The Studio Art and Design track of the MFA in Emerging Media provides a concentrated studio experience to enhance creative approaches using 21st Century experimental practices. The Studio Art and Design MFA degree produces innovative creative, professional talent in both traditional studio and industry practices. With focused study in contemporary studio practices, such as performance art, installation, experimental time-based media, and fine arts, graduate faculty inspire students to be citizens of the arts both as contributors and professionals.
Students in the program are invited to combine their backgrounds in traditional art or computer-related disciplines within a conceptually driven, interdisciplinary environment. Courses provide exposure to time-based media, performance art, video art, sound works, kinetic sculpture, computer-based art, and art using the Internet to understand how these forms are driving 21st century artistic practice and informing our understanding of contemporary cultural identities.
The Studio Art and Design MFA track is composed of a minimum of 60 credit hours, to be acquired in three years (six full-time semesters excluding summers). Degree credit is obtained in theory courses, studio art courses, electives, and supervised research. All courses must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. The thesis consists of a body of artistic work accompanied by electronic (Internet) documentation and a culminating exhibition and Thesis Defense.
Total Credit Hours Required: 60 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 or better GPA in all course work to complete the program. Continuation in the MFA program requires a positive annual evaluation by the Program Director of the School of Visual Arts and Design and by the Graduate Committee of the School of Visual Arts and Design.
Track Prerequisites
Applicants to the MFA program normally must hold an earned BFA degree in Visual Art from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. Applicants who hold an earned BA, BS, or other baccalaureate degree in Visual Art or a related discipline from an accredited university may also apply.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
24 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- ARH5897 - Advanced Seminar in Art History (3)
- ART6687 - Research Concentration (3)
- Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: ART 6911C - Studio Concentration 3 Credit Hours Should be taken 4 times for a total of 12 credit hours.
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours Should be taken 6 times for a total of 6 credit hours.
Elective Courses
18 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Students should choose from graduate level courses within the School of Visual Arts & Design that are not already required for their program. These courses included those with the following prefixes: ARH, ART, GRA, and PGY. If approved by the Graduate Program Director, there are many graduate-level courses in the College of Arts and Humanities that can be used as electives in addition to other graduate courses. These courses must be selected to ensure that at least one-half of the courses in the student's plan of study are taken at the 6000 level. Normally, at least half of the selected electives should be taken within the School of Visual Arts and Design.
Unrestricted Electives - 18 Credit Hours- Earn at least 18 credits from the following types of courses: Graduate students should enroll in either graduate ART/ARH/GRA/PGY split-level courses (graduate courses stacked with corresponding undergraduate courses) in which the graduate level syllabus distinctly highlights the increased research, production, and evaluative criteria or the occasionally offered ART5280 Serial Content (3), ART5284 Design Theory and Methods (3), or ART6683 Time Arts (3) for a total of eighteen (18) graduate credits.
Thesis
18 Total Credits
- Earn at least 18 credits from the following types of courses: ART 6971 - Thesis 18 Credit Hours The thesis consists of a body of artistic work accompanied by electronic (Internet) documentation and a culminating exhibition. The final oral review before the supervisory thesis committee occurs at the end of the sixth semester. At the same time, the graduate student presents a thesis exhibition of selected works from the cumulative body of works produced during his/her three years of residency. In addition, the thesis requires an artist's statement and documentation. The thesis will contain research intentions, results, and the body of the creative works produced. Students are required to submit an electronic version of the thesis to the UCF College of Graduate Studies. After approval by the UCF College of Graduate Studies, the UCF Library will add it to its archives and make the electronic version of the thesis accessible on the web. The required thesis is the independent learning experience in the degree program.
Grand Total Credits: 60
Application Requirements
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Equipment Fees
- Full-time Student: $90 per term
Course Schedule
The Emerging Media MFA is a full-time 3-year cohort program that requires students to abide by the following course sequence. Students must remain with their cohort to remain in good academic standing and graduate.
Year 1
Fall: 10 Credit Hours
- ARH 5897 - Advanced Seminar in Art History 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6911C - Studio Concentration 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- Unrestricted Elective: 3 Credit Hours
Spring: 10 Credit Hours
- ART 6911C - Studio Concentration 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- Unrestricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours
Year 2
Fall: 10 Credit Hours
- ART 6911C - Studio Concentration 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- Unrestricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours
Spring: 10 Credit Hours
- ART 6687 - Research Concentration 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6911C - Studio Concentration 3 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- Unrestricted Elective: 3 Credit Hours
Year 3
Fall: 10 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- ART 6971 - Thesis 9 Credit Hours
Spring: 10 Credit Hours
- ART 6930 - Graduate Seminar 1 Credit Hours
- ART 6971 - Thesis 9 Credit Hours
