Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts
The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts offers students the opportunity to explore Visual Art through theory and criticism alongside a hands-on creative production. This combination of theoretical study with production experience gives students a unique understanding of how art creates meaning.
The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts is committed to the professional development of arts innovators. The dynamic interdisciplinary environment within the Stein College of Fine Arts allows MFA-VA graduate students to develop a personal vision, refine technical skills and/or work on projects addressing social and environmental concerns within a global context. The MFA-VA program offers an innovative curriculum aligned with emerging trends emphasizing global impact.
The online delivery method enables active working artists to advance creative practice within a supportive academic community. The program includes a two-week “bootcamp” in the summer sessions that are strategically located as an immersive kick starter. This format is designed for working artists who prefer greater flexibility in course work without required travel to Jacksonville.
RESEARCH AREAS Thesis proposals must outline a program of scholarly and creative research supporting original composition combined with execution by the student. Current areas of creative activity and research include the following: • visual arts media: including ceramics, drawing, glass, illustration, painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture • media arts: including animation, film, graphic design and interactive media.
Admission Requirements
For a list of admission requirements to the MFA program, see Graduate Program - MFA in the Admission section of this Catalog.
Curriculum
The MFA degrees in Visual Art is a 60-unit plan of study emphasizing the creative arts and the process of generating new works that are grounded in both classical and contemporary genres. The MFA at Jacksonville University nurtures the development of rigorous and refined relationships between three aspects of creative production: stimulus, practice and analysis—each seen as mutually interdependent forces that continually shape artistic experimentation and response. Two- and three- year options of study enable students to select the plan that best connects with their goals.
Required studio or related areas:
Other studies in visual art:
Total Credit Hours: 60
Degree Requirements
The Master of Fine Arts program requires the equivalent of at least two (2) years of full-time graduate study, with a minimum of 60 semester credit hours.
Two Year Track: 100% of the curriculum (60 credits) is delivered in a hybrid online format. Year one consists of 35 credits over the Summer, Fall and Spring terms. Year two consists of 25 credits over the Summer, Fall and Spring terms.
Three Year Track: 100% of the curriculum (60 credits) is delivered in a hybrid online format. Year one consists of 21 credits over the Summer, Fall and Spring terms. Year two consists of 19 credits over the Summer, Fall and Spring terms. Year three consists of 20 credits over the Summer, Fall and Spring terms.
Studios on Jacksonville University campus are available upon request during the summer sessions.
Transfer of Credit - Transfer of Credit is not permitted in the graduate curriculum.
Policies - As published in the Stein College Graduate Handbook, Jacksonville University Academic Catalog and websites.
Transcript Evidence - Consistent with graduation requirements and verified by the University registrar prior to degree conferral.
Thesis Requirement -
FA 691 Research-Based Project/Thesis Continuous Enrollment (1 credit), is required of candidates who do not pass FA 682 to assure the Thesis requirement is met. FA 691 Course description: Prerequisite FA 682. Pass/Fail. May be repeated for credit. Students must enroll in FA 691 each subsequent semester until the completion of the research-based project/thesis. Faculty will periodically review individual student’s progress in meeting course goals and completing the project/thesis. Upon completion of the project/thesis, faculty will approve the final paper and arrange for final paper presentation sessions. Students are expected to complete all objectives for FA 682 and finalize their projects for committee approval prior to their presentations.
Thesis Project - During their last summer semester students will submit a thesis project proposal of between 5 and 15 pages for approval by the thesis committee. The final project may take the form of an exhibition or performance event in which research is made evident. For example, students may undertake to create site-specific installation, organize opportunities for interactive performance with distinct groups of performers, or produce film to be viewed remotely. Regardless of form, the project must demonstrate a thorough investigation and committed execution of a defined aesthetic concern. The final project includes a written component to be completed as a requirement of the thesis. This document, 20-40 pages in length, outlines the aesthetic focus of the student's research and provides a historical and philosophical contextualization for the project
Academic Standards
A graduate student will be placed on Academic Probation at the conclusion of any semester in which the student’s cumulative GPA is less than a 3.0 (B). The student has the following one semester (or two courses) to raise the cumulative GPA to a 3.0. A graduate student will be dismissed from the program if the student does not raise the cumulative GPA to a 3.0 within one semester (or two courses) of being placed on Academic Probation. A graduate student placed on Academic Probation more than one time during the program will be dismissed from the program. A graduate student earning one grade of “F” in any graduate course will be dismissed from the program.