The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program prepares you to be an effective and engaged artist in a world increasingly in need of independent thinking, consequential debate, creative vision, and responsible action.

We provide artists who work in any media, format, and context the skills and knowledge necessary to lead consequential lives in the arts. During two years of intensive study and sustained work, you will be challenged to clarify your core values and inspired to make works that embody those values in public, where they start conversations, influence others, and stimulate meaningful change.

Program Highlights
  • Individual studios in the Art and Music Building dedicated to creation and collaboration between artists
  • One-on-one studio meetings with internationally recognized artists, critics, and curators
  • Two-track program that links your work as a artist to the world in which it takes shape, with seminars focused on arts organization dynamics, community engagement and development, curatorial practices and museum studies
  • Use of the state-of-art ceramics facilities at Scripps College
  • Access to the faculties and resources from the highly ranked institutions of the Claremont Colleges, including Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps
  • Collaboration with graduate students in the Center for Business & Management of the Arts as well as dual-degree options
  • Proximity to the museums, galleries, and events in Los Angeles
  • A substantial number of Teaching Assistantship (TA) positions that allow students to gain hands-on teaching experience

Program At a Glance

UNITS
60 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME*
2 years

*This estimate assumes full-time registration and pursuit of the degree. Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring

DEPARTMENT
Art

DEGREE AWARDED
Master of Fine Arts

Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Our Visiting Artist Lecture Series exposes you to professionals and practitioners with deep experience and insight. Visiting artists help mentor students, foster innovative projects, and promote intercollegiate collaboration. The lectures are free and open to the public.

Learn More

 

Curriculum

60 Required Units Include:

  • 24 units of studio art
  • 16 units of graduate seminars
  • 6 units of graduate practicums
  • 8 units in one of two tracks: Arts Management or Community Engagement/Curatorial & Museum Studies
  • 6 units of Electives or Additional Studio Art

MFA Project

  • Advancement Paper: In your third semester, you will write an advancement paper that clarifies what it is you do as artist. Your faculty committee will review it.
  • Advancement Meeting: Held in your studio for one hour with your committee members to help focus your ideas and the development of your work in preparation for your MFA exhibition.
  • MFA Exhibition: The culmination of your time in the studio, in which you give a public exhibition of your art work.

 

Sample Curriculum

First Year
Semester Courses Units
Fall Studio Art (8 units), Graduate Seminar (4 units), Spatial Engagement Practicum (3 units) 15
Spring Studio Art (9 units), Graduate Seminar (4 units), Electives or Additional Studio Art (2 units) 15
Second Year
Semester Courses Units
Fall Studio Art (5 units), Graduate Seminar (4 units), Written/Video Statement Practicum (2 units), Track 1 or 2 Seminar (4 units) 15
Spring Studio Art (5 units), Graduate Seminar (4 units), Track 1 or 2 Seminar or Additional Studio Art (4 units), Written/Video Statement Seminar (2 units) 15

Faculty & Research

  • David Pagel profile image

    David Pagel

    Professor of Art Theory and History
    Roland Reiss Endowed Chair in Art
    Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

    Research Interests

    Art, Art media, Painting, Contemporary Art, Art Criticism, Museums and Creativity

  • Rachel Lachowicz profile image

    Rachel Lachowicz

    Professor of Studio Art
    Chair, Art Department (Fall 2022)

    Research Interests

    Conceptual practices in feminism, materiality, and social politics

  • David Amico profile image

    David Amico

    Professor of Art
    Chair, Art Department

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

  • Carmine Iannaccone profile image

    Carmine Iannaccone

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting, Sculpture

  • Julian Hoeber profile image

    Julian Hoeber

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Sculpture, Installation

  • Iva Gueorguieva profile image

    Iva Gueorguieva

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

  • Michael Reafsnyder profile image

    Michael Reafsnyder

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

  • Jasmine Baetz profile image

    Jasmine Baetz

    Lincoln Visiting Professor in Ceramics

    Research Interests

    Sculpture, Public Art, Historical Memory, Feminist Methodologies

  • Amy Santoferraro profile image

    Amy Santoferraro

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Ceramics

  • Heidi Schwegler profile image

    Heidi Schwegler

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Sculpture

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

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Jill Steggall

Assistant Director of Admissions
T: 909-607-1186
E: jill.steggall2@cgu.edu