Program highlights
- Comprehensive specializations. This MFA studio art degree allows you to dive deeply into your chosen medium while also granting the flexibility to explore interdisciplinary approaches.
- Mentorship and community. The BGSU School of Art is full of seasoned artists serving as faculty and dedicated mentors. Professors work closely with each student on their path of creative and professional discovery. Join the BGSU Graduate Art Student Organization for peer connection and collaboration projects and an inside track on guest lectures, field trips, networking events and more.
- World-class facilities. The BGSU Fine Arts Center has incredible studio spaces for photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry and metals, production, graphic design, art education, sculpture and integrated arts and digital arts/media center.
- NASAD accreditation. BGSU is accredited by the National Association of the Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).
- Creative connections. Our impressive alumni network of successful artists and industry leaders can help connect you to collaborative projects and future career opportunities at galleries, residencies, community art initiatives, museums and design firms.
- Medici Circle sponsorships. Enrich your art education with immersive experiences funded by Medici Circle sponsorships. Attend student field trips to major art exhibitions, travel for presentations, conferences and workshops, and see your artwork displayed in the Fine Arts Center Galleries.
- Study abroad. See the world while you study art at one of our partner schools in Florence, Italy. The International Studies Institute, housed in a beautiful Renaissance palace, offers excellent art history, art architecture and humanities courses. The Santa Reparata International School of Art features an impressive studio-based curriculum in a range of mediums
- Graduate assistantships. BGSU offers 3D studio art graduate assistantships for valuable teaching and/or studio management experience.
- Professional credibility. A Master in Fine Arts signals to employers, galleries and higher education institutions that you are a highly-qualified professional.
BGSU is the largest state art school in Ohio.
Career opportunities
Although we’re living in a time increasingly dominated by the digital, that only makes the tangible all the more special and valued.
There’s great demand for skilled 3D artists who specialize in high-quality, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind creations. Moreover, public art initiatives and architectural collaborations are increasingly yielding new spaces for sculpture and installation artists to thrive – especially those who incorporate environmentally-conscious design and construction into their work.
Those interested in teaching will find a master’s degree in studio art is required by colleges and universities that continue to prioritize their fine arts programs. As the creative economy evolves, there are countless opportunities for 3D artists to leave their mark on the cultural and creative landscape.
Career paths
- Art professor
- Art education coordinator
- Art gallery owner/director/curator
- Art consultant
- Arts administrator
- Art archivist
- Art supply sales representative
- Professional studio artist (sculptor, metalsmith, model maker, jeweler, glassblower, etc.)
- Art program coordinator
- Art director
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
BGSU is one of only 30 universities in the country to maintain a glass studio practice.
Curriculum
The MFA in 3D studio art provides advanced training in your chosen medium. Artists graduate with a cohesive body of work and a resume that includes organization of a professional exhibition that showcases it.
Students have six years to earn 60 credit hours (18 of those at the 6000 level or higher), which include:
- 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 academic experience
All graduate coursework must be completed within a graduate level course – 5000-6000 level.
Sample courses
- Advanced Study in Glassworking
- Advanced Study in Sculpture
- Advanced Study in Ceramics
- Advanced Study in Jewelry, Enameling and Metalsmithing
- Contextualizing Practice and Research
- Pedagogy and Research in Studio Art
- Studio Critique
- Exhibition Research
Admissions
Applicants for the MFA in art with specialization in 3D 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 3D studio art is part of the School of Art in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.
Updated: 03/14/2025 04:01PM