Program overview
The MFA program in fine arts studio offers intensive study in painting, printmaking, sculpture, new forms, and related media, leading to mastery in the fine arts field on a professional level. Students will explore advanced techniques in painting, sculpture, new forms, and nontoxic printmaking. These may be pursued singly and combined, or brought together with nontraditional media to create new forms. Faculty guidance focuses upon research strategies that support sequential studio production, leading to individual solutions.
Critical discussion is developed from the traditions of fine art and contemporary directions in our culture. These contemporary and historical concepts stimulate and provoke the development of an individual approach to expression. Along with engaging in critical dialogues, students progress toward the production of a body of work and a report for the master’s thesis.
Gallery r, an art gallery in downtown Rochester operated by School of Art students, helps solidify the learning experience by bringing the work of students to the greater Rochester community.
Curriculum
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Fine arts studio, MFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 2039-715 | Thinking About Making | 3 |
| 2021-872 | Business Practices | 3 |
| 2037-790 | Forms of Inquiry | 2 |
| 2021-780 | Fine Art Studio Graduate I: Painting, Printmaking Sculpture, or New Forms | 18 |
| 2021-890 | Fine Art Studio Thesis | 3 |
| Studio/Open Electives | 12 | |
| Humanities | 8 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fine Art Studio Graduate II: Painting, Printmaking Sculpture, or New Forms | 12 | |
| 2021-890 | Fine Art Studio Thesis | 11 |
| Studio/Open Electives | 18 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 90 | |
Fine arts studio, MFA degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Fine Art Studio Major Courses | 15 | |
| ARTH-601 | Forms of Inquiry | 3 |
| Art History Course | 3 | |
| FNAS-702 | Fine Art Research | 3 |
| ARTH-605 | Thinking About Making | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fine Art Studio Major Courses | 9 | |
| FNAS-606 | Business Practices | 3 |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| FNAS-890 | Research and Thesis | 10 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 61 | |