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Department of Art (ART)

Master of Arts in Art
      Procedures for Admission
      Requirements for Degree Candidacy
      Thesis Committee
      Thesis and Thesis Exhibition
      Assistantships
      Degree Requirements
Master of Fine Arts
      Procedures for Admission to the M.F.A. Program
      Conditional Admission
      Review and Advancement to Degree Candidacy
      Thesis Committee
      Thesis and Thesis Exhibition
      Degree Requirements 
Assistantships
Unspecified Content or Variable Credit Courses
ART Course Descriptions

Department of Art web site

Nedra Frodge, Chairperson
132 Wightman Hall, (989) 774-3025

David Bolton, M.F.A., Ceramics
Jesse Dominguez, M.F.A., Painting
Mariah Doren, M.F.A., Photography
Brian Elder, M.F.A., Painting
Lon Ferguson, M.F.A., Photography
Nedra Frodge, M.F.A., Photography
Alice Gardner, M.F.A., Graphic Design
Richard Gergel, Ph.D., Art History
Holly Hanessian, M.F.A., Ceramics
Sharon House, Ed.D., Art Education, M.F.A., Printmaking
Carolyn Loeb, Ph.D., Art History
Julia Morrisroe, M.F.A., Painting
Clark Most, M.F.A., Graphic Design
Johanna Paas, M.F.A., Printmaking
Sally Rose, M.F.A., Fibers
Jerry G. Smoke, Ed.D., Art Education
David Stairs, M.F.A., Graphic Design
Margaret Ware, M.F.A., Sculpture
Al Wildey, M.F.A., Photography

The master's degree provides students the opportunity to design a flexible program that fosters professional growth and development in the arts. The faculty, composed of nationally recognized artists, critics, art educators, and art historians, strive to give each student the individual attention necessary to stimulate creative work, while the committee system enables students to work closely with instructors from a variety of areas.

Master of Arts in Art
The Department of Art offers courses that fulfill the requirements for the Master of Arts in Art: Ceramics, Design, Drawing, Fiber Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Graphic Design.

The Department of Art also offers courses that may be used as electives leading to the master’s degree in other areas.
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Procedures for Admission to the M.A. Program

1. Applicants for admission to the M.A. graduate program must first submit their application to the College of Graduate Studies, and must meet the University's requirements for admission. All application materials must be received by February 15 for Fall admission.

2. In addition to general university requirements for regular admission status, a minimum of 20 hours in art with a grade point average of 3.0 in these classes, and 12 credit hours of undergraduate art history are required. A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 is required.

3. Applications must include a letter of intent covering the candidate's background and program of study including activities and objectives, an official transcript, a set of 20 slides or appropriate visual documentation, and an artist statement.

4. Applications for admission will be reviewed first by the faculty in the student's area of concentration and then presented to the faculty as a whole for consideration.

5. All faculties with graduate status may vote on admission of graduate students.

6. The candidate's credentials must be accepted by a simple majority vote of the graduate faculty in the Art Department.

7. The Department chairperson will notify the College of Graduate Studies of the Department's decision. The student will then receive official notification of acceptance or rejection.

8. Upon notification of acceptance, the student is advised to meet with his/her graduate advisor and plan a program of study.

9. During the first week of the first semester, each candidate must meet with their graduate art faculty advisor to develop an appropriate course of study.

10. A student who wishes to change his/her area of concentration must write a letter of request to the chairperson and the major advisor before being reviewed by and receiving approval from the Art Department graduate faculty.
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Requirements for Degree Candidacy

1. Students must participate in an annual review by graduate faculty. These reviews will be held at the end of each spring semester. During this time, Art Department Graduate faculty will visit the student's studio to view and evaluate their work and progress in the program.

2. Students accumulating more than six (6) hours of incomplete course work at any one time during their graduate studies may be prevented from registering for further course work. Students carrying any incomplete grades will be ineligible for admission to candidacy.

3. The student is expected to participate in graduate activities (lectures, critiques, workshops) and the annual review.

Thesis Committee

1. The candidate will initiate forming his/her M.A. thesis committee by the end of their first semester. The committee will supervise the progress of the candidate and act as his/her Thesis-Exhibition advisory committee.

2. The thesis committee will be composed of three graduate faculties and the department chairperson. The chairperson of the committee must be in the student's area of concentration and will serve as the main advisor to the student.

