MFA Curriculum
While the School of Art is the cultural home base of the MFA Program, the degree is designed to connect art-making to both the university and greater Pittsburgh communities.
The MFA curriculum is structured on a foundation of Seminars and Individual Studio practice with School of Art or University electives to encourage interdisciplinary study and supplement the art practice. Experimentation during the first part of the program is expected to develop into integrated activity during the final phase of the program.
- The first year is dominated by structured course work
- The second year is a mix of structured and independent work
- The third year is characterized by independent work culminating in an exhibition and thesis paper
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (384 Total Units):
Individual Studio
Supervised individual creative work
Fall & Spring semester, year 1-2-3
Graduate students are expected to spend valuable focused time on the exploration and development of their art practice. Inquiry, experimentation and evolution are encouraged. Students are expected to proactively contact their advisors for biweekly meetings and arrange sufficient time for review during the course of each semester.
The first semester students are assigned one faculty advisor, future semesters students choose two advisors with encouragement toward variety until their third year thesis committee culminates in two school of art faculty, one university faculty and one off campus representative. Studio practice includes one formal review per semester that consists of a three or four faculty member review committee to discuss their practice and progress in the program. This requires a formal package of information that includes a resume, artist statement, list of courses, graduate assistantships and a presentation of work documented to date.
Academic Seminar
Contextualizing Practice, Reading and Research
Fall & Spring semester, year 1
Graduate seminar using writings from art history, theory, and criticism to activate dialogue and develop a shared common language within each MFA cohort. This shared inquiry and vocabulary connects a range of intellectual and creative pursuits and enables students, as producing artists, to respond to and situate themselves within the history and theory of creative practice and thought.
Integrative Seminar
Articulating Practice, Presentation and Critique
Fall & Spring semester, year 1-2-3
Graduate seminar designed to integrate the various components of the MFA program: the School of Art base, Contextual Practice, critical writing and the university academic affiliation. Also designed to integrate the discourse of School of Art academic seminars, studio practice, and visiting artists/critics in a critique driven environment. The seminar is primarily a venue for the critique of students’ work and practice through oral and written presentations. Often field trips occur, and/or research, and readings are assigned to supplement and further discussion of students’ issues.
Contextual Practice
Public engagement
Fall & Spring semester, year 2
Graduate seminar where supervised student-initiated projects connect artistic practices with a larger public sphere (typically off-campus and outside the art world). Students identify, research, engage with and respond to an organization, site or audience that pertains to their interests. Resulting creative responses and projects broaden various communities’ understanding of the role that art can play in contemporary society as well as multiplying contexts, venues and opportunities for artists.
Contextual Practice classes alternate weekly with the Writing Seminar.
Writing Seminar
Analysis and Communication
Fall & Spring semester, year 2 - *optional year 3
This seminar is designed to assist the students in developing their writing and analytic skills in preparation for the written thesis requirement. Through conversation, reading, writing and critique group and individual sessions explore how a thesis can inform and expand visual ideas and shape meaning.
Art Studio Option
Expanding and Refining Media
Fall & Spring semester, year 1 + Fall or Spring semester, year 2
Optional undergraduate art studio chosen from the SOA schedule. Graduate students may enroll in a studio to gain skills in a new area or to broaden and enhance their existing skills. The course instructor will set requirements. Course descriptions by semester are available online at www.cmu.edu/hub.
University Elective
Related Academics
Fall & Spring semester, year 1 + Fall or Spring semester, year 2
Course in an academic department outside of art. Pittsburgh Filmmakers courses are treated as School of Art courses and are not considered university electives. Academic courses taken at neighboring universities that are members of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) may be counted as electives. Physical education courses, while personally enriching, do not count for academic credit.
Study Abroad
International Context
Fall semester, year 2
Study abroad may occur only in the first semester of the second year. In order to obtain permission to study abroad a plan must be approved by the Head of the School of Art and the graduate committee.