Art (M.F.A.)

Degree Description

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Art is the terminal degree in the field of studio art. UTSA is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The emphasis of the M.F.A. program is on conceptual development and its harmony with formal aesthetic and art historical considerations. The objective of the degree is to provide advanced study in the field of art in preparation for a career as a practicing artist, in higher education, or as a professional in other art enterprise.

Why Pursue an M.F.A. at UTSA?

• The caliber of UTSA Art Department faculty, all of whom have outstanding exhibition records which are part of major museum collections and have shown internationally
• The small size of our graduate program allows for more student-faculty contact and a more personalized and intensive experience
• We offer the Margaret Denslow Harris Graduate Fellowship in Studio Art, which provides a $20,000 award to one graduate student applicant seeking to complete the MFA degree in a visual art studio discipline at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
• Ranked in the top tier at #114 by US News and World Report.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Admission Prerequisites:

• Required Degree: Bachelor's of Fine Arts or the equivalent is required. Equivalency is defined as completion of a minimum of 45 semester credit hours in studio art and 15 semester credit hours in art history as part of, or in addition to, a bachelor's degree.
• Other Degree Requirements: For a complete list of degree programs, please see the Graduate Catalog.

Application Requirements:

• General University Requirements:A degree seeking applicant must meet university wide requirements.
• Application: A complete Graduate School application.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from all institutions attended. All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: None.
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of Purpose: A statement of intent concerning graduate school.
• Test Scores: None.
• Other:
  • An artist's statement about the applicant's work. Artist Statements and Statements of Purpose should be submitted as separate files.
  • The portfolio is the most important part of the application for admission. Applicants should submit 20 images that best exemplify their most recent creative work. Do not send original works of art. Ideally, a strong portfolio will suggest a specific direction or overarching thematic interest. Portfolios may be as a PDF document uploaded through the application portal. The PDF should be created as a power point with a white background and each slide should include title, medium, size, and date of completion for each piece in each image. Slides for time-based artworks should include a still image with an additional html link (not embedded) to a YouTube or video site where a video can be viewed or a sound file can be heard for the piece.
• Evaluation of Foreign Credentials: All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. citizens (Domestic), or permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit an evaluation from an approved Foreign Credential Agency of transcripts from all foreign institutions attended. If official transcripts are used in the foreign credential evaluation, the official transcript requirement will be considered met. However, if unofficial documents are used in the foreign credential evaluation, final official transcripts must be sent to UTSA.
  
  • An approved evaluation requires a detailed course-by-course evaluation. Summaries will not be accepted.
  • The Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) is a private corporation that provides evaluations of foreign school credentials. The application is available at: Application for Credentials Evaluation.
  International Applicants:
  
  • IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5.
  • TOEFL: Minimum scores of 79 or 60 for Internet or paper versions, respectively.
  Additional Requirements: A degree seeking applicant must meet international graduate student admission requirements.

Career Options

The alumni from our department have followed multiple career paths, including being a professional artist showing in multiple venues, galleries, and museums; public art and installation; teaching at the secondary, community college, and university levels; curatorial work in galleries and museums; art-related community service on municipal and cultural boards; working with non-profit galleries and programs; departmental and administrative positions in an academic setting; as well as the creation of personal art in the private sector.

Research Opportunities

We are dealing with contemporary and historical issues related to the art field. The graduate students receive a comprehensive understanding of a world view and how they fit within the contemporary world view of art. Our students explore a myriad of mediums and styles, and have the full resources of the art faculty and facilities to fully reach their artistic potential in whatever avenue they choose. They are encouraged to experiment and are expected to be able to speak about their own work within the larger contemporary and art historical contexts.