MFA Application Requirements

Application Deadline

The final submission date for all application materials and teaching assistantship applications is
Feb 1 for the Fall Semester.

The Department of Art at the New Mexico State University offers MFA in Studio Art and an MFA in Art History. Graduate students at the Department of Art are encouraged to work across disciplines and cultivate their personal visions within the broad context of Twenty-First Century art and art history. MFA students maintain on-campus studios and receive the mentorship and support of the studio art and art history faculty. The department supports work in and across the following areas: ceramics, graphic design and media arts, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The MA in art history can concentrate on the periods from the Medieval to Contemporary including non‐western studies in the arts of the Americas and China. The student’s experience is also enriched through the visiting artists and scholars lectures and studio visits, University Art Gallery programming and interdisciplinary graduate seminars.

Graduation day for MFA and MA students
Grads Leslie Moody class exhibition
Grad Studio Ezekiel Marty and Motoko Furuhashi critique work

Facilities

Our 51,000 sq. ft. building provides each graduate student a private studio with a sink, ventilation, and lots of natural light through large windows.

We are dedicated to providing our students with a variety of mixed media to explore innovative concepts, theories, material studies, and new technologies. Students have access to each of our well equipped studios, including: Ceramics, Sculpture, Metals, Graphic Design, Photography, Painting, Drawing, specialized fabrication spaces and exhibition spaces.

Advantages to Consider

Due to the small size of our program, our MFA students receive higher levels of teaching experience than in most programs. Many of our Teaching Assistantships assign students as instructors-of-record for lower-level studio classes, where they have the opportunity to shape and design curriculum with the help of a faculty mentor. Additional pedagogical training to graduate students is offered through NMSU’s innovative and award-winning Teaching Academy.

Close-knit interdisciplinary MFA community creates tight bonds between all the graduate students and faculty across all media areas. Students benefit from having lots of contact hours with faculty.

 

Graduate Funding

Merit-based Teaching Assistantship / Graduate Assistantship funding is available. Full TA/GA (20-hours a week) will receive over $19,000 a year. NMSU offers out-of-state tuition waiver for the entire duration of the program, as long as you have at least a half-time assistantship. All our current grads have funding. Additional scholarships, tuition reimbursement and awards are also available.

 

Ceramic Graduate student TA

 

MFA Application Requirements

Admission to the Master of Fine Arts program in studio art is based on an accredited BA, BS, or BFA degree (or equivalent) with a major in art, including at least 45 credits in studio art courses and 15 credits in art history. An average GPA of 3.0 is required for admission. Any deficiencies must be corrected by undergraduate course work to be completed before advancement to candidacy. Exceptions to these requirements will be considered by the graduate committee. Students with an earned MA may be considered with the consent of the faculty, for advancement to candidacy for the MFA degree upon completion of one semester or 9 credits in residence at NMSU. The number of transferable credits from a previous graduate program will be determined by the department head and the graduate advisor before consideration for candidacy.

Master of Fine Arts in studio art degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of academic work, usually completed in three years. Of those 60 credits, 9 must be taken in art history, 6 in non-art courses numbered 450 or above, 6 in thesis work, 3 in graduate seminar: art theory, criticism, historiography and 12 credits in ART 596 Graduate Seminar. In order to remain in good standing in the MFA program and maintain the Graduate Assistantship award, a student must maintain an average GPA of 3.0.
 
At the end of the first two semesters, each graduate student’s creative work will be reviewed by the assembled faculty. Participation in semester reviews is required for successful completion of graduate studio courses. Candidacy occurs during the third semester of study in residency. Candidacy consists of a formal review of the student’s work by the assembled graduate faculty. The studio thesis will culminate in an exhibition of the candidate’s creative work and a written thesis statement. A successful oral examination and defense of the thesis and exhibition is required for graduation.

 

All applicants for admission to the MFA program in studio art must submitted through the NMSU Graduate School online application site:

  • A pdf portfolio of 20 images
  • An image list that identifies each piece by title, date, size, and media.
  • A written statement of intent, including scholarly and professional goals and the applicant’s interest in studying at NMSU
  • Letters of recommendation from three qualified people of the applicant’s choice
  • Official undergraduate transcripts

 

Admission to the MFA program in studio art will be decided upon consideration of all materials. The majority of teaching assistantships and studio spaces are awarded in the fall. Psychometric test scores are not required.