Program highlights
- Advanced artistic mastery. Elevate your technical and conceptual skills in the challenging fields of drawing, painting and printmaking.
- Learn from experienced artists. Our School of Art faculty is full of seasoned art professionals and dedicated mentors who work closely with each student to experiment across media and discover their own gifts and career paths.
- Superior studio facilities. The three BGSU painting and drawing studios – 5,000 square feet in the Fine Arts Center – are spacious and modern with high ceilings, ample natural light and all the materials and equipment needed for a productive work environment. For printmaking, there’s the intaglio/relief room, the lithography/screenprinting room, and the printmaking photo darkroom. We also have studios for photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry and metals, production, graphic design, art education, sculpture and integrated arts and digital arts/media center.
- NASAD accreditation. BGSU meets the rigorous program accreditation standards of the National Association of the Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).
- Creative connections. Build your professional network and experience by joining the BGSU Graduate Art Student Organization. Gain peer support for your projects, attend visiting artist lectures and organize trips. There’s also the BGSU Print Society, the 2-DAA (2-D Artist’s Association) and Photography Club.
- Medici Circle sponsorships. We don’t want anything holding back art students from enriching experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Medici Circle sponsorships fund student field trips to exciting art exhibitions in major cities, student travel for presentations, conferences and workshops and acquisition of student work for the Fine Arts Center Galleries.
- Study abroad. Study art and see the world at one of our partner art schools in Florence, Italy – the International Studies Institute and the Santa Reparata International School of Art.
- Professional credibility. A Master in Fine Arts signals to employers, galleries and higher education institutions that you are a dedicated, highly-qualified professional.
BGSU is the largest state art school in Ohio.
Career opportunities
Demand for studio artists with a master’s in fine arts is likely to stay strong within academia, cultural organizations and creative industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for art and design occupations is projected to remain steady over the next decade.
The expansion of interdisciplinary practices and digital art forms means even more possibilities for those with expertise in traditional and contemporary 2D techniques.
- Most graduates with an MFA in 2D studio art work as professional artists, exhibiting their work nationally and internationally.
- Some establish themselves in creative industries such as illustration, commercial art or collaborative printmaking.
- Others step into roles as gallery directors, curators, community art leaders or art program coordinators.
- A fair number pursue Ph.D studies and/or teaching roles at prestigious universities, community colleges or art centers.
Students exploring studio art degree jobs outside of traditional art roles find that a great many organizations value the critical-thinking, problem-solving and visual communication skills that our graduates bring to the table.
Career paths
- Professional artist
- Illustrator
- Art gallery owner/director/curator
- Art teacher or professor
- Art admissions coordinator
- Art program coordinator
- Community art director
- Arts management/administration
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Fine Arts Center Galleries offer a wide range of exhibitions and events to showcase some of the most talented regional artists – both professionals and students.
Curriculum
The MFA in art with specialization in 2D studio art curriculum at BGSU reflects our commitment to technical skill development, balanced with a critical examination of contextual and conceptual issues.
Graduate students have the flexibility to either focus exclusively on a single area (painting, drawing or printmaking) or combine coursework across disciplines.
The 2D studio art master’s degree requires a minimum of 60 credit hours (18 of those at the 6000-level). Coursework includes:
- 21 credit hours in specialization
- 12 credit hours in studio electives
- 6 credit hours in art history
- 6 credit hours in Studio Critique
- 3 credit hours in Contextualizing Practice and Research
- 3 credit hours in a general elective
- 3 credits hours in pedagogy
- 3 credit hours in an academic elective
- 2 credit hours in Exhibition Research – the culmination of the student’s academic experience
All graduate coursework must be completed within a graduate level course – 5000-6000 level.
Sample courses
- Painting and Advanced Study in Painting
- Printmaking and Advanced Study in Printmaking
- Advanced Study in Drawing
- Pedagogy and Research in Studio Art
- Contextualizing Practice and Research
- Studio Critique
Admissions
Applicants for the MFA in art with specialization in 2D studio art must submit:
- Transcript
- Resume
- Three recent letters of recommendation
- Artist statement on the direction of work and influences
- Cover letter describing goals, objectives, educational background, personal history and reasons for pursuing graduate school
- Portfolio showcasing recent works (ideally from proposed specialization) with image descriptions (title, medium, size, year)
The Master of Fine Arts in art with specialization in 2D studio art is part of the School of Art in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 03/17/2025 02:23PM