Overview of Summer MFA in Studio Art (MFA)
Maryland Institute College of Art
This low-residency program allows experienced artists and educators to develop a professional body of work, a unique personal voice, and an expanded understanding of contemporary art through intensive studio practice. Spread over three years and a summer, as a part-time, low-residency program, intensive, six-week summer residencies are combined with independent work during the academic year and winter critique. Areas of concentration include painting, mixed media, sculpture/installation, and photo/digital media.
A portfolio exhibiting a level of mastery is the primary prerequisite for the MFA. Applicants must have at least 40 credits in studio work and 9 credits in art history and/or criticism. Teacher candidates for the MFA must have completed at least two years of teaching prior to beginning the program.
Independent studio work is the focus on the MFA program. Mentors meet on a regular basis with candidates; periodic group critics and visiting artists expand the critical dialogue and feedback. The first year encourages exploration and experimentation. Gradually, over the course of the next year, a body of work begins to take form and the culminating year is spent developing the body of work for a final thesis exhibition. Seminars in Critical Studies complement studio investigations and involve lectures, reading, research, and presentations.
Studios are provided for all candidates while they are in residence during the summer session. Candidates must develop their own studio facilities for use during the academic year. Exhibition space is provided for group shows and individual thesis shows during the summer.
Each candidate is assigned a studio mentor based on the work submitted for admission. Requests or recommendations for switching mentors can be initiated by either the candidate or the mentor and are subject to review by the program director.
During the third summer, candidates begin to work with the thesis committee who sees the student through the process that culminates in a thesis exhibition and program completion. The thesis committee is composed of the studio mentors for the program and other MICA studio faculty.
All grades are on a pass/fail basis. Failure to sustain an appropriate level of production and quality in the work can result in the loss of credits and may extend the amount of time required to complete the degree or lead to a recommendation for withdrawal. Extensions may be recommended by the faculty or requested by the student if the work does not appear that it will fulfill the expectations of the degree by the projected date of completion. All requests for extension must be approved by the graduate director.
Each year, candidates must be present for the full six-week summer residency and the winter critique. In addition, candidates must submit work by agreed-upon dates to their mentors for both the fall and spring semesters. New work must be presented at the beginning of the second, third, and fourth summers. It is the responsibility of the thesis committee to determine if and when the work fulfills the expectation of the MFA degree. Program completion is based upon satisfactory completion of all credit requirements, submission of documentation of the thesis show and thesis statement, and the recommendation of the thesis committee. A program plan is outlined at the point of entry. Any changes in the program plan, including requests for a leave of absence (granted one time and taken for a year), must be approved by the graduate director. The faculty reserves the right to counsel students out of the program who do not demonstrate attitudes and behaviors or performance consistent with the goals of the MFA.