Majors and Programs

The Master of Arts in Art is designed for students interested in pursuing a basic level of mastery within a specific art studio or art research field and who may be interested in teaching or research at the college level, those who are preparing themselves for the world of the professional artist, preparing for careers in secondary education, or those who are preparing for continued graduate studies. The Master of Arts degree with a major in Art may be tailored to meet the needs of the individual student by selecting an area of specialization in Studio Art, Art Education or Art History.

The M.A., in Studio Art prepares students to teach and work professionally in the field of art, community art colleges, art museums, and community-based art programs with core outcomes based on standards developed by the National Academy of Schools of Art and Design and the College Arts Association.

All M.A., candidates with a major in an Art Studio area must prepare a proposal and devote three semester credit hours to the preparation of an exhibition of work of a quality suitable for presentation to the public. All MA candidates with a major in an Art Research area must devote six semester hours of credit to research methodology (proposal) and a written thesis according to their area of specialization. The exhibition or thesis option is a requirement for the completion of the Master of Art in Art together with a philosophical statement and the successful completion of both written and oral graduate examinations. The Art Program may, at the discrimination of the student and the committee, accept toward the master’s degree six semester credit hours of course work in another area.