graduate requirements

Master of Arts          Master of Fine Arts          Forms and Additional Resources

master of arts

The MA degree in Art History is a two-year, 36 credit program. Admission requires a minimum of eighteen semester hours of prior study in Art History. Applicants for admission to the Master of Arts program are required to submit a completed application, transcripts, GRE scores, 3 letters of reference and an example of a research paper.

course requirements

21 credits of Art History taken at the graduate level
9 credits of electives, not restricted to the ART-ARH department
6 credits of ART 710 Thesis

candidacy

Application for Admission to Candidacy should be made in the Art Department Office after one year of graduate work in residence or upon completion of eighteen credit hours. Application must be made in advance of the student's enrolling for the final session of work.

In order to be admitted to candidacy, the student must have:

• Removed all deficiencies;
• Completed language requirements by having taken a reading knowledge examination of one foreign language;
• Passed the comprehensive examination;
• Chosen a thesis committee of three faculty members after completion of candidacy exams; at least one member of the thesis committee must be on the Graduate Faculty (see Graduate School Bulletin for list), and one member must be from outside the Art Department. Thesis committee selection must be approved by the chairperson of the Art department.
• An average of B (3.0) in all work undertaken as a graduate student.

Once the written thesis document is approved, the student will schedule a defense with his/her graduate committee.

master of fine arts program

The Master of Fine Arts Degree (M.F.A.) is the terminal degree for students of high ability and interest in the production of art who plan to pursue careers as practicing artists/teachers. The studio areas offered are:

• Painting
• Ceramics/Glass
• Graphic Design/Multimedia
• Photography/Digital Imaging
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

application policies

Applications for admission into the MFA Program are considered for Fall (postmark deadline: February 15). Teaching Assistantships are only awarded for Fall admittance. Applications for admission should be submitted directly to the Department of Art and Art History along with:

• Portfolio of 20 images on a CD/DVD.
• Complete transcripts from all schools attended.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A non-refundable $65.00 application fee.
• A completed application including a letter of intent.

financial assistance

Teaching Assistantships:At the time of application for admission into the MFA Program, applicants must submit the Department of Art and Art History Assistantship Application form. This form is available from the Department; please either call (305) 284-2542 or email art-arh@miami.edu. Assistantships include a stipend plus a full tuition waiver.

mfa degree requirements

A total of 60 credits are required for graduation.

• 24 Credits Studio area of concentration
• 12 Credits Elective credits not restricted to courses in art
• 6 Credits Art History at the 500/600 level
• 3 Credits ART 598, Seminar in Contemporary American Art
• 3 Credits ART 604, Seminar in Studio Art
• 3 Credits ART 681, Writing About Art
• 3 Credits ART 599 Exhibition Preparation
• 6 Credits ART 710, Master's Thesis

program information

Full time students typically take 10 credits per semester (9 is considered full time). The program is three years (six semesters). New graduate students are assigned a Supervisory Committee of three faculty members who will meet with them twice a semester until candidacy is reached. Application for candidacy can be made any time after the completion of 30 credits. The Thesis committee is formed after candidacy and will be four faculty members, one of which should be from outside the studio faculty. This committee will consult with and advise the student on his or her work, read and comment on the written document, and conduct a final oral exam during the Thesis Exhibition, which will be scheduled after the succesful completion of ART 599 Exhibition Preparation, and installed after the candidate has submitted an accepted written document.

The final MFA Thesis Exhibition will be a solo show held at either the College of Arts and Sciences Gallery, or at an off campus location approved by the faculty, such as the Department's Wynwood Project Space.

forms and additional resources

University of Miami Graduate School
Includes online applications, request for program information, financial aid information and many other resources.

Academic Bulletin

Academic Calendar

MFA Advising Form (pdf)

Graduate Program Application Forms (pdf)

Application for Candidacy (MFA) (pdf)

Application for Candidacy (MA) (pdf)

Guidelines for preparing the MFA Document (pdf)

CAS Gallery Floorplan (pdf)

Graduation and Commencement Information

myUM (UM Central Authentication Service)

MFA Progress Report