DEPARTMENT OF ART

[Course Descriptions]

MASTER OF FINE ARTS

This degree is offered to provide graduate study in depth for the professional artist and to train highly skilled artists for teaching in junior and senior colleges. The emphasis is in one studio area to allow each student to develop concepts and a high level of skill within that area of specialization. A student selects an area of specialization from Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture or Ceramics. The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree in the studio area.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Master of Fine Arts program offered by the Department of Art at Sam Houston State University must first meet the basic requirements of Graduate Studies as specified in the ADMISSION section of this catalogue. Art Department Admission requirements are as follows:

1. A bachelor's degree which includes 60 semester hours of Art, of which at least 9 semester hours are in the History of Art, and at least 18 hours in an area of specialization
2. A GPA of 3.0 in Art courses
3. In addition, the student must submit:
   1. 20 slides of art-work for the graduate review committee.
   2. An artist's statement about the work.
   3. 3 recent letters of recommendation.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

MFA Graduate Committee. A Master of Fine Arts Graduate Committee is composed of three members of the Art graduate faculty and is selected/appointed before the student completes 12 hours. The student, in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, selects the chair of his/her committee whose primary teaching assignment is in the student's studio area of specialization. The Graduate Committee chair selects the second member, and the departmental chair appoints the third.

Transfer Credit. Up to 18 hours of graduate credit may be transferred toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. However, the MFA Graduate Committee reserves the right to refuse graduate credit from another institution or from Sam Houston for any courses not done specifically under the direction of the MFA Graduate Committee.

Period of Study Required. A minimum of 9 hours per semester in two long semesters must be completed in residence. The Master of Fine Arts degree requires a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained. Requirements for the degree must be completed within a period of six years.

Admittance to Candidacy. A comprehensive examination for admittance to candidacy must be taken after the student has completed between 24 and 36 hours of work. The examination consists of two parts: written and a review/critique of work. The examination is given by the graduate committee. After passing this examination, the student is admitted to candidacy. The examination may be taken three times.

Thesis Exhibition. A thesis exhibition and a public talk is required. It will consist of a formal exhibition of the student's creative work accompanied by an illustrated catalog and a public talk. The catalog must comply with specific size requirements which are available in the Department of Art office or from the graduate advisor. Reproductions of acceptable quality of the student's creative exhibition must be included in the student's catalog. The student must also pass an oral examination testing general knowledge of art concepts and traditions that relate to his/her thesis work. The oral examination will be conducted by the student's graduate committee and selected members of the Art faculty and the Dean's representative. After the oral examination has been passed and the thesis exhibition, talk and catalog have been approved by the student's graduate committee, the student is recommended for the degree of Master of Fine Arts. Donated works from the student's creative exhibition will be retained permanently by the University.

MASTER OF ARTS

This degree is offered to expand studio competence and experience, qualifying an individual for professional advancement and teaching at the junior and community college level. This is a 36 hour degree with thirty to 33 hours in studio art (Ceramics, Drawing, Jewelry, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture) and 3 to 6 hours in art history.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Master of Arts program in studio art at Sam Houston State University must meet all of the general requirements for admission to Graduate Studies. Art Department Admission requirements are as follows:

1. A bachelor's degree with a minimum of 48 hours of art, including 9 hours of art history and 12 hours in the chosen studio area of specialization
2. Show ability in this area by:
   1. submitting 20 slides of art work to the graduate review committee.
   2. 3 recent letters of recommendation.
   3. an artist's statement.
3. A GPA of 3.0 in art courses

Specific Requirements

The requirements for the Master of Arts in Studio Art are listed below.

1. Eighteen semester credit hours in one area of specialization (Ceramics, Drawing, Jewelry, Painting, Printmaking, or Sculpture)
2. Twelve semester credit hours in studio areas listed above other than in the area of specialization
3. Three semester credit hours of graduate art history
4. Three semester credit hours in either studio art or art history
5. A written comprehensive examination and an oral review/critique are held prior to the semester of graduation.
6. In partial fulfillment of degree requirements, an exhibition of the student's work is held during the semester of graduation.

MA Graduate Committee. A Master of Arts Graduate Committee is composed of three members of the Art graduate faculty and is selected/appointed during the first semester of enrollment. The student, in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, selects the chair of his/her committee whose primary teaching assignment is in the student's studio area of specialization. The Graduate Committee chair selects the second member, and the departmental chair appoints the third.

Transfer Credit. Up to 9 hours of graduate credit may be transferred toward the Master of Arts degree. However, the MA Graduate Committee reserves the right to refuse graduate credit from another institution or from Sam Houston for any courses not done specifically under the direction of the MA Graduate Committee.

Period of Study Required. Twenty-seven credit hours of course work must be completed in residence. Requirements for the degree must be completed within a period of 6 years.

GRADUATE COURSES

ART COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ART 562 GRADUATE PROBLEMS (SEMINAR). Directed individual problems in Studio Art or Art History. Special permission of the instructor and the Department Chair. May be repeated for credit. Credit 1-6.

ART 564 GRADUATE STUDIO IN PAINTING. This course consists of directed studies in Painting. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: 9 semester hours of Painting. Credit 3.

ART 566 GRADUATE STUDIO IN PRINTMAKING. Concentrated and advanced work in Printmaking. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: ART 492 or equivalent. Credit 3.

ART 567 GRADUATE STUDIO IN SCULPTURE. Concentrated and advanced work in Sculpture. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: ART 482 or equivalent. Credit 3.

ART 570 GRADUATE STUDIO IN DRAWING. Concentrated and advanced work in Drawing. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: 9 semester hours in Drawing. Credit 3.

ART 572 ART THEORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY. Historical and philosophical inquiry into Contemporary Art. Prerequisite: 9 semester hours of Art History. Credit 3.

ART 575 SEMINAR IN THE HISTORY OF ART. Research with independent study of a specific phase of Art History. Topic to be announced prior to registration. Prerequisite: ART 574 or equivalent. Credit 3.

ART 576 GRADUATE STUDIO IN CERAMICS. Concentrated and advanced work in Ceramics. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: ART 480 or equivalent. Credit 3.

ART 698 THESIS. A suitable studio problem is selected only after the student is admitted to candidacy. Credit 3.

ART 699 THESIS. See Thesis Exhibition. (The student must be registered in ART 699 the semester in which he/she receives the Master of Fine Arts degree.) Credit 3.