Master of Fine Arts in the Field of Fine Arts

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The MFA in Fine Arts is a sixty credit program that takes approximately two years to complete. Contemporary art seminars with faculty and contact with visiting scholars, curators, and critics from local arts institutions will broaden your conceptual foundations and historical and imaginative horizons. At GW, the resources of both an internationally renowned urban research institution and an international arts hub are at your fingertips.

All media facilities including digital labs, photography and video facilities, and sculpture shops are available for realizing projects. Special arrangements can often be made to access facilities and resources in other departments within the University.

The program culminates with a thesis consisting of the execution of creative work and a critical statement about it. The thesis must be completed under the supervision of a thesis committee consisting of two full-time departmental faculty members. The thesis may be exhibited in Gallery 102.

Master of Fine Arts in the Field of Fine Arts

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

60 credits, including 45 credits in required courses, 9 credits in elective courses, 6 credits in thesis, including a thesis exhibition.

Required

• Contemporary Art and Theory for Artists I
• Contemporary Art and Theory for Artists II
• Professional Practices
• Writing in Practice
• Critical Practices (taken for a total of 24 credits)
• Studio Visits (taken for a total of 12 credits)

Thesis exhibition

• Thesis Research
• Thesis Research

A thesis exhibition consisting of the execution of creative work along with a critical statement about this work must be completed under the supervision of a committee consisting of at least two full-time departmental faculty members.

Electives

9 credits in studio and seminar electives Studio and art history electives should be taken at the 6000 level or above. In consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, MFA students may elect to take up to 6 credits of upper-level and graduate courses in other academic departments, assuming prerequisites have been met. Students may take one 3000-level course in another academic area with approval.