Graduate Curriculum
Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking (graduate studies)
It is the goal of the Master of Fine Arts Program in Printmaking to prepare students to be professional artists and to teach art at the college level. The objective is to offer a program that thoroughly grounds the student in a broad range of traditional, contemporary, and innovative techniques. The program is geared to encourage students to formulate and articulate their philosophical and personal concepts and translate them into visual ideas. The program meets these objectives by offering a mix of intensive studio experience with critical and theoretical dialogue. The program is dedicated to acquainting students with the rich and diverse world of multicultural art and its formative impact on the contemporary art scene.
The MFA student in Printmaking acquires a clear understanding of the discipline of printmaking. The curriculum includes aesthetic, critical, cultural, historical, and professional issues. MFA students are expected to have technical expertise in woodcut, intaglio, lithography, photo silkscreen, and digital prints. The graduate printmaking classes act as a forum where ideas and technical aspects of the student projects are developed and critiqued. Graduate printmaking students meet for 6 contact hours per week for 3 credits. The meeting time allows for group activities such as critiques, visiting artist talks and critiques of student work, as well as one on one meetings with the professor. Students have the opportunity to work with two full time faculty and have their work critiqued by visiting artists each semester. A private studio space is provided for each MFA student, with after-hours and weekend access. Students have the opportunity to exhibit their work in solo and group shows in the Fine Art Building Exhibition space, Haggerty Administration Building, Sojourner Truth Library, and the faculty Selects Group exhibition in the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. The final and most significant experience for the MFA degree is the thesis project, which is conceived and executed in the final two semesters of study. The student creates a cohesive body of work or project that utilizes printmaking ideas and/or techniques, and is usually thematic. There is no specific format, particular process or material required. It is important that the project represent the articulation of a personal vision. Students are required to select three full time faculty for a thesis advisory committee. Committee members meet with the student throughout the two semesters to give input and critique the work. Students also write a thesis statement on the development and contemporary relevance of their work. Also, students submit 25 JPG images on CD or 25 slides that document their final thesis exhibition. The final project is exhibited in the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at the end of their program.
Printmaking MFA Curricular Structure:
The MFA degree is a two-year course of study, which requires the student to complete a total of 60 credit hours, with a studio concentration of 48 credits in the Printmaking program. Additional curriculum requirements include, 12 credits of Liberal Arts/ Art History/Theory, of which 3 credits are in Graduate Seminar and 3 credits in Critical Dialogues. A portion of studio credit may be taken in Selected Topics, as well as specific programmatic offerings such as Internship to College Teaching. Your advisor will council you as to your options and opportunities.
Applicants to the program must present 20 JPG images on CD or 20 slides, a written statement, resume, transcript, and two letters of recommendation. An interview is conducted over the phone or in person. Students are expected to demonstrate a technical proficiency; possess a desire and or ability to work with contemporary, cultural, and critical issues, and be focused on translating ideas into images. Graduate students need not be proficient in all printmaking techniques. However, they must demonstrate skill in the methods they use in their work.
