Required Credit Hours/Tuition and Fees
- 60
- Visit the Paying for College website for detailed tuition information
Curriculum
The full-time student should expect to spend a minimum of three academic years in residency to complete the MFA. The program is based on the individual’s area of interest and undergraduate training, and is jointly planned by the student, a committee of the graduate faculty and a professor who serves as advisor to the student in their principal studio area.
Total 60 hours (at least 30 at the 500-level)
- (21-30 hours) Major Studio Area
- (9 hours) Art History
- (6-15 hours) Electives (outside major studio area)
- (3 hours) ART 505 Seminar
- (3 hours) ART 506 Professional Practices
- (3 hours) ART 441 Drawing
- (3 hours) ART 599A Thesis
- (3 hours) ART 599B Thesis
First-Year Review
At the end of their first year, each graduate student goes through a pass/fail/probation evaluation by a three-person committee comprised of studio faculty members outside of the student's discipline who are randomly selected by the Art and Design office. In addition, student's academic status in their art history course(s) will be factored into the evaluation for the first year. The evaluation consists of a presentation by the student of their progress for the year, followed by a question and answer period. Although the process is similar in structure to the final orals, it is not as rigorous and is designed to measure and inform students as to where they stand in terms of the department's expectations for the first year.
All evaluations by the committees ultimately go through the area head of the student's discipline before final decisions are made. If a student passes, they move on to committee selection. If a student fails, they are asked to leave the program. If a student is placed on probation, they receive a recommendation for improvement and are evaluated by the committee again at the beginning of the fall semester of their second year. At this point a student either passes or fails.
Mid-Course Review
Prior to the beginning of a student’s fourth term, or upon completion of 30 hours of graduate credit (whichever comes first), the candidate will undergo a rigorous mid-course academic review. This is conducted by the candidate’s MFA Committee, which should consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be a specialist from the student’s major studio area.
The mid-course review consists of an oral interview in which the candidate shall present the creative work completed since arriving at SIUE. In addition, the candidate shall present evidence of his/her knowledge of art history and other material deemed pertinent by the committee for successful completion of the degree.
Additional evidence will also be submitted in the form of written essays, composed in response to questions from members of the candidate’s graduate committee who will evaluate the candidate’s answers for clarity of expression, as well as for correctness of factual detail.
Thesis and Thesis Exhibition
The final examination for the MFA includes both written and oral forms, including a thesis defense. During their final year, all candidates for the MFA in art with a concentration in studio art must complete six semester hours of thesis. The full first draft of the thesis, a written exposition of the candidate’s artwork, is written in ART 599A in consultation with the candidate’s committee. In ART 599B, the candidate designs and mounts the thesis exhibition. Upon acceptance of the written thesis, the student’s graduate committee and other members of the graduate faculty are invited to be present for the final oral examination. The candidate is expected to defend the thesis and exhibition, and to show knowledge of the general area of investigation and related areas of art and art history. One piece of artwork from the thesis exhibition, chosen by the candidate in consultation with the thesis committee, is retained by the Department of Art and Design for the permanent art collection of the SIUE University Museum.
