Master of Fine Art
In all of its graduate studio programs, the School of Art and Design strives to maintain a vital, creative ambiance in which emerging artists with strong motivation may develop, through intensive studio practice and appropriate scholarly support, a clear, mature, and professional focus to their creative life. The core of any program is the in-depth studio practice of individual studio disciplines and frequent, sustained contact with working professional faculty and fellow students. This work is supported and extended through formal studio course work, studies in the history of art, and through access to the many resources and opportunities apparent in a large multi-purpose university.

A minimum of 60 semester credit hours is required for the Master of Fine Arts degree with a major in art. All hours that are to count toward graduation must have the approval of the student’s major adviser in the studio area of emphasis. Students may emphasize the following areas in studio: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture/foundry, ceramics/glass, and metalsmithing/blacksmithing. The length of time required to complete a 60 semester-hour program is usually 5–6 semesters or 3 academic years. Most graduate students are in residence for at least 4 semesters. Programs of residency must have the approval of the student’s major adviser. Required hours are distributed as follows: 26 hours in the primary studio emphasis, 12 hours in art history or related subjects, 6 hours in thesis or terminal project work, and 16 hours of elective study of which 9 hours must be in studio disciplines. The remaining hours may be elected from any area within the School of Art and Design or in the University at large.

In addition to the completion of course work, all candidates for the MFA degree must, during the last semester of academic work, present a graduate exhibition, present a terminal project or a written thesis, and pass an oral examination. The terminal project is a creative activity presented in lieu of the written thesis, and in practice, the graduate exhibition is considered to satisfy the terminal project requirement.Graduate education in the studio areas of emphasis is expensive, and because of the individual nature of creative work, it is virtually impossible to predict the exact cost for each student. The School of Art and Design provides the faculty and the studio and shop facilities that are necessary to the programs offered, but all other costs, especially materials, that are considered necessary to the successful completion of a graduate program are borne by the student.

For more information concerning graduate academic advisement, please
contact:
Jerry Monteith, Head of Graduate Studies
School of Art and Design
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Mail Code 4301
Carbondale, IL 62901
Telephone: (618) 453-7760
Fax: (618) 453-7710
E-Mail: monteith@siu.edu