Master of Fine Arts
PAFA’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is an interdisciplinary, two-year program. Students are not divided by area of study, instead further discovering their voice in various media.
Through work in private studio spaces, one-on-one discussion with critics, and group critiques, MFA candidates develop their work and ideas into a sustainable, thoughtful artistic practice.
The curriculum structure helps students improve their abilities to see and make, while also broadening and deepening their conceptual framework and skills to discuss and write about art. At the core of the MFA program is an individual's studio practice, along with seminars in theory, contemporary art, writing, and professional practices. The two years culminate in a written and visual thesis; the latter of which is presented at PAFA's Annual Student Exhibition with thousands of annual visitors in the museum galleries.
The PAFA MFA program is not bound by the conventions and traditions of academic and technical systems, but is informed by them and aims to engage in a critical framework that strives for authenticity and open discourse. We privilege studio development, critical research, and professional practice. In their studio work, students are encouraged to be independent, self-motivated, and open to the new possibilities and ideas that arise through the course of making. MFA candidates contribute to and benefit from PAFA's diverse community of artists, museum curators, writers, and problem solvers.
Take the Next Step
With our outstanding faculty-to-student ratio, a bustling local arts community, plus an array of visiting critics and artists each semester, PAFA's Master of Fine Arts is the next step in furthering your artistic development.
Graduate Student Art Work
Curriculum
The Master of Fine Arts degree at PAFA requires 60 credits.
First Year Curriculum
Critiques | 18.0 Credits | ||
Visiting Critic | Fall & Spring | MFA 700 | 1.5 |
Core Critique Group | Fall & Spring | MFA 710 | 7.5 |
Seminars | 6.0 Credits | ||
Seminar: Reframing Theory | Fall | MFA 730 | 3.0 |
Seminar: Contemporary Art | Spring | MFA 731 | 3.0 |
Studio Courses | 6.0 Credits | ||
Graduate Studio Electives | Fall & Spring | MFA 740 | 3.0 |
Electives✝ | 0-3.0 Credits | ||
Total First Year Credits | 30.0 |
Second Year Curriculum
Critiques | 18.0 Credits | ||
Visiting Critic | Fall & Spring | MFA 700 | 1.5 |
Critics (3 at 2.0 Credits) | Fall & Spring | MFA 700 | 6.0 |
Core Critique Group | Fall & Spring | MFA 710 | 1.5 |
Seminars | 6.0 Credits | ||
Seminar: Studio and Beyond | Fall | MFA 730 | 3.0 |
Seminar: Special Topics | Spring | MFA 731 | 3.0 |
Written Thesis | Fall | MFA 850 | 3.0 Credits |
Thesis Exhibition | Spring | MFA 851 | 3.0 Credits |
Electives✝ | 0-3.0 Credits | ||
Total Second Year Credits | 30.0 |
✝Graduate students may take one undergraduate course as an elective that will count towards graduation credit. Students may also audit one undergraduate course per semester to develop particular skills.