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Studio Art MFA

60 credit hours

Admission Requirements

Students are eligible to apply for admission to the master of fine arts after the completion of 24-36 hours in the Master of Arts program and the mid-program review.

Requirements for admission are as follows:

  • Fulfillment of requirements for general admission to the University.
  • Successful completion of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Students of exceptional merit, who have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art or a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art or Design (or the equivalent), will also be considered contingent upon faculty approval. Students without either a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art or Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art who have significant studio art experience will submit 20 slides, plus additional portfolio material for faculty review.
  • Submission of a portfolio of the applicant’s creative work for review by the art faculty. The portfolio should include representative examples of works in varied media as well as a full selection of works in the studio area proposed for concentration. The portfolio should consist of a minimum of 20 works presented in high resolution slide or digital format.
  • A two page essay indicating goals and expectations for graduate school must accompany the portfolio and will be reviewed by the art faculty.
  • In addition to the portfolio and the essay, the candidate must also submit to the art faculty one letter of recommendation from a professional who can speak to the candidate’s academic prowess and serious intent.
  • Conditional admission to the graduate program in studio art, based on the evaluation of undergraduate preparation or determined at the time of the portfolio review, requires the successful completion of specified coursework prior to full admittance to the graduate program. Undergraduate credit will be awarded for courses completed during the conditional status and is not applicable toward the graduate degree.
  • Full admission to the graduate program in studio art requires the endorsement of the studio art faculty involved in the candidate’s portfolio review.
  • Candidacy is conditional until full candidacy is recommended by the art faculty mid-program review (24- 36 hours).
  • Students with an MA in Studio Art from Lindenwood University are automatically admitted to full candidacy in the MFA program in studio art provided they are admissible to the University.

Admission Deadline

All application materials for fall admission must be received by the previous April 1. All application materials for spring admission must be received by the previous November 1.

Degree Requirements

  • Completion of 60 hours of graduate coursework in art, distributed as follows:
    • Thirty six credit hours studio art in area (or areas) of concentration
    • Six credit hours studio art courses outside of the area of concentration
    • Twelve credit hours in art history or art criticism
    • Three credit hours ART 50000 Research Methods in Art
    • Three credit hours ART 60000 Directed Thesis (including exhibition)
  • Satisfactory completion of an oral review and defense of the graduate exhibit and thesis conducted by the student’s thesis committee of three Art faculty members. Each graduate student is responsible for inviting faculty to serve on his or her committee and for inviting one of the committee members to serve and the chair.
  • Completion of graduate studies with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
  • Presentation of recent work at two scheduled graduate critique each semester the student is enrolled.
  • Forty eight hours of credit must be earned in regularly scheduled classes unless special arrangements are approved by the Department Chair in Art.
  • No more than nine hours of approved transfer credit at the graduate level may be included in meeting the degree requirement of 60 hours unless the student holds the MA in Studio Art from Lindenwood University in which case, up to 36 hours earned in the MA will apply to the 60 hour requirement for the MFA in Studio Art. The school dean may approve substitutions in the core curriculum if the student has a significant and demonstrable proficiency in a specific area. The school dean may also waive credits under special circumstances.
  • All graduate students in studio art must surrender one work approved by the faculty in their final semester, which will become a part of the University collection.