Degree Offered
- Master of Arts
Nature of the Program
The non-terminal MA Studio Art program promotes advanced study in a specific discipline in the School of Art & Design. It requires 36 hours in residence and is normally completed in two years or four semesters. A minimum of 50% of coursework must be at the 600-level or higher. M.A. studio art students are required to produce a written thesis and, at the graduate committee's discretion, may be required to hold a thesis exhibition. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Admissions for 2027-2028
The application deadline occurs annually on January 15. There is a two-step process for graduate applications.
Step 1: Apply to West Virginia University Graduate School online. This application will require you to upload your transcripts, resume, letter of intent, three letters of recommendation and pay an application fee. Applicants must have had an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 to be considered for admission.
Step 2: Submit your portfolio to the WVU School of Art & Design.
Submit the following material:
20 images or video documentation of recent work
Applicants may be required to take additional course work after careful review of undergraduate transcripts.
In addition to the application materials listed, transfer students must transfer graduate work completed elsewhere. Transcripts must accompany the written request. The acceptance of transfer credit is not automatic. The graduate faculty, the graduate advisor, and the School Director will determine how much, if any, previous graduate-level work may be transferred. The maximum allowable number of graduate transfer credits toward the degree is nine. All transfer credits must be in place by the end of the first semester.
Major Code: 3729
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Art | 18 | |
| Graduate Painting | ||
| Arts Administration | ||
| Graduate Graphic Design | ||
| Graduate Graphic Design/Professional Practice | ||
| Graduate Sculpture | ||
| Graduate Printmaking | ||
| Graduate Photography | ||
| Alternative Media | ||
| Graduate Ceramics | ||
| Art and Environment | ||
| Independent Study: Graduate Studio | ||
| Special Topics (Mold Making) | ||
| Special Topics (3D Printing) | ||
| Special Topics (Kiln Building) | ||
| Cognates/Electives | 6 | |
| Art History | 6 | |
| Select 2 from the following: | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Native American | ||
| Intro Curatorial Practice | ||
| Greek and Roman | ||
| Medieval | ||
| Medieval Architecture | ||
| History of Stained Glass | ||
| Art Theory | ||
| Modern Art Theory | ||
| Women in Art | ||
| Northern Renaissance | ||
| Italian Renaissance | ||
| Baroque | ||
| American | ||
| Nineteenth Century | ||
| Modern | ||
| Modern Architecture | ||
| GPS-Architect Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
| Print, Propaganda and Art | ||
| The Art of Andy Warhol | ||
| Contemporary | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Graduate Seminar | ||
| ART 696 | Graduate Seminar | 3 |
| ART 600 | Graduate Exhibition and Thesis | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Degree Progress
The MA Studio Art program requires the following milestones for all students. According to the School of Art and Design graduate catalog, students will receive a committee evaluation at the end of each semester. They must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher and complete at least 36 credit hours in residence, normally within two years. Students who are either not making adequate degree progress or who are failing to uphold professional standards may receive notice of probation, suspension or dismissal. Students may be notified of academic consequences outside of routine evaluation processes if an issue must be addressed immediately.
Each year, no later than the first day of classes of the Fall semester, the Graduate Advisor for the School of Art and Design will distribute an updated version of the graduate handbook.
Benchmarks
- Year One: Pass committee evaluation at the end of each semester. Students are reviewed for advancement to degree candidate at the end of their first year of study or upon completion of a minimum of fifteen credit hours. If a student fails to advance to candidacy at this point, they must be reviewed by the committee at the beginning of the next semester to meet approval. In cases where the student fails to advance to candidacy twice, the committee can recommend to the School Director or College Dean that they be dismissed from the program.
- Year Two: Must produce a written thesis about their work in the final semester. In consultation with the graduate committee, the MA Studio Art student may or may not produce a graduate exhibition or project. Must pass an oral defense of the written thesis and optional exhibition. If the defense is failed, it is at the committee's discretion to request approval from the dean or the dean's designee to hold a second defense. If granted, it is the student's responsibility to find a suitable space to install the optional exhibition and to schedule the second defense. No further attempts beyond two will be allowed.
Satisfactory Progress
- Must pass committee evaluation at the end of each semester.
- Must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Major Learning Outcomes
Studio Art
The following are general learning goals for students pursuing a Master of Arts:
- Develop advanced capacities to work independently and make effective artistic and intellectual judgments and professional decisions in the area of specialization.
- Demonstrate professional competence in the area of specialization before peers and faculty.
- Gain knowledge and skills in one or more areas outside the major.