Graduate Program
Overview
The M.F.A Program in Art Studio at UC Davis offers a unique opportunity for study across a wide range of visual arts. The focus is to hone artistic and perceptive abilities, skills, and intellectual development for individual students in their pursuit of careers as practicing artists. Students are strongly encouraged to explore whatever mediums work most honestly for their artistic expression. The Art Department has facilities for the following media: drawing, ceramic/clay sculpture, painting, photography, printmaking, video, and sculpture (we do not have a foundry). Graduate students are also given large, individual studios on campus which are located near the main art building.
The entire art studio faculty shares responsibility for the graduate program and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. The faculty represents a diversity of approaches across all disciplines. The faculty is available to all graduate students for one-on-one studio visits throughout the year and participate in all formal reviews. Graduate students also have the opportunity to work with the faculty as teaching assistants.
Requirements for M.F.A.
Accepted students spend two quarters on a conditional basis.
During the second quarter, the student presents a body of work done at UC Davis for faculty review (Art 291). If Art 291 is passed, the conditional status is removed.
In the fourth quarter, the graduate student presents a new body of work for faculty criticism and review (Art 292). Passing Art 292 indicates the student is ready to undertake the production of a comprehensive body of work.
During the final two quarters, the artist completes a body of independent artwork known as the comprehensive project. It is presented as an exhibition. If the faculty accepts the work, the M.F.A. degree is granted.
The final exhibition/comprehensive project (Art 299D) is a body of original work done instead of a written thesis. The work is required to show involvement and commitment of the highest quality. It should be of the depth and quality of a solo exhibition in a reputable commercial or public gallery or, in the case of site-specific works, of a similar professional quality in consideration of siting, process, and fabrication. The student will place this artwork in one of the galleries either on campus or in the city of Davis. This exhibition is known as the Annual M.F.A. Exhibition. It usually is scheduled in the month of June. To accompany the artwork, the student is required to present a "packet." By this we mean a folder which includes a résumé, an artist's statement, 20 slides in a slide page and a slide list.
Foreign language and art history courses are not required.
Art 299 is individual work under a specified faculty member.
Typical Course of Study: [12 units each quarter]
First Year
Fall
- Upper Division or Graduate Class (4 units) in any subject on campus
- Art 290 Graduate Seminar (4 units)
- Art 299 Individual Study (4 units)
Winter
- Art 290 Graduate Seminar (4 units)
- Art 291 Critical Evaluation (1 unit)
- Art 299 Individual Study (3 units)
- Art 299 Individual Study (4 units )
Spring
- Upper Division or Graduate Class ( 4 units) in any subject on campus
- Art 290 Graduate Seminar (4 units)
- Art 299 Individual Study ( 2 units)
- Art 299 Individual Study (2 units)
Second Year
Fall
- Art 290 Graduate Seminar (4 units)
- Art 292 Comprehensive Qualifying (1 unit)
- Art 299 Individual Study 7 units
Winter
- Art 290 Graduate Seminar (4 units)
- Art 299D Comprehensive Project (8 units)
Spring
- Art 299D Comprehensive Project (12 units)