ART (Archived 2016-17 Graduate Catalog)

School Director: Katerina Ray
Graduate Coordinator: Dena Eber
Address: 123 Fine Arts Center
Phone: 419-372- 8526
Fax: 419-372-2544
Program Web Page: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/school-of-art/graduate-programs.html

Degrees Offered
Master of Arts
Master of Fine Arts

Programs Offered
The School of Art offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts. Students pursue course work in M.F.A. two-dimensional studies (painting/drawing, and printmaking), M.F.A. three- dimensional studies (ceramics, glass, jewelry/metals, and sculpture), M.F.A. digital arts (animation, imaging, and interactive media) and M.A. art history.

Within these programs students find a broad range of studio and academic disciplines, united by a deep commitment to technical development sustained by rigorous examination of accompanying contextual and conceptual issues. The School of Art’s M.A. and M.F.A. programs seek to foster a productive and diverse community of artists and scholars whose shared goal is preparation for careers in the visual arts.

The School of Art also offers classes taught abroad in partnership with Studio Art Centers International (SACI), located in Florence, Italy.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work
Admission to the M.F.A. program in studio art requires the equivalent of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or 60 hours in art and 12 hours in art history.

For admission to the M.A. program in art history, an undergraduate background in fine arts, art history, or humanities is highly recommended. Deficiencies in art history may have to be addressed prior to formal acceptance into the M.A. art history program.

Admission Procedure
Applicants seeking admission to the M.A. and M.F.A. programs should follow the instructions outlined in the "Graduate Admission" section of this catalog.

Applicants to the M.F.A. program in studio art are required to upload a portfolio consisting of a cover letter describing goals, objectives, educational background, and personal history; resume; three original letters of recommendation; and 20 jpg images from the proposed area of specialization accompanied by a corresponding image list. Application can be uploaded via slideroom portal

Applicants to the M.A. art history program are required to submit an application consisting of a cover letter describing goals, objectives, educational background, and personal history, resume, three original letters of recommendation, and a sample paper from a recent art history course. Application can be uploaded via slideroom portal.

The online application, application fee, TOEFL scores (required if English is not the applicant’s first language), one official transcript from each institution attended, and GRE scores will need to be submitted to the Office of Admissions. The postmark deadline for this is February 1 for enrollment the following fall semester. Applicants should keep in mind that there is no summer review of portfolios.

Degree Requirements
Students majoring in a studio area in the M.F.A. program will work with the graduate coordinator to choose the student's major professor. The major professor will work with the graduate coordinator to oversee the student's matriculation process and will serve as the chair of the student's Graduate Review Committee.

The Graduate Review Committee is composed of three graduate faculty members, including the major professor, from the School of Art and the College of Arts and Sciences. All studio majors are subject to periodic reviews by the Review Committee.

Master of Arts
Art History: Candidates must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of graduate credit distributed as follows: 27 semester hours of art history, nine must be in 5000-level seminars, must be in either 5000- or 6000-level seminars, and three must be in ARTH 5900 Professional Practices; three hours of art studio or other academic course (which can include an additional art history course); and three hours of ARTH 6990 Thesis Research (taken student’s final semester). In addition, as a prerequisite to admission to M.A. degree candidacy and thesis work, students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination in art history after successful completion of 18 semester hours of art history courses.

Candidates in art history are also required to demonstrate a reading proficiency in one of the approved languages of scholarship other than English. The appropriate language will be determined in consultation with the student's advisor (who will be one of the full-time faculty in art history). Proficiency is usually certified by a B-level examination or equivalent, as described under Option A in the "Language Requirements" section of this catalog.  Finally, students are required to give a formal, public, oral presentation of their thesis work after their thesis has been approved by their full committee.

Master of Fine Arts
Candidates must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit, with a grade of “C” or better, distributed as follows: 21 hours studio within specialization; nine hours studio critique; 12 hours studio elective; six hours art history; three hours academic elective; three hours general elective; three hours pedagogy; and three hours exhibition research.

Total hour requirements may be reduced for students who can apply credit from previous graduate work (up to nine hours). Students are required to complete a minimum of two full-time semesters in residence.

Students entering the M.F.A. degree program have probationary status during the first 15 semester hours of work. In the semester immediately following the completion of this 15-hour requirement (summer excepted), the student must pass the initial review for permission to continue in the program.

Students wishing to enroll in courses outside of their area of specialization must display a proficiency in the chosen area. The instructor may require remedial undergraduate study before approval to take the graduate course is given.

Awarding of the degree is contingent upon recommendation for graduation by the Graduate Review Committee after a final review of work submitted by each candidate.

The M.F.A. exhibition required of each student is the culmination of the candidate's work in his or her studio discipline. The exhibition is a major show including an in-lieu-of-thesis statement and documentation of the work, which must be accompanied by an exhibition brochure.

M.F.A. exhibitions are usually held spring semester in the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery in the Fine Arts Center, though exceptions can be made. The M.F.A. exhibition must be approved by the Graduate Review Committee.

Graduate Courses
Please access graduate courses online at http://www.bgsu.edu/registration-records/courses-and-classes/class-course-information.html. Graduate courses offered by the School of Art use the prefix: ART, ARTC, ARTH, and ARTS.