Art – Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Art allows concentrations in three areas: art education, graphic design and studio art. All concentrations require a common core.

Admission Requirements

  1. General admission to graduate study (for criteria, refer to Admission to Graduate Study).
  2. Completion of an undergraduate major in art or an equivalent experience with the requirement of supplemental courses.
  3. Undergraduate GPA in art of 3.0 or higher.
  4. Submission and approval of art portfolio that supports plans and objectives for the graduate program.

Portfolio Application Requirements

A complete application consists of:

  1. Cover letter.
  2. Professional quality resume.
  3. Statement of Intent (1-2 pages), which thoughtfully and thoroughly addresses the following content:
    1. Current body of work, including information about applicant's subject matter, media, technique/process, theme/concept, and influences.
    2. Goals for graduate study and how it will benefit applicant's current work or direction.
    3. Preparedness for graduate-level study.
    4. Reasons for choosing MSU's Art & Design program, and applicant's expectations for graduate study.
    5. Long-term career goals.
  4. Digital Portfolio that adheres to the following guidelines:
    1. Include 20 samples of applicant's work (high quality professional representations), at least 10 of which relate to your current direction, description of your work, and proposed area of study.
    2. Choose appropriate samples that support applicant's proposed concentration:
      1. Studio Art - a cohesive body of work supporting a clear direction in subject, media, technique, and theme.
      2. Graphic Design - diverse samples of print and/or web design, which demonstrates understanding of design theory and practice.
      3. Art Education - either a diverse body of work, which demonstrates broad skills as an artist and teacher, or a cohesive body of work.
    3. Use one of the following options for submitting work sample:
      1. Digital presentation in the format of PowerPoint (ppt.) or Adobe Acrobat (pdf.), saved to USB jump drive.
      2. A website link.
    4. With each digital image, include the following information: title, medium(s), size, and year.
    5. Do not include foundation or beginning level pieces.
    6. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Program Competencies

Students completing the program will be able to:

  1. Understand and skillfully apply selected media, techniques, and technology in the production and presentation of artwork.
  2. Use knowledge of characteristics of visual art to effectively convey their ideas.
  3. Effectively choose and evaluate selected subject matter, symbols and ideas as content for works of art, and develop unified bodies of work.
  4. Reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work in relationship to the visual arts, history, culture and other disciplines.
  5. Communicate in a professional setting, in written and oral form, about a unified body of work selected for exhibition.

Assessment

  1. Mid-Program Review before a graduate committee consisting of at least three graduate faculty. At the conclusion of the Mid-Program Review, the candidate will be informed of any deficiencies and how to address them in their subsequent studies.
  2. Cohort group critiques.
  3. Critical appraisal of the required graduate exhibition and artist's statement by the candidate's graduate committee.
  4. Oral exit examination in conjunction with the candidate's final exhibition before the Graduate Committee.

Program Requirements

Core Requirements

ART 677Graduate Seminar

3

Total Credit Hours:3

(ART 677 - one credit hour per semester)

Art History - Choose three hours from the following:

ART 631Individual Art History Studies

1-6

ART 66118th and 19th Century European and U.S. Art

3

ART 66220th Century Art

3

ART 663Arts of the United States

3

ART 664Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Art

3

ART 667Native American Art

3

ART 668Appalachian Arts

3

ART 672Ancient Art

3

ART 673Medieval Art

3

ART 674Renaissance Art

3

ART 675Mannerist and Baroque Art

3

ART 681German Art of the 20th Century

3

ART 682Contemporary World Art

3

Total Credit Hours:3

Drawing - Choose three hours from the following:

ART 604ADrawing

3

ART 604Drawing

3

Total Credit Hours:3

Studio and/or Art History - Choose six hours from the following:

One course/three-credit maximum. See listings under Art History.

ART 604Drawing

3

ART 604ADrawing

3

ART 604BDrawing

3

ART 605Figure Painting

3

ART 606Portrait Painting

3

ART 607Commercial Illustration

3

ART 609Airbrush

3

ART 610Computer Art Problems

3

ART 611AAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 611BAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 613APainting

3

ART 613BPainting

3

ART 614Painting Techniques V

3

ART 616Watercolor

3

ART 646Ceramics

3

ART 651AGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 651BGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 655AAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 655BAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 656Ceramic Sculpture

3

ART 657Alternative Glazing Techniques

3

ART 68735MM Photography

3

ART 688APhoto Studio

3

ART 688BPhoto Studio

3

ART 689Large Format Photography

3

ART 692Sculpture: Metal Casting

3

ART 694ASculpture

3

ART 694BSculpture

3

ART 695Sculpture Studio

3

ART 698Selected Topics

1-3

Total Credit Hours:6

Choose one concentration.

Art Education Concentration

The Master of Arts in Art Education offers students a customized program designed to further develop the studio, intellectual and professional background of art educators, enabling students to grow as teachers and leaders, achieving advanced goals. A series of graduate courses address historical and contemporary issues in art theory, studio, and art education, bridging the connection between individual artistic process and creative development through enhanced teaching practices. Drawing on a wide range of studio areas, over half the program is reserved for work in one or more areas. The program culminates in a graduate art education exhibition and thesis statement that reflects the integration of students' teaching practice and artistic development.