3. The student has the obligation to meet with his/her thesis committee throughout his/her graduate studies and in preparation for his/her thesis exhibition. The student must meet with his/her committee no less than twice per semester during degree candidacy, and with the advisor at least twice each semester.

4. If a faculty member goes on leave, retires, or chooses to resign from a student's committee, the student shall immediately select a replacement.

5. The student may request a change in his/her committee membership by stating the reasons in a letter to the chairperson of the Art Department and receiving the chairperson's approval.

Thesis and Thesis Exhibition

1. The student is expected to work closely with his/her thesis committee and the thesis advisor.

2. The thesis exhibition must be planned in advance and in coordination and in coordination with the Gallery Director. An Exhibition Authorization Form, signed by the student's advisor and submitted to the Gallery Director, is required.

3. The student is required to write a thesis using guidelines and format requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. The final thesis must include a visual documentation of the student's work.

4. The student preparing for a thesis exhibition will sign up for ART 680 (Graduate Exhibition and Criticism) in the last semester of the program.

5. An oral defense of the student's thesis with his/her thesis committee, other department faculty, graduate students, and invited guests, is required prior to the opening reception of the Thesis Exhibition.

6. The student must present a thesis and an exhibition completion form signed by all his/her committee members as a requirement for graduation.

Assistantships

1. Priority is reserved for MFA candidates but may be available to MA candidates when needed by the Art Department. Applicants must submit a letter of application to the Department chairperson by February 15. Three letters of references are required--at least one of which should be from a previous instructor.

2. All assistantships will be awarded based on merit, strength of creative work and the needs of the department.

3. Priority in awarding assistantships will be given to qualified first-time applicants. If no first-time qualified applicants are available, the awards may be given to previous recipients.

4. Graduate assistants must enroll in and maintain a minimum of five semester hours of credit each semester of appointment.

5. Graduate assistants must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA in all graduate work. More than six credits of incomplete (I) grade per semester are grounds for termination of the assistantship.

6. Graduate assistants are expected to perform departmentally assigned duties in a satisfactory manner.

7. For other policies, requirements, and benefits for graduate assistants, refer to the College of Graduate Studies.

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Degree Requirements (30 hours) 

Required Courses in Art (20-30 hours)
12 hours in a major studio concentration
6 hours of ART 680 Graduate Exhibition and Criticism
2-12 Additional hours approved by the advisor.

Elective Courses (6-10 hours)
6-10 hours selected in consultation with the major advisor.
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Master of Fine Arts
The Department of Art offers courses which fulfill the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts. Courses are offered in the following areas of concentration: Ceramics, Design, Drawing, Fiber Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Graphic Design.
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Procedures for Admission to the M.F.A. Program

1. The applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree with at least 40 undergraduate credits in Art including 12 credits of Art History. Earned art credits must reflect a grade point average of 2.5 or better.
    

2. Applicants for admission to the M.F.A. Graduate Program must first submit their application to the College of Graduate Studies, and must meet the University's requirements for admission. All application materials must be received by February 15 for Fall admission.
    

3. Applications must include a letter of intent covering the candidate's background and program of study, including activities and objectives, an official transcript, a set of 20 slides or appropriate visual documentation, and an artist statement.
    

4. Applications for admission will be reviewed first by the faculty in the student's area of concentration and then presented to the faculty as a whole for consideration.
    

5. Faculty with graduate status may vote on admission of graduate students.
    

6. The candidate's credentials must be accepted by a simple majority vote of the graduate faculty in the Art Department.
    

7. The Department chairperson will notify the College of Graduate Studies of the Art Department's decision. The student will then receive official notification of acceptance or rejection.
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Conditional Admission

1. If the student has insufficient art credits or any other academic deficiencies, he/she may be recommended for conditional admission. (See College of Graduate Studies requirements).

2. A student with conditional admission must satisfy deficiency requirements prior to applying for Regular admission to the program.

3. Courses taken to make up admission deficiencies may not be counted toward graduate degree requirements.
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Review and Advancement to Degree Candidacy

1. Students must participate in an annual review by graduate faculty. These reviews will be held at the end of each spring semester. During this time, Art Department Graduate faculty will visit the student's studio to view and evaluate their work and progress in the program.

2. Students are required to participate in scheduled Graduate Critiques, Visiting Artist Lectures, and Exhibition Events at the University Art Gallery.

