MFA and MA/MFA Requirements
MFA Requirements | MA/MFA Requirements
MFA Academic Requirements
The MFA program is designed to be completed in two years with a minimum requirement of 60 graduate credits.
This includes the following requirements:
- 12 credits of the Graduate Studio Critique,a weekly group critique class
- 12 credits of Independent Studio work with faculty mentors, including the Capstone in the final semester
- 6 credits of Professional Practice classes
- 6 credits of Graduate Critical Topics (theory and criticism)
- 8 credits of Art History (usually fulfilled as the Graduate Art History Colloquium I & II
- All remaining credits are completed as Electives. While these are most commonly “making” classes taken in the School of Art + Design, students are welcome to take classes anywhere at Purchase College. Either they register directly, (in the case of 5000 level classes) or they participate in undergraduate classes as 5000-level Independent Study enrollees, making specific arrangements with faculty to tailor the class to the needs of the student while fulfilling curricular requirements.
First Year: 30–31 credits | |
| Fall: | 14–15 credits |
| VIS 5150/College Pedagogy or elective | 3 credits |
| VIS 5720/Graduate Studio Critiques I | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5801/Independent Graduate Studio I | 3 credits |
| VIS 5—/Graduate teaching assistant or elective | 2–3 credits |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5730/Graduate Studio Critiques II | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 3 credits |
| VIS 5802/Independent Graduate Studio II | 3 credits |
| ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II or ARH 5-/Graduate Art History elective | 4 credits |
Second Year: 30 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5740/Graduate Studio Critiques III | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5803/Independent Graduate Studio III | 3 credits |
| VIS 5—/Visual Arts elective | 3 credits |
| ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I or ARH 5—/Graduate art history elective | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 14 credits |
| VIS 5005/Graduate Thesis Intensive | 3 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5750/Graduate Studio Critiques IV | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 2 credits |
| VIS 5804/Graduate Studio Capstone | 3 credits |
Notes:
- ARH 5325 and ARH 5326 are required for students who are also enrolled in the art history MA program. Otherwise, MFA students may choose a different graduate art history course in consultation with their faculty advisor.
- Students may enroll in ARH 5325 or the graduate art history elective in the fall semester of either their first or second year. ARH 5325 and 5326 may be taken in either order.
- Students must take VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics two times.
MA/MFA Academic Requirements
In most cases, obtaining both an MA in art history (through the School of Humanities) and an MFA in visual arts at Purchase College requires three years of in-residence study with a total course load of 98 credits. For successful progress through the program, a 3.0 (B) GPA must be maintained.
First Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5150/College Pedagogy or elective | 3 credits |
| VIS 5720/Graduate Studio Critiques I | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5801/Independent Graduate Studio I | 3 credits |
| ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History* | 4 credits |
| *ARH 5101 offered alternate years; one semester required | |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Profesional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5730/Graduate Studio Critiques II | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 3 credits |
| VIS 5802/Independent Graduate Studio II | 3 credits |
| ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I* | 4 credits |
| *ARH 5325 and 5326 may be taken in either order | |
Second Year: 34 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5740/Graduate Studio Critiques III | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5803/Independent Graduate Studio III | 3 credits |
| ARH 5326 Master’s Colloquium II* | 4 credits |
| Studio art elective | 3 credits |
| *ARH 5325 and 5326 may be taken in either order | |
| Spring: | 18 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history elective** | 4 credits |
| VIS 5005/MFA Thesis Tutorial | 2 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5750/Graduate Studio Critiques IV | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 3 credits |
| VIS 5804/Graduate Studio Capstone | 3 credits |
Third Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history electives (two)** | 8 credits |
| Elective (open) | 4 credits |
| ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history electives (two)** | 8 credits |
| Elective (open) | 4 credits |
| ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II | 4 credits |
| **At least one course elective must deal with art before 1950 | |
Notes:
- Students must take VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics two times.
Updates to the 2020-21 Catalog
- Students now take VIS 5760/Critical Topics two times along with two electives rather than Critical Topics I - IV.
- Increased MFA Thesis to 3 credits and reduced open elective course credits for that semester from 3 to 2.