About
The three-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) – Art is studio-based and research-focused with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, community engagement, and professional development. Each MFA student is provided with individual studio space. Graduate Assistantships in teaching, research, and professional development professionally advance students who have rare opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research, contribute to the development of curriculum, manage studios and shops, and work alongside community members, local organizations, and other departments on campus. As the culmination of the program, each MFA candidate produces a public graduation thesis project.
Through academic and public programming, the Department of Art collaborates with UNLV’s Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, a network of campus galleries, and the College of Fine Arts which boldly launches visionaries not only in art and design, but also in dance, film, theater, set design, entertainment design, music, architecture, and related disciplines. Graduate students have the opportunity to work with a diverse art/art history faculty whose work engages a variety of media, including site-based installation, sculpture, ceramics, photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, performance, intermedia, graphic design, and digital art. The department regularly presents visiting speakers and hosts artists-in-residence. Engagement with faculty, peers and the Las Vegas cultural community creates an experience-rich environment that guides MFA candidates in their exploration of creative research activities.
Department of Art MFA – Art alumni exhibit and publish their work regionally, nationally and internationally, and contribute to their communities and the field of contemporary art as artists, designers, writers, educators, creative directors, administrators, arts advocates and cultural producers.
For more information about the Department of Art, visit the homepage. If you have any questions about the program, please contact art.gradcoord@unlv.edu.
Available Options
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Post Bachelor’s Track
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Post-M.A. Track
Accreditation
For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, student work will:
- Demonstrate mastery in the processes that encompass chosen areas of concentration.
- Identify and articulate the ethics, motivations, and influences guiding artistic practice through presentation, group critique, writing, and discourse.
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of work within a broad and diverse context of contemporary culture, art, design, history and theory.
- Publicly exhibit completed works in galleries or other cultural venues.
- Demonstrate critical and analytical thinking skills through the development of images, research, and artist statements and the professional presentation of those materials.
- Articulate a critical awareness of the roles of the artist in society and the impact of art within communities and economies.
Career Possibilities
It is expected that the thesis work establishes a serious and independent foundation and makes an original contribution to the field of art. The UNLV/MFA in studio art is interested in developing individuals who have the potential of sustaining themselves subjectively through their creative work and ideas. This creative work may manifest itself not only through exhibiting work in galleries and museums but also in related fields as: curatorial positions in galleries/museums, design institutions, architectural firm s contributing to city/environmental activities and film industries.
Requirements
Master of Fine Arts - Art
This program (Photography or Sculpture) is accredited by: NASAD. More information can be found at: www.unlv.edu/provost/svpaa/accreditation
Plan Description
Throughout the program, students read, write, conduct text-based and practice-based research, and present their work in group critique with faculty, peers, program visitors, and community members.
- In year one, students take courses in art history or theory/criticism and ART 721 to introduce their work to Graduate Faculty in group critiques and studio visits. At the end of the year, students invite selected faculty to join their Graduate Advisory Committee.
- In year two, students take additional courses in art history or theory/criticism and work with their Graduate Advisory Committee in independent study to prepare and present their Midway exhibition.
- In year three, students can take additional courses in art history or theory/criticism while working with their Graduate Advisory Committee in independent study to prepare and present their Thesis exhibition/Graduate Culminating Experience Project. The MFA in Art thesis requires five components: (1) Written Thesis Paper (2) Thesis Exhibition or Project, (3) Public Artist Lecture, (4) Oral Defense and (5) A Digital Thesis Packet. These components are considered "non-thesis" by the Graduate School and are fulfilled entirely in the Department of Art.
Elective course offerings include art history and theory/contemporary practice seminars in the department and graduate coursework outside of the department. Elective program activities include: Open Studios, themed exhibitions, engagement with undergraduate students, field trips, professional development workshops, and pursuing a Graduate College teaching certification.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Applicants to the program leading to this degree must hold a Bachelor of Arts in Art (or an equivalent degree) from an accredited university.
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
The application for admission, request for graduate assistantship, 3 letters of recommendation and transcripts should be sent directly to the Graduate College following the respective deadlines .
