MFA IN VISUAL ART
NON MEDIA SPECIFIC 3 YEAR PROGRAM
Faculty: John Divola, Jill Giegerich, Jim Isermann, Brandon Lattu, Charles Long, Erika Suderburg, Melissa Thorne and Amir Zaki.
2009 MFA Poster
The core of the program is independent creative work done in consultation with faculty. MFA students can work in any medium. UCR has facilities for photography, painting, video, digital media and sculpture. Individual graduate studios are provided.
The MFA is a Plan I (thesis) master's degree program, requiring 72 units in graduate or approved upper-division undergraduate courses that must be completed with at least a letter grade of "B" or "Satisfactory."
Required courses include 48 units in graduate courses in theory and criticism, as well as individual projects and tutorials:
- Three courses of Art 285, Graduate Critique
- Art 230, Contemporary Critical Issues
- Art 240, Critical Theory
- Art 299, Research for Thesis
- Art History Graduate Seminar
- Five courses of Art 290, Individual Tutorial
Of the remaining 24 units in elective courses, at least one additional course must be in Art History or Media and Culture Studies, and at least two additional courses must be taken from a department other than art. These courses may be graduate or undergraduate courses.
MFA students will receive a degree in Visual Art. The course of study is not characterized by medium.
The thesis requirement is met by the student's MFA thesis exhibition, accompanied by a written thesis on the work exhibited. A graduate thesis committee reviews the thesis. The committee is composed of three faculty members, at least two from the Department of Art. The third faculty member may be from another department.
Teaching requirement: None; however, students are given opportunities to teach and are encouraged to do so.
Foreign language requirement: None
Normative time to degree: Three years.
Students can petition in the Spring quarter of their first year to complete the program in 2 years. This petition must be approved by the Art Departments Graduate Advisor, department Chair, and students’ thesis advisor.
Acceptance into the MFA program in the Department of Art is predicated on acceptance by the Graduate Division. All materials must be received by the deadlines and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The deadlines for receipt of application materials are as follows:
NOTE: GRE scores are NOT required for application to the Department of Art; Letters of Recommendation are required by Graduate Admissions.
We encourage you to complete the Preliminary Information Form. The Preliminary Information goes only to the Art Department and allows us to consider your interests and qualifications before we receive the official Graduate Division application (which usually takes longer to complete).
APPLICANTS MUST APPLY TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION AND UPLOAD SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL DIRECTLY TO THE ONLINE APPLICATION. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS UPLOADING YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF ART.
SEE BELOW FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
- What is the application deadline?
- Although there is no official deadline, applications must be received by January 5th in order to be considered for financial support from the Graduate Division.
- The admissions committee will make its decisions about whom to accept in January. If the application comes in too late for that process, or is not complete by that time, chances of getting accepted and of being offered financial support are significantly lower.
- Where can the on-line application be found?
- How does the on-line application work?
- The new on-line application for the Graduate Division allows students to upload a majority of the required supplemental data requested below.
- Students will be able to electronically request letters of recommendations from Professors and the Professors can submit the letters directly to the on-line system.
- Students can upload their portfolio, CV, Artist Statement, and Links to videos.
- Students will be able to review their application to see what supplemental data has been received by the Art Department.
- The only data that cannot be uploaded directly are “Official Transcripts.” Official Transcripts should be mailed directly to the Art Department (See # 4 below for the mailing address).
- What supplemental materials are required?
- GRE scores are NOT required for the MFA Program
- Transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended
- CV - Curriculum Vitae
- Should include students References
- Portfolio Must be in pdf Format and NO LARGER THAN 20MB
- Only ONE pdf presentation may be uploaded onto the on-line application
- The 20 MB file should include no more than 20 images
- These files can be made using Photoshop PDF presentation function
- If your portfolio includes "video" please upload your video to You-Tube and leave a link on the on-line application
- If you are unable to upload your portfolio or leave your You-Tube link please contact the Graduate Coordinator (See # 12)
- Slide List
- Your slide list should correspond to each image in the pdf which includes: title, date, dimensions and medium.
- Short Artist Statement
- Provide additional explanatory information that pertains to your work. This is a separate statement from your ‘Statement of Purpose.’
- A statement of purpose
- Your Statement of Purpose should provide a clear and detailed description of your academic interests and career objectives. It should include some description of what you have studied so far, and of any relevant work experiences. We would like to know what you expect your area(s) of specialization within the field to be, and what preparation you have had so far in these areas; if there are particular faculty or resources that attract you to study at UC Riverside.
- Three letters of recommendation
- The application fee ($80 for domestic applicants; $100 for foreign applications)
- This fee can ONLY be paid with a credit card
- Students who do not have access to credit cards may contact the Graduate Admissions Office for check or money order payment options. 951-827-3313
- Where should the application materials be sent? The electronic forms need to be submitted online. Any supplemental materials that were not uploaded into the electronic application should all be sent to the same location, namely
UC Riverside
The Department of Art
Graduate Portfolio Committee
900 University Avenue
233A Arts Building
Riverside, CA 92521
- How much is Tuition at UC Riverside? Tuition for Academic Year 08-09 is as follows:
- Domestic California-Residents Tuition and Fees Per Quarter: $3,714.18
- Domestic Non-California Residents Tuition and Fees Per Quarter: $8,726.18
- Foreign Exchange Students Tuition and Fees Per Quarter: $8,726.18
- Domestic California-Residents Tuition and Fees Per Academic Year: $11,142.50
- Domestic Non-California Residents Tuition and Fees Per Academic Year: $26,178.50
- Foreign Exchange Students Tuition and Fees Per Academic Year: $26,178.50
- Is there anything additional needed besides the supplemental materials listed in Question # 3 above that is required for foreign applicants?
- Yes, foreign students need to take the TOEFL and submit their scores.
- In addition foreign students must submit a Financial Verification form and read the Graduate Divisions Visa Procedures.
- Who should I contact if I have more questions?
- Tina Mendoza the Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Art can answer your questions. She can be reached via email at: tina.mendoza@ucr.edu or telephone: 951-827-7878
Warning for Foreign Applicants
The Graduate Division allows limited funding to the Art Department pertaining to international students, and the department is not able to make attractive financial aid packages. Please note that the MFA program in Visual Arts is a three (3) year program and students that go beyond the normative time will have to pay for tuition and fees on their own behalf. If an international student is accepted into the program they along with the other domestic students within the program are required to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA. If your GPA falls below this minimum the student runs the risk of losing their funding and having to pay for tuition and fees. Please note that tuition and fees per quarter approximate around: $8,726.18; this amount does not include cost of living expenses. Also, remember that you must fill out the Financial Verification form to provide evidence that you have adequate monies in order to be admitted.
See more Graduate Program details in the catalog.
Prospective Graduate Tour Schedule for Fall 2010 Prospective Students
Date of Tours Given By
October: 27 Divola
November: 4 and 18 Isermann
December: 3 Lattu
January: 11 and 13 Suderburg (Tours will start at 1pm)
February: 9 and 16 Thorne
March: 9 and April 1 Long
April: TBA Giegerich
Zaki will take all accepted students from Feb – June.
Any other prospective students and inquiries will go to assigned faculty
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All tours will begin at 11am unless you are contacted by the Faculty member of a change. The schedule for tour dates are as followed:
- 11:00am: Students will meet with the faculty member in the Arts Building, Room 233. Students will receive a tour of the Art Building/Facility
- Noon: Students will have lunch with (2) current MFA students
- 1:00pm: Students will be given a tour of the MFA studios
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To Sign Up For Tours Please Send Email To: tina.mendoza@ucr.edu with your Name and Date of Tour you would like to attend