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 60–61 graduate credits.
This includes 33 credits of studio work (VIS 5210–5220, 5720–5750, and 5801–5804, and one studio art elective), 8 credits of graduate seminars (selected from VIS 5760, 5770, 5780, and 5790), 8 credits of art history, 11–12 credits of elective coursework chosen in consultation with a graduate advisor, and a 2-credit writing tutorial for the MFA thesis. For successful progress through the program, a 3.0 (B) GPA must be maintained.
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 I | 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 | 3 credits |
| VIS 5730/Graduate Studio Critiques II | 3 credits |
| VIS 5770/Graduate Critical Topics II or elective | 3 credits |
| VIS 5802/Independent Graduate Studio II | 3 credits |
| ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II | 4 credits |
Second Year: 30 credits |
|
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5740/Graduate Studio Critiques III | 3 credits |
| VIS 5780/Graduate Critical Topics III | 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/MFA Thesis Tutorial | 2 credits |
| VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5750/Graduate Studio Critiques IV | 3 credits |
| VIS 5790/Graduate Critical Topics IV or elective | 3 credits |
| VIS 5804/Graduate Studio Capstone | 3 credits |
Notes:
- ARH 5325 is 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.
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 I | 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 | 3 credits |
| VIS 5730/Graduate Studio Critiques II | 3 credits |
| VIS 5770/Graduate Critical Topics II | 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 5780/Graduate Critical Topics III | 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 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| VIS 5750/Graduate Studio Critiques IV | 3 credits |
| VIS 5790/Graduate Critical Topics IV | 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 | |