ART 627Reading in Art Education

3

ART 680History and Philosophy of Art Education in the United States

3

Total Credit Hours:6

Choose nine hours from the following:

ART 604Drawing

3

ART 604ADrawing

3

ART 604BDrawing

3

ART 605Figure Painting

3

ART 606Portrait Painting

3

ART 607Commercial Illustration

3

ART 608AAdvanced Graphic Design

3

ART 608BAdvanced Graphic Design

3

ART 609Airbrush

3

ART 610Computer Art Problems

3

ART 611AAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 611BAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 613APainting

3

ART 613BPainting

3

ART 614Painting Techniques V

3

ART 616Watercolor

3

ART 630Individual Art Ed Studies

1-6

ART 632Individual 2-D Studies

1-6

ART 633Individual 3-D Studies

1-6

ART 634Individual Digital Studies

1-6

ART 646Ceramics

3

ART 651AGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 651BGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 655AAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 655BAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 656Ceramic Sculpture

3

ART 657Alternative Glazing Techniques

3

ART 676Directed Graduate Study

1-6

ART 68735MM Photography

3

ART 688APhoto Studio

3

ART 688BPhoto Studio

3

ART 689Large Format Photography

3

ART 692Sculpture: Metal Casting

3

ART 694ASculpture

3

ART 694BSculpture

3

ART 695Sculpture Studio

3

ART 698Selected Topics

1-3

Total Credit Hours:9

Graphic Design Concentration

The Master of Arts in Graphic Design Concentration provides students an opportunity to develop a coherent, investigative and experimental body of work with a focus on methodology, the application of that method to design work, the development of a thoughtfully argued statement, and the organization of students' work in a graduate design exhibition. Advanced coursework in typography, web design, illustration and computer art allows students to customize the program to their specific focus. Students' training and completed portfolios will enable them to begin or continue with their professional design career, or continue on to an M.F.A. design program. The program culminates in a graduate graphic design exhibition and thesis statement that presents students' design work and development as designers.

ART 608AAdvanced Graphic Design

3

ART 608BAdvanced Graphic Design

3

 

ART 610Computer Art Problems

3

or

ART 611AAdvanced Computer Art

3

Total Credit Hours:9

Choose six hours from the following:

ART 604Drawing

3

ART 604ADrawing

3

ART 604BDrawing

3

ART 607Commercial Illustration

3

ART 609Airbrush

3

ART 610Computer Art Problems

3

ART 611AAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 611BAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 613APainting

3

ART 616Watercolor

3

ART 632Individual 2-D Studies

1-6

ART 633Individual 3-D Studies

1-6

ART 634Individual Digital Studies

1-6

ART 651AGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 651BGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 676Directed Graduate Study

1-6

ART 688APhoto Studio

3

ART 688BPhoto Studio

3

ART 689Large Format Photography

3

ART 698Selected Topics

1-3

Total Credit Hours:6

Studio Art Concentration

The Master of Arts in Studio Art Concentration offers students professional training for independent, self-directed practice as visual artists. This concentration offers students progressive coursework in their chosen media and critical studio theory. Students can focus on a particular area or combine several art areas, including ceramics, computer art, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. This concentration is intended for students who desire graduate-level coursework that prepares them for various art-related careers and/or further advanced studies in art, such as an MFA program. The program culminates in a graduate studio exhibition and thesis statement that relates to the student's artwork and development as an artist.

Choose 15 hours from the following:

ART 604Drawing

3

ART 604ADrawing

3

ART 604BDrawing

3

ART 605Figure Painting

3

ART 606Portrait Painting

3

ART 607Commercial Illustration

3

ART 608AAdvanced Graphic Design

3

ART 608BAdvanced Graphic Design

3

ART 609Airbrush

3

ART 610Computer Art Problems

3

ART 611AAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 611BAdvanced Computer Art

3

ART 613APainting

3

ART 613BPainting

3

ART 614Painting Techniques V

3

ART 616Watercolor

3

ART 632Individual 2-D Studies

1-6

ART 633Individual 3-D Studies

1-6

ART 634Individual Digital Studies

1-6

ART 646Ceramics

3

ART 651AGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 651BGraduate Printmaking Studio

3

ART 655AAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 655BAdvanced Ceramics

3

ART 656Ceramic Sculpture

3

ART 657Alternative Glazing Techniques

3

ART 676Directed Graduate Study

1-6

ART 68735MM Photography

3

ART 688APhoto Studio

3

ART 688BPhoto Studio

3

ART 689Large Format Photography

3

ART 692Sculpture: Metal Casting

3

ART 694ASculpture

3

ART 694BSculpture

3

ART 695Sculpture Studio

3

ART 698Selected Topics

1-3

Total Credit Hours:15

Total Credit Hours: 30