Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree. The Program of Study must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 5000. A maximum of 12 credits in 5000-level courses may be accepted for a graduate degree.

Students must pass a first-year review at the end of the first year of completion of study (12-24 credits). The MFA thesis is a visual presentation, the equivalent of a written dissertation in other disciplines. The thesis exhibition is the single most important feature of the MFA program; the culmination of three or more years, of intensive study in a single discipline. Students earning a master’s degree in other fields are required to write a written Master’s Thesis. In the MFA, the Thesis Exhibition takes the place of the written thesis. This exhibition takes place during the student’s final semester. In addition, students must pass an oral examination during the final semester of the graduate program. The “orals” are usually held during the time that the MFA thesis exhibition is on display. The student must also submit visual documentation of the thesis, in the form of a digital image portfolio to the library.

The MFA program is a resident program; it is not possible to complete the requirements for graduation by correspondence. Students must complete a minimum of four semesters in residence as full-time students. At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.

For students not serving as graduate assistants who are otherwise employed on campus, 9 credits per semester is the minimum for full-time status. (12 credits is considered a maximum.) For students employed on campus, full-time status is dependent upon the number of hours per week that the student works. For instance, for a graduate student who is employed on campus for 20 hours per week (.50 FTE), 6 credits is considered full time. Students in their last semester who require fewer credits to complete their Program of Study may also be considered full-time. A minimum of five semesters is thus required to complete the 60-credit program; most students require three years.

The MFA must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review. Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

Form Requirements

Supervisory Committee
Program of Study
Appointment for Examination
Record of Examination
SGS and library review and approval

Art - MFA

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes