scholarly research. It is emphasized that this is a committee/department option, not a student option.

SUGGESTED Course Sequence

¹

Mid-Program review completed after 30 credits.

²

Thesis Exhibition, Oral Exam and research paper completed during this semester. Summer opportunities may be available to complete required course work. This is dependent upon the faculty availability.

Program Completion 

Mid-Program Review

The preliminary examination for the MFA is the Mid-Program Review.

When the student has completed one-half of her/his program of study, the supervisory committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the student's work in order to ascertain if satisfactory progress is being made toward completion of the degree. The student will present all visual work done to this point, along with an outline and preliminary draft of the written document which is part of the thesis requirement (see below).

To pass, the student must receive a unanimous vote of the committee members. A failed review may be retaken once with permission from the Director of the MFA program and the MFA Graduate Studies Committee. If the student still does not pass, the Director of the MFA will report the failure and the termination of the student's enrollment in the MFA to the Graduate School.

Thesis

The thesis requirement for the MFA consists of the following:

• The Thesis Exhibition: A substantial body of original works of art to be exhibited or screened on campus at a time announced to all graduate faculty.
• A written document in which the candidate demonstrates proficiency in conducting research and in analyzing, interpreting and organizing material, as well as demonstrating the ability to communicate perceptions, insights, and conclusions.
• During the last semester of the MFA candidates study a final oral examination coordinated by the supervising committee will be completed.
• Satisfactory completion of the visual and written portions of the thesis and the final oral examination is required for the awarding of the MFA.

Specific requirements for the written document are found in Guidelines for the MFA.

Advising Resources

Information on booking undergraduate advising appointments and more is available online. We also offer Advisathon to assist. The Art Office can help, and we regularly share updates on how and when to get advised via emails. Graduate students please meet with the MFA Director for your advising. 

Location:

Undergraduate Advising

336 Fine Arts Bldg.

Graduate Advising

335 Fine Arts Bldg.

Email:

Undergraduate

artadvising@uta.edu

Graduate

art-arthistory@uta.edu

Phone:

817-272-2891

Web:

Art & Art History Advising