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School of Art and Design

Art and Design, MFA

The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program offers focused study in the areas of ceramics, digital art and animation, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

The three-year MFA program challenges students to reach their highest potential as critically engaged artists. Our selective and limited enrollment ensures regular individual contact with a dedicated, diverse faculty who are committed to a sustained professional exchange with each student.

Our faculty stress intense studio practice, multidisciplinary experimentation and an awareness of the ongoing cultural discourse.

Your Degree Plan Learn by Doing Places and Spaces Admission Requirements Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Aerial view of Martin and Woodburn Halls

Gain experience in all areas of the visual arts while pursuing a focused area of emphasis in ceramics, digital art and animation, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

The three-year MFA in Art and Design major can be completed in 60 hours. The program requires 39 hours of studio art with a minimum of 15 of those hours in your area of emphasis. Nine hours of Art History are also required, along with three hours of Teaching Practicum/Professional Practice, three hours of Graduate Seminar and six hours for the Graduate Exhibition and Thesis.

Additional requirements:

  • Successful committee evaluation at the end of each semester.
  • Passing a full-faculty review at the end of the third semester.
  • Production of a graduate exhibition and written thesis.
  • Oral defense of the exhibition and thesis.
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75.

Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in one of these areas:

  • 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media

  • 3D Studio and Public Art

  • Digital Art and Animation

    The Digital Art and Animation AOE fosters creative exploration in the production of digital video, animation, installation, interactivity and sound design. You’ll hone skills in multimedia tools, video production and interactive software while gaining knowledge in core principles of interactivity, non-linear narration and interaction design.

  • Graphic Design

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ Honors College. Two programs are offered: for first- and second-year students and for third- and fourth-year students.

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Places and Spaces

Learn about all of the places and spaces you'll learn in.

Program Facility - Creative Arts Center

Canady Creative Arts Center

The Loulie, Valerie and William Canady Creative Arts center boasts 4 exhibition spaces, 5 performance spaces, 33 individual practice rooms and 50 classrooms and studios with plenty of space to create. The loading dock at the rear of the building is a wonderful open-air space with stunning acoustics.


  • It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ Morgantown Campus.

  • You will have it all here — epic traditions, quality academics and a supportive community that feels like home.
  • Visit
    Experience 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ in person and start imagining life as a Mountaineer!

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

Ready to take the next step?

Learn how to join the 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ family.

Want to know more about Art and Design at 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

Visit

​​Experiencing campus is the best way to see if 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ is the right fit. Choose from in-person and virtual options.

Visit 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission using our convenient online application.