印第安纳大学与普渡大学印第安纳波里斯联合分校

The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art is a 60-credit hour program of study that provides students with an in-depth, professional-level understanding of visual art planning, production, and presentation. Students may pursue one of six emphasis areas for this program: Ceramics, Furniture Design, Painting/Drawing, Photography/Intermedia, Printmaking, or Sculpture. The program consists of a systematic sequence of educational opportunities for students to gain fluency in the practices and issues involved in creating original works of visual art and developing their careers within contemporary society. The Master of Fine Arts degree is recognized by the art and design professions as the terminal degree in the studio arts.

The objectives of the program are: (1) to create coursework and experiences in which students examine and learn to shape the formal, thematic, theoretical, social, cultural, cognitive, and technological aspects of visual art; (2) to develop university and community based collaborations that facilitate learning and research opportunities; (3) to provide opportunities for developing leadership in the professional practice of visual art and to prepare graduates for a range of specialized careers, from university-level teaching to creative entrepreneurship to employment by urban arts organizations to work as independent artists; (4) to foster an exploration of visual art as an intellectual and experimental practice that is rooted in a specific time and place; (5) to engage students in studio activity that is placed in a professional context, from making work to its presentation, installation, marketing, and critical analysis; and (6) to provide students with the intellectual flexibility to research, plan, design, fabricate, and complete work utilizing a variety of processes in a variety of settings for a variety of purposes.

To complete the degree:

At the successful completion of 60 credit hours towards the degree, the MFA candidate’s educational experience at Herron School of Art and Design culminates in the required presentation and review of her/his thesis body of work by way of: 1) Thesis Exhibition (or other public presentation of a major body of work such as a major public art work), 2) Written Thesis Paper, and 3) Research & Thesis Documentation. This presentation and review of the thesis is a result of the entire graduate experience in which students develop professional expertise and a professional practice in their field of study as active studio artists.

Areas of Emphasis

• Ceramics

• Furniture Design

• Painting & Drawing

• Photography & Intermedia

• Printmaking

• Sculpture