The MFA curriculum requires three consecutive years in residence. During all three years, students focus on extensive studio time and meet weekly to critique and discuss their work with peers, faculty, visiting artists, critics, and curators.
In every semester of the MFA Program, students are enrolled in both MFA Studio and Group Critique Seminar, which brings the entire graduate cohort together for a weekly critique of MFA student work. The curriculum is designed so that students may take additional electives both inside and outside of the School of Art to complement and enrich studio work and creative inquiry.
In the first two years, students enroll in two Critical Studies seminars, which encourage them to critically read, research, and incorporate art history, theory, and criticism into their writing and artistic practices. The first year introduces Contextual Practice, wherein students produce project-based and collaborative experimental works that creatively expand the role of art in the public sphere, while meaningfully engaging with new contexts and communities.
During the Spring semester of the second year, students begin work on the written thesis, which allows them to explore the historical, social, and theoretical positions relevant to their studio practices. The third year allows for continued progress on the written thesis alongside studio work toward the thesis exhibition; together, the exhibition and written thesis serve as the capstone of the degree.
| EVERY SEMESTER | |
| MFA Studio | Group Critique Seminar |
| The foundational component of the MFA Program, consisting of the development of self-directed studio work, independent research, and ongoing artistic production. Students work independently and in consultation with the MFA Core Faculty, School of Art advisors, and visiting artists and critics during regularly scheduled studio visits. | A group critique course involving the entire graduate cohort, functioning as the collective discussion surrounding each student’s individual practice. |
| FIRST YEAR SPECIFIC | |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|
Critical Studies Seminar I |
Contextual Practice (12) University Elective (9-12) |
| SECOND YEAR SPECIFIC | |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|
Critical Studies Seminar II (12) University Elective (9-12) |
Thesis Writing Seminar I (12) Optional electives allowed |
| THIRD YEAR SPECIFIC | |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|
Thesis Writing Seminar II (12) Optional electives allowed |
MFA Exhibition (12) Optional electives allowed |
Total required units: 291 – 297 (dependent on unit value of electives)
Thesis Exhibition
In their third year, MFA students each complete a thesis exhibition and a corresponding written thesis. Work on the written thesis begins in the second term of the second year. The third year allows for continued progress on the written thesis alongside studio work toward the thesis exhibition; together, the exhibition and written thesis serve as the capstone of the degree. The MFA Thesis Exhibition gives students an opportunity to install and exhibit work in a professional setting and share their work and research with the CMU community and the larger arts community. In addition, while the thesis exhibition is up, each third-year student participates in a capstone critique that is open to all full-time faculty as well as a group of prominent critics, curators, and other critical thinkers and art world leaders invited by The School of Art to provide feedback on the thesis exhibition.
Georgia Saxelby (MFA '24)
