Art, MFA
Push the boundaries of your creativity in an energetic artistic community that challenges and inspires you. You can build lasting professional connections and expand your creative vision in this highly ranked program based in downtown Phoenix.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Art, MFA description
The Master of Fine Arts program in art offers multiple pathways for you to advance your artistic practice. The program values diversity and creative thinking to advance research. You work closely with distinguished faculty to develop the skills to produce culturally relevant work and sustain a lifelong creative practice. You move across disciplines such as animation, ceramics, installation, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, video, textiles, and sculpture while working through conceptual concerns such as social practice, environmental justice, sustainability and emerging technologies. Thematic studios and seminars are offered each semester to support and develop these discourses. The MFA program provides three years of experience as a teaching assistant or instructor of record within the program, allowing you to gain valuable teaching experience while developing a thriving art career. You also benefit from various funding opportunities, including numerous scholarships and awards supporting travel and research.
Upon admittance, all MFA students are provided with the same tuition funding.
The MFA curriculum nurtures material mastery, critical discourse, and interdisciplinary practices, culminating in a solo thesis exhibition in one of the School of Art's professional galleries. You learn from one of the nation's largest MFA faculty composed of nationally and internationally recognized artists. You develop relationships with curators and artists in the region, resulting in alumni showing and being represented by galleries and museums in the Phoenix area after graduation.
MFA Studios at Grant Street
You are provided 24/7 access to world class private studio space at Grant Street Studios, located in the cultural hub of downtown Phoenix. This facility is also home to two galleries and enhanced resources including a common wood shop, printmaking presses, photography darkroom, ceramics kilns, computer lab and 3D print lab. You also have access to the vibrant community of museums, galleries, businesses and cultural organizations. The metro Phoenix area alone includes institutions such as Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, ASU Art Museum, and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Initiatives at ASU, The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and School of Art
In addition to the expansive curriculum, you benefit from a robust Visiting Artist and Scholar Series, professionalization workshops, teaching opportunities and pedagogical training. You also supplement your arts curriculum by taking advantage of the vast resources afforded by a research university, engaging with world renowned researchers and taking courses across disciplines.
Why study art at ASU?
ASU's MFA program in art offers a national ranking, scholarship funding, individual studio space and access to Research I university resources --- a combination found at very few programs in the country.
Pyracantha Press and the Ceramics Research Center and Archive are distinct institutional resources that enhance your experience. The program's location in Phoenix positions you within a rapidly growing contemporary art scene. With Phoenix's proximity to Los Angeles, Santa Fe and Denver, you have access to major regional art markets and opportunities for gallery representation and residencies.
Additional details
The Art Grads is a group of ASU graduate students within the Herberger Institute. Founded in 2016, the organization promotes community building, professional development and student advocacy for current graduate art students.
Grant Street Studios' Step Gallery and Northlight Gallery are featured on Phoenix's First and Third Fridays, connecting you to the public arts community in one of the most active urban arts scenes in the Southwest.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
60 credit hours and an oral comprehensive exam (defense of MFA exhibition)
Required Core (9 credit hours) Studio (18 credit hours) Seminar (9 credit hours) Practicum (14 credit hours) Research (4 credit hours) Electives (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
ARA 522 Studio Art Pedagogy (3)
ARS 586 Theories of Contemporary Art (3)
ART 501 Cross-practice Critique (3)
ART 621 In Practice (6)
ARS/ART coursework (12)
ART 502 Cohort: Field Research (9)
ART 503 Cohort: Strategies in Contemporary Art (3)
ART 504 Cohort: Professional Strategies (3)
ART 680 Practicum (14)
ART 592 Research (4)
For studio coursework, students complete six credit hours of ART 621 and 12 credit hours of 500- and 600-level ARS seminar or studio courses. The practicum includes 14 credit hours and results in an MFA exhibition.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply concept development and knowledge of material practice in their focused media area to contextualize their research.
- Demonstrate professional preparedness by developing a comprehensive toolkit for self-promotion that will position them for success in the field of art and design.
- Demonstrate how their cohesive body of artwork fits within the context of the fine art world holistically.
Apply concept development and knowledge of material practice in their focused media area to contextualize their research.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 ="A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Admission is a two-step process. Although applicants fill out one application through the online graduate application process, they must be admitted to both the MFA program and the Graduate College. The portfolio should include a combination of 20 images sized with a maximum dimension of 1024 pixels and video files with less than 60 MB each; it should be accompanied by an image list. The statement of intent (not to exceed 1,000 words) should address the applicant's artistic interests, reasons for applying to graduate school in general and the ASU School of Art in particular, as well as professional goals. The three letters of recommendation should be from faculty members with whom the applicant has studied or from recognized professionals in the field. All the instructions for letters of recommendation must be followed when submitting them with the application to the Graduate College. The method for submitting the resume or CV, portfolio, statement of intent, and letters of recommendation is online via SlideRoom: https://asuherberger.slideroom.com/#/Login. Applicants may upload images (.jpg), video (.mov, .wmv, .flv), music (.mp3) or PDF documents. Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Explore expanded study opportunities
More and more ASU graduate students are pursuing Global Education opportunities. Although participating in a Global Education program as a graduate student can present challenges, it can also provide a meaningful opportunity to deepen the educational experience and connect an international opportunity with a student's career aspirations.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this art master's degree prepares you for
MFA degree holders have the credentials necessary for teaching courses in their discipline at colleges and universities as well as for entering the art market, working in art administration or other competitive creative fields. Graduates of this program also go on to start their own galleries or small businesses, exhibit at notable institutions and are awarded prestigious grants and residency opportunities.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Art
|
ART 102
soaadmin@asu.edu
480-965-8521
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
