General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Angela Edwards; edwardag@etsu.edu; (423) 439-4703
Mindy Herrin, Graduate Coordinator
011 Ball Hall
Box 70708
(423) 439-5393
e-mail: herrin@etsu.edu
Mira Gerard, Chair
121-A Ball Hall
Box 70708
(423) 439-4247
e-mail: gerard@etsu.edu
Department of Art and Design website: https://www.etsu.edu/cas/art/
Faculty: David Dixon; M. Wayne Dyer; Mira Gerard; Travis Graves; Mindy Herrin; Scott Koterbay; Vanessa Mayoraz; Patricia Mink; Catherine Murray; Sage Perrott; Kelly Porter; Christian Rieben; Lindsay Rogers; Andrew Scott Ross; Tema Stauffer.
Department Mission
The Department of Art and Design is committed to excellence in arts education, teaching students the technical, theoretical, critical, professional, and personal skills necessary to succeed in the visual arts. Achieving the highest quality of academic scholarship and creative research are priorities expected and supported. In service to our community, we seek to promote awareness of the social and cultural significance of the visual arts, within the university, for our region, and the world at large.
ETSU’s Department of Art and Design is an accredited institutional member of National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Additionally, the department holds membership in the College Art Association, the Southeastern College Art Conference, and other professional art organizations.
The Department of Art and Design, within the framework of the College of Arts and Sciences, has the responsibility to provide educational opportunities of high quality in the professional art disciplines. The department offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in studio art.
The M.F.A. is a professional degree in studio art with specializations available in the following areas: Ceramics, Drawing, Fibers, Graphic Design, Jewelry/Metalsmithing, Extended Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Students may also combine media areas of interest for an interdisciplinary approach. The program leading to the degree of M.F.A. has as its goal excellence in the creative production of visual art. The M.F.A. is considered the terminal degree for college or university studio teaching and/or professional work in the field. Each student’s program is developed in consultation with his or her area advisor.
Program Admission Requirements
Application deadline for fall semester: February 1.
Areas of Specialization include: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Graphic Design, Photography, Ceramics, Fibers, Jewelry/Metalsmithing, Extended Media, and Interdisciplinary Practice.
To be admitted to the program, the applicant must have:
- An undergraduate degree with a minimum average of 3.0 in art on a 4.0 scale.
- Deficiencies may require make-up work without graduate credit.
- Demonstration of a capacity to pursue graduate work in the department.
- Three (3) current letters of recommendation - preferably from former art professors and/or other individuals conversant in the visual arts.
Master of Fine Arts-The prospective candidate for the M.F.A. degree should have a bachelor’s degree with a major in art or equivalent evidence of proficiency.
How to apply:
- Please go to https://www.etsu.edu/gradschool/applynow.php and follow instructions.
- All application materials (e.g. transcripts, Proof of Degree, etc.) must be sent to the ETSU School of Graduate Studies, Box 70720, Johnson City, TN 37614.
- Submit portfolio, Artist’s Statement, Resume or Curriculum Vitae, and Letter of Intent through Slideroom at this link: etsu.slideroom.com/
Review for Admission to Candidacy
Students are not candidates for a degree until they have passed a review process. Review for admission to candidacy will take place after the student has completed a minimum of 24 credits in residence. Admission to candidacy for the degree is based on the recommendation of the prospective candidate’s graduate committee. The committee is composed of three faculty members. The committee will review the student’s work, grades, and progress and make one of the following recommendations:
- Student accepted for candidacy (no restrictions).
- Student not accepted (option to reapply only twice at nine (9) semester hour intervals).
- Student not accepted (no option to reapply).
Minimum Degree Requirements
The student’s faculty advisor may determine requirements other than those specified below after reviewing the undergraduate record and consulting with the student. To remain in good standing, a graduate student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) overall.
Master of Fine Arts, Studio-The M.F.A. program requires a minimum of 60 credits, apportioned as follows: 42 credits in graduate studio classes; 9 graduate credits in art history; 3 credits in graduate elective classes; ARTA 5950 - Methods of Research in Studio (3 credits) ; ARTA 5960 - Thesis (1-3 credits) . A project proposal or statement of intent shall be submitted to the candidate’s committee for approval at least one semester prior to beginning work on the creative thesis. The M.F.A. creative thesis includes: the presentation of an exhibition of original creative work and a supporting thesis paper. All candidates must defend their work, visual and written, in a final oral examination. All M.F.A. candidates are required to provide the Department of Art and Design with digital images of the work in the graduate exhibit prior to graduation.
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