Degree Requirements

Effective Fall 2008, the MFA program is a two and a half year program. The degree requires a minimum of 54 credit hours of course work, of which 36 must be taken in residence on the Boulder campus, with the following requirements:

·      Home studio (major area): 12 credits

·       Electives (studio and non-studio; up to 6 credits may be taken in an allied field, at the 3000 level and above): 21 credits

·        Art history and theory: 9 credits

·        Visiting Artist Seminar: 3 credits

·        Graduate Art Seminar: 3 credits

·        Thesis: 6 credits

Additional Requirements

Faculty Advisor
Upon admission, students are assigned an interim advisor in the student’s area of specialization.

Year-End Review
At the end of the second semester of full-time study, regardless of the number of credit hours completed, students will complete their Year-End Review. The purpose of the Year-End Review is to review and evaluate the student’s experience in the program and prepare the student for the Pre-Thesis Review. This review should be completed toward the end of the second but not later than the beginning of the third semester of graduate study.

Pre-Thesis Review
Students will complete their Pre-Thesis Review not later than the semester before the graduating semester. The purpose of the Pre-Thesis Review is to present the focus of the thesis work.

Exhibition/Creative Thesis
The MFA thesis defense must be completed during the three-week period that the student’s exhibition is on view in the CU Art Museum or other stipulated location.