Master of Fine Arts - Art
The MFA Art Experience
The three-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is studio based and research focused with an emphasis on creative practice, interdisciplinarity, community engagement, and professional development.Throughout the program students conduct practice and text-based research, presenting their work in studio visits, exhibitions, MFA Open Studios, and group critique with faculty, peers, visiting artists, curators, scholars, and community members.
The full cohort consists of 10 to 12 candidates, with the department admitting three to four new students each year. Each MFA candidate is provided with private studio space with 24-hour access and approved access to department studio labs.
Apply to Our Program
The UNLV Department of Art is seeking applications that present unique perspectives, rigorous artistic skill and research, and a potential for dynamic growth. We welcome artists from diverse backgrounds who want to participate in the dialogues within contemporary art and culture and the creation of powerful sensory experiences and shared knowledge through art practice and exhibition.
Eligibility and Application Deadlines
As you prepare to apply for this program, complete the following steps:
- Review our admission requirements to assess if you’re eligible for consideration
- Review our priority and final deadlines
- Visit the Graduate College's Application Deadlines page
- Locate the "Application Requirements" section with the table for degree program application deadlines
- Locate the priority and final deadline dates for the "Art (MFA)" program
Application Components
Applicants who meet our admission requirements must submit an application that consists of a two-step process:
Selection Criteria
Selection criteria for graduate students include:
- Potential for dynamic growth and leadership within the Department of Art, the College of Fine Arts, and the UNLV and Las Vegas communities.
- Artistic excellence: the work demonstrates exceptional research and skill in its execution.
- Content of the work: the artist presents a unique perspective and ambitious, creative exploration of formal and conceptual relationships within the work and a consideration of historical/contemporary social, political, or cultural context. The artist poses interesting questions and transforms ideas into new forms that are productive, exciting, and promising for future work.
- Professional experience.
Graduate Assistantships
All applicants are encouraged to apply for graduate assistantships during the application process. Graduate assistantship packages include $21,000 stipends, tuition waivers, and healthcare insurance. Offers for graduate assistantships are contingent on the submitted application and portfolio.