3. At the completion of 24 semester hours of graduate credits in the Art Department, and upon the approval of the advisor, the student must request an Advancement to Degree Candidacy Review by the graduate art faculty who will then determine the status of the student's candidacy toward the M.F.A. degree. Procedural guidelines are available in the Art Department office.

4. Students requesting Advancement to Degree Candidacy Review must present slides of recent work and discuss their creative progress to the graduate art faculty. Upon reviewing the student's work, the faculty will make recommendations regarding the student's continuation in the M.F.A. program. The chairperson will then notify the student of the art faculty's decision.

5. If a student is not accepted for degree candidacy toward the M.F.A., he/she will be advised of one of the following options:

1. Apply for a second review at a later time

2. Apply for transfer for an M.A. in Art degree

6. Students accumulating more than six (6) hours of incomplete course work at any one time during their graduate studies may be prevented from registering for further course work. Students carrying any incomplete grades will be ineligible for admission to candidacy.

7. If a student is not accepted for Degree Candidacy toward the M.F.A., he/she will forfeit their Graduate Assistantship.

8. A student who wishes to change his/her area of concentration must write a letter of intent to the chairperson and the major advisor before being reviewed by and receiving approval from the Art Department graduate faculty.
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Thesis Committee

1. The candidate will initiate forming his/her M.F.A. Thesis Committee by the end of his/her first semester. The committee will supervise the progress of the candidate and act as his/her Thesis-Exhibition advisory committee.
    
2. The Thesis Committee will be composed of three graduate faculty. The chairperson of the committee must be in the student's area of concentration and will serve as the main advisor to the student.
    
3. The student has the obligation to meet with his/her thesis committee throughout his/her graduate studies and in preparation for his/her thesis exhibition. The student must meet with his/her committee no less than twice per semester during degree candidacy, and with the advisor at least twice each semester.
    
4. If a faculty member goes on leave, retires, or chooses to resign from a student's committee, the student shall immediately select a replacement.
    
5. The student may request a change in his/her committee membership by stating the reasons in a letter to the chairperson of the Art Department and receiving the chairperson's approval.
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Thesis and Thesis Exhibition

1. The student is expected to work closely with his/her thesis committee and the thesis advisor.

2. The thesis exhibition must be planned in advance and in coordination with the Gallery Director. An Exhibition Authorization Form, signed by the student's advisor, must be submitted to the Gallery Director prior to the exhibition. The final thesis must be completed prior to the signing of the Exhibition Authorization Form.

3. The student is required to write a thesis using guidelines and format requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. The final thesis must include: written thesis (20 page minimum), resume, list of images, and appropriate visual documentation of the student's work.

4. The student preparing for a thesis exhibition will sign up for ART 798 (Thesis - Exhibition) in the last semester of the program.

5. An oral defense of the student's thesis with his/her thesis committee, other department faculty, graduate students, and invited guests, is required prior to the opening reception of the Thesis Exhibition.

6. The student must present a Thesis and Exhibition Completion Form signed by all his/her committee members as a requirement for graduation.
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Assistantships

1. Applicants must submit a letter of application to the Department chairperson by February 15. Three letters of references are required--at least one of which should be from a previous instructor.

2. All assistantships will be awarded based on merit, strength of creative work, and the needs of the department.

3. Priority in awarding assistantships will be given to qualified first-time applicants. If no first-time qualified applicants are available, the awards may be given to previous recipients.

4. Graduate assistants must enroll in and maintain a minimum of five semester hours of credit each semester of appointment.

5. Graduate assistants must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA in all graduate work. More than six credits of incomplete (I) grade per semester is grounds for termination of the assistantship. Failure to pass the Advancement to Degree Candidacy will result in termination of the assistantship.

6. Graduate assistants are expected to perform departmentally assigned duties in a satisfactory manner.

7. For other policies, requirements, and benefits for graduate assistants, refer to the College of Graduate Studies.
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Degree Requirements (60 hours) 

Required Courses in Art (51 hours)
36 hours in studio with a minimum of 27 hours in studio area concentration.
9 hours in art history
ART 798 (6) Thesis-Exhibition

Support Courses for Concentration (9 hours)
To be selected in consultation with the major advisor
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Unspecified content or variable credit courses. Click here for additional information regarding these types of courses. The following courses offered through the department are of unspecified content or variable credit: ART 556, 557, 558, 597, 697.
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