Admissions - Graduate Program - Art Department

Admission Requirements
The preferred undergraduate degree for admission to the graduate program in visual art is the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA). However, applicants holding the BA, BS or other bachelor's degrees are eligible to apply if they have a minimum of 40 hours of undergraduate studio credits or an equivalent commensurate professional experience. All applicants are required to meet the Graduate School standard of a grade point average of 3.0 or better on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Before acceptance to this program, the applicant must submit to the Graduate School official transcripts/mark sheets from each college or school of art attended. Additionally, a portfolio of a minimum of twenty 35mm color slides or CD, letter of intent, three (3) letters of recommendation and a current resume need to be sent to the director of graduate studies in the Art Department. The Graduate Studies Committee evaluates the materials and determines the applicant’s preparation and ability to undertake work for an advanced degree.

The visual arts portfolio should consist primarily of work in the intended major area. However, applicants are encouraged to submit a smaller number of works from a secondary area. Students whose preparation in art is deficient, as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee, are required to take additional courses as a non-degree graduate student before proceeding with the MFA program. Upon acceptance, the student must report to the director of graduate studies for assignment of a primary advisor and three-person graduate committee.

Students from countries where English is not the native language are required to take the TOEFL and must achieve any of the following minimum total scores: paper-based test, 530 with a score of 52 in Section 1 (Listening Comprehension), computer-based test, a score of 197 or the internet-based test, a score of 71.

Degree Requirements
The MFA program consists of 60 credit hours. The degree includes 30 hours in the major area, 9 hours in a minor area, 3 hours of Graduate Studio Seminar and a minimum of 1 hour of MFA Research Hours. The course of study is rounded out with 11 hours of electives and 6 hours of Art History. Graduate level courses are primarily at the 7000/8000/9000 level. Fifteen of the 30 hours minimum must be selected from courses numbered at 8000 and/or 9000 levels, no more than 40% of the 30 hours credit requirement can be satisfied by Research, Readings and Problems courses. No credit is given for courses at the 4000 or below levels. A minimum residence of two years is required for the degree. The degree will not be granted solely upon the completion of the prescribed number of credit hours and the residence requirement but rather as the student attains a high level of creative achievement as determined by the student's graduate committee.

Student Evaluation
The full graduate faculty of the Art Department reviews every MFA candidate once each year to determine the rate of progress. If the candidate fails to receive a passing evaluation during the review, which must be an average score of seven (7) or higher, the student is placed on probation for one semester and is required to be reviewed the following semester. If two consecutive unsatisfactory reviews occur, the student is dismissed from the MFA program.

During the semester prior to graduation, the student must receive clearance from their MFA graduate committee to write the thesis and to mount the thesis exhibition in order to graduate. A two-part thesis is required, which must include:

A thesis exhibition selected and installed by the MFA candidate to display visual, artistic and professional achievement.
A written thesis that defends the conceptual and philosophical ideas of the visual artwork. Photographic record of the pieces discussed must be included in the written thesis.

Each degree candidate must pass a two-hour oral examination that focuses on the aspects of their academic study related to the thesis and visual work.

The time limit for completion of the MFA degree is five (5) years. Time spent in military service is excluded. For an extension for other reasons the student must petition the Graduate School through his/her primary advisor.

The five-year period will extend from the beginning of the first semester of enrollment in which the student is accepted to the MFA degree program to the date of his/her clearance to graduate.

For additional information about the MFA degree program write or telephone:

William Hawk, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Art
A126 Fine Arts Building
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211-6090
email: hawkw@missouri.edu
phone: 573-882-3555)

Graduate Program brochure (in pdf).