Additionally, applicants should submit the following materials to the Department of Art at art.gradcoord@unlv.edu in a single PDF:
- Digital Portfolio of 20 recent work samples which represent your strongest work from the past three years, with an emphasis on work from the past twelve months
- A written statement of intent (500-800 words) describing the philosophy, motivations and objectives of your artistic research and how the UNLV MFA Art Program will help you further your work and academic and career goals
- A Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Detailed submission instructions and file/formatting guidelines can be found on the Department of Art website, HERE. A link to these Department of Art supplemental application materials requirements may also be found in the Graduate College's online application form.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Plan Requirements
Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor's
Course Requirements
Studio Course – Credits: 6
Art History or Directed Readings – Credits: 6
Theory Courses – Credits: 3
Additional Courses – Credits: 42
- ART 710 - Graduate Studio
- ART 720 - Graduate Projects
- ART 700 - Seminar in Studio Practices
- ART 604 - Art in Public Places
- ART 673 - Twentieth Century Art
- ART 674 - History of American Art
- ART 676 - Performance and Media Art
- ART 677 - Art Since 1945
- ART 680 - The Art of China
- ART 681 - Art of Japan
- ART 695 - Special Topics in Art History
- ART 699 - Special Topics in Art History
- ART 722 - Graduate Contemporary Practice Seminar
- ART 770 - Graduate Art Internship
Graduate Culminating Experience Project – Credits: 3
Degree Requirements
- MFA candidates must be enrolled as full-time students. Students pursuing the Master of Fine Arts degree must satisfy all Graduate School requirements in addition to specific departmental requirements.
- During their second year in the MFA program, the student's work must be presented to their graduate advisory committee for evaluation as a Midway exhibition/project. The committee assesses and determines if the student's progress meets the standards required for advancement to candidacy. Students are required to post a public Midway Statement in the gallery or on site during the Midway project (500 words minimum).
- Students must create, curate and publicize a comprehensive public MFA Thesis project consisting of an exhibition of a representative culminating body of work and a statement (2,000-word minimum) regarding the intent and underlying conceptualization. The student must pass their final evaluation, an oral Thesis Defense with their Graduate Advisory Committee during their exhibition.
- Students are required to submit a digital Thesis Packet including the following: high-resolution, digital documentation of thesis work and installation and accompanying image list; 2,000 word minimum thesis statement; CV; 200 word minimum artist bio.
- During their time in the program, students are required to apply for three professional development opportunities, including, but not limited to, artist residencies, exhibitions, and grants.
- Students are required to present a public lecture about their work in their final year in the program.
Graduation Requirements
Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-M.A.
Course Requirements
Studio Course – Credits: 6
Art History or Directed Readings – Credits: 6
Theory Courses – Credits: 3
Additional Courses – Credits: 27
- ART 710 - Graduate Studio
- ART 720 - Graduate Projects
- ART 604 - Art in Public Places
- ART 673 - Twentieth Century Art
- ART 674 - History of American Art
- ART 676 - Performance and Media Art
- ART 677 - Art Since 1945
- ART 680 - The Art of China
- ART 681 - Art of Japan
- ART 695 - Special Topics in Art History
- ART 699 - Special Topics in Art History
- ART 700 - Seminar in Studio Practices
- ART 722 - Graduate Contemporary Practice Seminar
- ART 770 - Graduate Art Internship
Graduate Culminating Experience Project – Credits: 3
Degree Requirements
- MFA candidates must be enrolled as full-time students. Students pursuing the Master of Fine Arts degree must satisfy all Graduate School requirements in addition to specific departmental requirements.
- During their second year in the MFA program, the student's work must be presented to their graduate advisory committee for evaluation as a Midway exhibition/project. The committee assesses and determines if the student's progress meets the standards required for advancement to candidacy. Students are required to post a public Midway Statement in the gallery or on site during the Midway project (500 words minimum).
- Students must create, curate and publicize a comprehensive public MFA Thesis project consisting of an exhibition of a representative culminating body of work and a statement (2,000-word minimum) regarding the intent and underlying conceptualization. The student must pass their final evaluation, an oral Thesis Defense with their Graduate Advisory Committee during their exhibition.
- Students are required to submit a digital Thesis Packet including the following: high-resolution, digital documentation of thesis work and installation and accompanying image list; 2,000 word minimum thesis statement; CV; 200 word minimum artist bio.
- During their time in the program, students are required to apply for three professional development opportunities, including, but not limited to, artist residencies, exhibitions, and grants.
- Students are required to present a public lecture about their work in their final year in the program.
Graduation Requirements
Plan Graduation Requirements
The student must submit and successfully defend their Graduate Culminating Experience Project by the posted deadline. The exhibit must be advertised and open/accessible to the public.
Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
Documents/Downloads
Contacts
Graduate Coordinator
Wendy Kveck
Department of Art
The Department of Art at UNLV offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that enable students to find success in the unparalleled creative environment of Las Vegas. Our students develop traditional and professional skills that help them define their unique styles, engage with cutting edge technology, and mix traditional and contemporary skills that build towards professional practice.
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Phone
College of Fine Arts
The College of Fine Arts provides an academic experience that heightens awareness of the physical, intellectual, and cultural world. We diligently prepare students for professional employment and/or post-graduate study in their artistic area.