Metals and Jewelry Design Master of fine arts degree
Metals and Jewelry Design
Master of fine arts degree
In this dynamic metalsmithing and jewelry design degree, you'll challenge traditional ways of thinking as you design and craft stunning works of art.
Overview
The MFA in metals and jewelry design is a professional degree for practicing artists, craftspeople, or designers who desire to leave a lasting impression on their fields through a devotion to their work and the high standards of discipline and artistic ideals. By immersing yourself in soldering, fabrication, stone setting, silversmithing, forging, and casting, this metalsmithing and jewelry design degree will develop your knowledge and deepen your experience working with different theories and materials while you are challenged to think unconventionally in order to redefine industry standards.
The MFA in metals and jewelry design is generally a two-year, full-time program that involves the presentation of a thesis, which includes written documentation and a formal exhibition of a body of work.
The program provides students with broad exposure to metal working techniques, expands knowledge of applied design, strengthens perceptual and philosophical concepts, and develops an individual mode of expression. This sequence leads to a master’s thesis, inaugurated by the student and overseen by the faculty. The program is structured on the basis of individual needs, interests, and background preparation, as may be determined through faculty counseling.
Studio Residency program
The School for American Crafts offers a Studio Residency program for students in ceramics, furniture design, glass and metals and jewelry design. Residence positions are limited and are awarded after the review of all applicants’ portfolios, transcripts, and references. An interview is required. Accepted residents are required to register for one independent study credit during each semester of residence.
Accepted residents are expected to be present in their assigned studio during class hours and to contribute up to 10 hours of work per week in the main studio. These work hours are coordinated and overseen by the faculty in the resident's discipline. In exchange, the school will provide workspace, access to facilities, and supportive instruction. The resident is invited to participate in the full range of studio activities.
Participants may be those seeking additional studio experience prior to undergraduate or graduate study, early career professionals, or teachers on leave who wish to work again in an academic studio environment. The faculty in each discipline will make decisions concerning appropriate candidates.
Inquiries should be made to the Studio Residency Program, School for American Crafts, College of Art and Design, Rochester Institute of Technology, 73 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5603.
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Dive into graduate academics and research to expand your future career opportunities.
Industries
Typical Job Titles
| Accessory Designer | Accessory Jewelry Designer |
| Apprentice/Employee for Artist or Master Craftsperson | Art Critic |
| Blacksmith | Corporate Jewelry Designer |
| Custom Jewelry Designer | Design Consultant |
| Design Corporate Manager | Entrepreneur |
| Faculty/Instructor | Fine Jeweler |
| Goldsmith | Jewelry Design Entrepreneur |
| Jewelry Design Professor | Jewelry Design Repairperson |
| Jewelry Industry Supervisor | Jewelry Instructor |
| Jewelry Salesperson | Jewelry Technician |
| Metalsmith | Product Designer |
| Professional Artist | Self-employed Artist, Artisan and/or Designer |
| Silversmith | Studio Jewelry Artist |
| Studio Fine Artist | Studio Technicians |
| Visiting Artist |
Featured Work
History-inspired Jewelry
Hairuo Ding
"Shan-hai Ching is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Versions of the text may have existed since as early as the fourth century BC, but the present form was...
Exploring Plastic Through Art
Yajing Yan
The thesis work of Yajing Yan ’20 MFA (Metals and Jewelry Design) explores plastic and the way it interacts with the body.
Storytelling Through Art
Drishti Bhandari
“Lost in Transit” is the thesis work of Drishti Bhandari ’20 MFA (Metals and Jewelry Design). It focuses on the sense of loss we experience when our heritage and stories are passed down.
Featured Profiles
Public Sculpture
Juan Carlos Caballero-Perez, professor of Metals and Jewelry Design, created a near-12-foot sculpture for the Village of Fairport, N.Y.’s Kennelly Park, outside the public library. It was the...
Designing Sports Trophies
While at RIT, Kibaek Sung '19 MFA completed a co-op at Tiffany & Co., where he helped make trophies for major U.S. sports leagues, including the NBA and NFL.
