MFA, Visual Art

MFA students may pursue a degree in 2D or 3D Visual Art. This major is designed to meet the needs of studio artists who are interested in or pursuing a professional studio practice in either 2-dimensional image making or 3-dimensional object making and/or teaching at the college level. Students have the opportunity to work with a broad range of media and in a variety of disciplines, which can be either traditional or experimental.

• 2D Visual Art: Students will be encouraged to consider 2D image making a mindset more than media specific. Traditional disciplines include drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, or experimental and/or mixed media. Experimentation will be highly encouraged.
• 3D Visual Art: Students will be encouraged to consider 3D object making a mindset more than media specific. Traditional disciplines include sculpture or ceramics, or experimental and/or mixed media. Experimentation will be highly encouraged.
• Intermedia Studies: Alongside their chosen area of specialization, students will take intermedia courses where they will focus on the relationship between materials. These courses will require that students deliberately integrate different media to creating innovative ways to work with various media resulting in new unique work.

 

 

MFA Candidates will have the opportunity to gain teaching experience as part of their graduate studies, both in a team-teaching model and as Teacher of Record. This will include teaching majors and non-major undergraduate students in the areas of studio foundations and art history.

 

 

To be considered for admission into the MFA Program at Lander University, applicants must submit the following with their application. 

1. Undergraduate studio degree in Art or Design (BFA, BA, BS, BDes), and provide official transcripts for all undergraduate or graduate coursework.
2. GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
3. Statement of Intent: One-page written statement which includes the following: Description of current studio practice, why the applicant is considering an MFA, what they hope to accomplish in Graduate school, and what their professional goals are after graduation.
4. Digital portfolio of 20 images (72dpi designed for screen media). Applicants should submit a portfolio of work which includes 15-20 recent creative works. At least 10 should be should represent their chosen area of focus. Portfolio should be submitted in a single PDF file.

 

Conditional Admission 

Applicants not meeting the full admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. Students admitted conditionally are required to demonstrate successful graduate work with a GPA of 3.0 at the end of the first semester, at which time they would be considered fully admitted into the MFA Program. Students admitted conditionally and not achieving a GPA of 3.0 at the end of the first semester will be required to complete additional studio work outside the program before he/she can move forward. This time of remedial work may not be counted towards total number of degree credits for the MFA, but individual courses may be applied the other graduate degrees.

 

 

The MFA is recognized as the terminal degree for art practitioners and educators which requires 60 semester hours of graduate study.  Students graduating from Lander University with a MFA degree in 2D or 3D Visual Art will have demonstrated the professional intensity and high standards expected of a terminal degree program.  Graduates will demonstrate exceptional skill in studio art and design within a well-developed personal aesthetic.  Specific standards outlined by the National Association of School of Art and Design include:

1. Demonstrate a high degree of knowledge and professional competence in contemporary studio art practice through a significant body of work.
2. Demonstrate a breadth of understanding in one or more art disciplines through independent thought and studio practice, and art historical contextualization-both past and current.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary art practice and ideals in primary area of focus in order to actively contribute to the growth of current knowledge base in the field of art and design. 
4. Demonstrate breadth of competence and engagement in areas beyond the major area of specialization, the ability to connect art to other fields, and an understanding of art historical context, art theory and criticism.
5. Plan and execute an exhibition of a cohesive thesis body of work in chosen area(s) of emphasis in studio art, to be accompanied by a formal published thesis statement and an oral presentation.
6. Demonstrate advanced capabilities with technology in areas of specialization and resources associated with the field of art, art studio practice, and pedagogy. 

 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

MAJOR PROGRAM STUDIO REQUIREMENTS 2D VISUAL ART		CREDIT HOURS
	Art Studio 2D (select 6 hours) ART 623: Photography Studio ART 625: Painting Studio ART 626: Printmaking Studio ART 750: Special Topics	6
	Art Studio 2D Research (select 6 hours) ART 723: Photography Research ART 725: Painting Research ART 750: Special Topics	6
	Art Studio Thesis Research I (selct 3 hours) ART 823: Photography Thesis I ART 825: Painting Thesis I	3
ART 833	Photography Thesis II	3
ART 835	Painting Thesis II	3
ART 629	Intermedia Studio	3-6
ART 729	Intermedia Studio	3-6
ART 829	Intermedia Studies	3
	Art Studio Elective (select 3-6 hours) ART 623: Photography Studio ART 624: Sculpture Studio ART 625: Painting Studio ART 626: Printmaking Studio ART 627: Ceramics Studio ART 723: Photography Research ART 724: Sculpture Research ART 725: Painting Research ART 727: Ceramics Research ART 750: Special Topics ART 823: Photography Thesis I ART 824: Sculpture Thesis I ART 825: Painting Thesis I ART 827: Ceramics Thesis I	3-6

 

MAJOR PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS		CREDIT HOURS
ART 653	Aesthetics and Art Criticism	3
Graduate Seminar (each 1-hour course taken twice)
ART 641	Contemporary Studio Context I	2
ART 741	Contemporary Studio Context II	2
ART 841	Contemporary Studio Context III	2
Thesis
ART 851	Thesis Support I	3
ART 852	Thesis Support II	3
Total Major Program Studio Requirements		51
Additional Electives		9
TOTAL FOR MFA DEGREE		60

 

 

MAJOR PROGRAM STUDIO REQUIREMENTS 3D VISUAL ART		CREDIT HOURS
	Art Studio 3D (select 6 hours) ART 624: Sculpture Studio ART 627: Ceramics Studio ART 750: Special Topics	6
	Art Studio 3D (select 6 hours) ART 724: Sculpture Research ART 727: Ceramics Research ART 750: Special Topics	6
	Art Studio Thesis Research I (select 3 hours) ART 824: Sculpture Thesis I ART 827: Ceramics Thesis I	3
ART 834	Sculpture Thesis II	3
ART 837	Ceramics Thesis II	3
ART 629	Intermedia Studio	3-6
ART 729	Intermedia Studio	3-6
ART 829	Intermedia Studies	3
	Art Studio Elective (select 3-6 hours) ART 623: Photography Studio ART 624: Sculpture Studio ART 625: Painting Studio ART 626: Printmaking Studio ART 627: Ceramics Studio ART 723: Photography Research ART 724: Sculpture Research ART 725: Painting Research ART 727: Ceramics Research ART 750: Special Topics ART 823: Photography Thesis I ART 824: Sculpture Thesis I ART 825: Painting Thesis I ART 827: Ceramics Thesis I	3-6

 

MAJOR PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS		CREDIT HOURS
	Art History (select 9 hours)  ART 651: Theories of Modernist Art ART 652: Theories of Contemporary Art ART 653: Aesthetics and Art Criticism ART 671: Special Topics in Art History	9
Graduate Seminar (each 1-hour course taken twice)
ART 641	Contemporary Studio Context I	2
ART 741	Contemporary Studio Context II	2
ART 841	Contemporary Studio Context III	2
Thesis
ART 851	Thesis Support I	3
ART 852	Thesis Support II	3
Total Major Program Studio Requirements		57
Additional Electives		3
TOTAL FOR MFA DEGREE		60