Plan Description
The UNLV MFA degree is a three-year, research oriented and studio based program. It provides each student with studio space and a tutorial system that assures close contact with faculty members and peers, the latter implemented through visiting artist program that exposes new students to an experience-rich environment to help guide them in their exploration to establish and articulate their creative and productive activities. Graduate assistantships are available to defray expenses, and in addition, the city of Las Vegas provides a unique visual, architectural, and cultural setting that many students find to be inspiring.
The UNLV Art Department focuses on various areas of discipline including Drawing and Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography and Mixed-Media. While these areas are the department’s primary focus, graduate students are encouraged to investigate and research any media discipline.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
A student working toward the M.F.A. – Art may select a major in ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, or graphic design. Applicants for the program leading to this degree must hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (or an equivalent degree) from an accredited university.
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must submit for approval 20 slides of their work, a statement of intent, a resumé, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. These materials should be sent directly to the Department of Art. The application for admission, request for graduate assistantship, and an additional set of original transcripts should be sent directly to the Graduate College.
To enter the program, the student should have a baccalaureate in the field in which he or she expects to major and should have completed at least 60 hours in art and art history as a requirement for that degree. A student with less than 60 hours must enroll in undergraduate courses until this requirement is met.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s Track
Total Credits Required: 60
Course Requirements
Studio Course – Credits: 6
ART 721 - Graduate Faculty Studio
Seminar Course – Credits: 6
ART 700 - Seminar in Studio Practices
Art History or Theory Courses – Credits: 6
ART 677 - Art Since 1945
ART 737 - Theory and Criticism
Theory or Directed Readings Courses – Credits: 3
Complete 3 credits from the following list of courses:
ART 737 - Theory and Criticism
ART 747 - Directed Readings
Additional Courses – Credits: 36
Complete 36 credits from the following list of courses or other advisor-approved courses.
ART 710 - Graduate Studio
ART 720 - Graduate Projects
Graduate Exhibition – Credits: 3
ART 777 - Graduate Exhibition
Degree Requirements
- Sixty credit hours are required to complete the degree. Approximately six regular semesters are necessary to cover requirements and prepare for the final exhibition. The M.F.A. candidate must be a full-time student (nine credits per semester).
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- After completing three semesters, or thirty credit hours, in the M.F.A. program, the candidate’s work must be submitted to a committee for evaluation as a midway exhibition. The committee determines if the student’s progress meets the standards required for advancement to candidacy. ART 720 should only be taken after the student has completed their midway exhibition.
- The M.F.A. exhibition of the student’s work must have the approval of the student’s committee. After advancement to candidacy, students must complete a comprehensive project consisting of an exhibition of a representative body of creative work and a statement (2,000-word minimum) regarding the intent and underlying conceptualization. The final evaluation is oral and is prepared and conducted by the student’s advisory committee during the student’s exhibition.
- Two copies of a sheet of 35mm slides of work in the exhibition, along with two copies of the 2,000 word minimum statement, must be presented to the department during the exhibition for permanent record.
Graduation Requirements
See Plan Graduation Requirements below.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-M.A. Track
Total Credits Required: 45
Course Requirements
Studio Course – Credits: 6
ART 721 - Graduate Faculty Studio
Seminar Course – Credits: 6
ART 700 - Seminar in Studio Practices
Art History or Theory Courses – Credits: 6
ART 677 - Art Since 1945
ART 737 - Theory and Criticism
Theory or Directed Readings Courses – Credits: 3
Complete 3 credits from the following list of courses:
ART 737 - Theory and Criticism
ART 747 - Directed Readings
Additional Courses – Credits: 21
Complete 21 credits from the following list of courses or other advisor-approved courses.
ART 710 - Graduate Studio
ART 720 - Graduate Projects
Graduate Exhibition – Credits: 3
ART 777 - Graduate Exhibition
Degree Requirements
- Forty-five credit hours are required to complete the degree. Approximately six regular semesters are necessary to cover requirements and prepare for the final exhibition. The M.F.A. candidate must be a full-time student (nine credits per semester).
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize an advisory committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- After completing approximately three semesters in the M.F.A. program, the candidate’s work must be submitted to a committee for evaluation as a midway exhibition. The committee determines if the student’s progress meets the standards required for advancement to candidacy. ART 720 should only be taken after the student has completed their midway exhibition.
- The M.F.A. exhibition of the student’s work must have the approval of the student’s committee. After advancement to candidacy, students must complete a comprehensive project consisting of an exhibition of a representative body of creative work and a statement (2,000-word minimum) regarding the intent and underlying conceptualization. The final evaluation is oral and is prepared and conducted by the student’s advisory committee during the student’s exhibition.
- Two copies of a sheet of 35mm slides of work in the exhibition, along with two copies of the 2,000 word minimum statement, must be presented to the department during the exhibition for permanent record.
Graduation Requirements
See Plan Graduation Requirements below.
Plan Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- The student must submit and successfully defend his/her M.F.A. exhibition by the posted deadline. The exhibit must be advertised and is open to the public.