Curriculum for Metals and Jewelry Design MFA
Metals and Jewelry Design, MFA degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CMTJ-601 |
Metals and Jewelry Design Graduate Studio
This course covers the advanced aesthetics and techniques in metals and culminating in the Master’s of Fine Arts Thesis. The course is structured on the individual student’s needs, interests and background preparation as they may be determined through faculty counseling. There will be a strengthening of metals techniques, design fundamentals and encouragement of personal expression. The student will be encouraged to evaluate new techniques, materials and concepts. This course is repeatable and leads to the master’s thesis, proposed by the student and approved by the faculty. Lab fee is required. (This class is restricted to students in the METAL-MFA program.) Studio 12 (Fall, Spring).
|
12 |
| STAR-701 |
Technology in the Studio
This course will introduce a contemporary technology used by the course instructor in their studio practice. Students will be encouraged to investigate how this technology may be applied in their making process. The subjects offered in the course will vary according to the faculty teaching the class. The course can be taken multiple times with faculty permission. Studio 6 (Fall Or Spring).
|
3 |
| STAR-702 |
Studio Art Research
This course will prepare graduate students for the written component of the thesis. Course content will cover defining research in the arts, arts based research, research through practice, critical judgment, writing strategically and critically for reflective thinking and scholarly dissemination. At the completion of this course students will be able to write a thesis proposal addressing a research question or direction along with objectives, context, and methods. (Prerequisites: STAR-701 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
|
3 |
| STAR-714 |
Ideation and Series
Creative flow, having an endless stream of ideas, alternatives, and choices for solutions, helps creative work evolve and reach more advanced levels. In this course students develop appropriate skills and strategies to generate ideas and develop them effectively into a cohesive body of work. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in the FNAS-MFA or GLASS-MFA
or METAL-MFA or CCER-MFA or WOOD-MFA programs.) Studio 6 (Fall).
|
3 |
Open Electives |
6 | |
Professional Elective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CMTJ-601 |
Metals and Jewelry Design Graduate Studio
This course covers the advanced aesthetics and techniques in metals and culminating in the Master’s of Fine Arts Thesis. The course is structured on the individual student’s needs, interests and background preparation as they may be determined through faculty counseling. There will be a strengthening of metals techniques, design fundamentals and encouragement of personal expression. The student will be encouraged to evaluate new techniques, materials and concepts. This course is repeatable and leads to the master’s thesis, proposed by the student and approved by the faculty. Lab fee is required. (This class is restricted to students in the METAL-MFA program.) Studio 12 (Fall, Spring).
|
12 |
| STAR-706 |
Business Practices for Studio Artists
This class is devoted to business issues that artists must address including portfolio management, pricing and marketing strategies, and public relations for pursuit of a professional career as studio artists. Financial and communication skills are highlighted as are networking skills for the advancement of an artist’s work. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in the FNAS-MFA or GLASS-MFA
or METAL-MFA or CCER-MFA or WOOD-MFA programs.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
|
3 |
| STAR-718 |
Research Methods and Publication
Students will conduct research appropriate for individual thesis directions, incorporate that research into writing, analyze and review their thesis body of work then produce and publish their written thesis document. (Prerequisites: STAR-702 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
|
3 |
| STAR-790 |
Research and Thesis
This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved proposal while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. Students are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester. (Prerequisites: STAR-702 or equivalent course.) Thesis (Fall).
|
3 |
| STAR-890 |
Thesis
For this final thesis course students continue working with their committee to evaluate work produced, and select the work to be exhibited. In addition, students will work with gallery coordinators and curators to install and exhibit their final body of work. Students are expected to defend their work to the committee through an oral defense and a written document. (Prerequisite: STAR-790 or equivalent course.) Thesis (Spring).
|
6 |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 60 |
|
Admission Requirements
To be considered for the MFA program in metals and jewelry design, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete a graduate application.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university or college in a field of arts, sciences, or education.
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work. Undergraduate degrees should include 50 semester hours in studio courses.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. A minimum TOEFL score of 80 (internet-based) is required. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required. The English language test score requirement is waived for native speakers of English or for those submitting transcripts from degrees earned at American institutions.
- Submit a portfolio. (Refer to Graduate Portfolio Requirements for more information.)
Learn about admissions, cost, and financial aid
Latest News
-
January 18, 2021
![An archived photo of Claudia Fava at RIT.]()
Alumna rises through ranks of Tiffany & Co.
Claudia (Owusu-Sampah) Fava ’14 MFA (Metals and Jewelry Design) the eminent jewelry retailer's stone-setting department.
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April 7, 2020
![A photographic sculpture of landscapes.]()
Thesis, capstone exhibitions move online
The College of Art and Design's spring exhibitions are going virtual — they can be experienced on Instagram and a website.
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February 14, 2020
![Kibaek Sung metalsmithing a silver platter.]()
Co-op stories: Tiffany & Co.
Instead of having breakfast at Tiffany’s, Kibaek Sung ’19 MFA (metals and jewelry design) got to work with the chefs in the jewelry-crafting kitchen during his co-op with the world-renowned luxury jewelry company.
