Department of Art
The MFA degree is the recognized terminal degree in the studio arts. The MFA program is designed to refine the visual art skills of the graduate student in a particular area or areas of concentration by providing the instruction, facilities and time for the student both to develop a significant body of studio work and to expand his or her intellectual horizons in preparation for a rewarding professional career.
In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, each applicant must submit a portfolio of work, either color slides or actual paintings, drawings, etc., to the Art Department for approval. Admission portfolio should consist of work from preferred studio area(s) indicating control and capability. Remedial work may be suggested. The portfolio of slides will be retained by the department for students who are accepted and enroll into the program. Twelve undergraduate credits in art history are required for admission or must be completed in addition to the graduate program before admission to candidacy.
Basic requirements are a minimum of 60 credits in graduate courses approved by theDepartment of Art and the Graduate School. A minimum of six credits must be in the area of art history, and a minimum of 12 credits must be thesis project. The student may elect, as a program option, to take up to six credits in other related areas outside the Art Department. These courses must be departmentally approved. Students are required to complete ART 601 and ART 621. The department will accept a grade of C in one class as long as the minimum overall 3.0 GPA is maintained. Thestudent will have the opportunity to repeat the course.
Each candidate for the MFA degree must exhibit a one-person show during the last semester before the granting of the degree. A collection of slides of the exhibit must be turned in to the Art Department at this time. The thesis project consisting of original creative work by the candidate is the focal point of all the work necessary to the granting of the degree. The MFA degree is the terminal degree in the field of the visual arts. The candidate should have the time and opportunity to create a significant body of work which demonstrates a professional level of competency within a unified creative point of view. A minimum of two years of participation in the program is required for this goal. An oral examination is held concurrently with the thesis project show. Additional information is available from the Department of Art.
ART g422 World Arts 3 credits. Study of the art produced in cultures outside of the western tradition. Topics include pre-Hispanic art of Mexico, Central and South American art, and North American Indian art, Oceanic art, and the art of Africa south of the Sahara.
ART g423 Nineteenth Century Art 3 credits. History of the visual arts from the beginning of the 19th century up to the advent of Cubism.
ART g424 Twentieth Century Art 3 credits. History of the visual arts from Cubism to thepresent.
ART g425 Contemporary Art Forms 3 credits. The study of the major developments of art as an expression of contemporary society. Emphasis on art since 1950. PREREQ: ART 423 OR ART 424 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
ART g426 Seminar in Art History 3 credits. Extensive reading and discussion in Art History and aesthetics under the supervision of the instructor. May be repeated up to 6 credits.
ART g431-g432 Advanced Printmaking 3 credits. Advanced work in printmaking. Choice of medium. PREREQ: ART 331 AND ART 332.
ART g441-g442 Advanced Painting and Composition 3 credits. Special projects and experimental individual work for advanced students. PREREQ: ART 341 AND ART 342.
ART g451-g452 Advanced Metals-Jewelry 3 credits. Experimental work. Individual projects may include plastics, electroplating, electroforming, advanced fabrication, anodizing or raising techniques. PREREQ: ART 351 AND ART 352.
ART g461-g462 Advanced Weaving 3 credits. Experimental work. Individual projects may include on-loom and off-loom techniques, dyeing processes, basketry, or multilayered fabrics. PREREQ: ART 361 OR HEC 353.
ART g471-g472 Advanced Ceramics 3 credits. Individual projects may include ceramic sculpture, mosaics or experimental problems in form and techniques. PREREQ: ART 371 OR ART 372.
ART g481-g482 Advanced Sculpture 3 credits. Experimental work with an emphasis on scale and environmental problems. PREREQ: ART 381 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.
ART 597 Professional Education Development Topics. Variable credit. May be repeated. A course for practicing professionals aimed at the development and improvement of skills. May not be applied to graduate degrees. May be graded S/U.
ART 601 Independent Study in Drawing 3credits (required). Individualized course designed toaddress drawing-specific concerns: technical, material, and/or conceptual possibilities inherent tovarious drawing media. May be repeated for a total of 6credits.
ART 621 Graduate Seminar 3 credits (required). Reading and discussion of theories and practices related to the production and presentation of studio art under the supervision of the instructor. Students will research and prepare written presentations for weekly seminar discussion and evaluation.
ART 635 Research in Studio or Theory 4 credits. Investigation of technical, material, and/or aesthetic/theoretical problems in art history/studio areas under the supervision of the instructor.
ART 640 Experimental Problems in Studio 4 credits. Experimentation in technical, material, and aesthetic problems in a studio area under the supervision of the instructor.
ART 645 Studio variable credit. Studio work under the supervision of the instructor. May be repeated up to 12 credits.
ART 649 Thesis Proposal 1 credit. Summary of the objectives and goals of the thesis project prepared under supervision of the student's advisor. Concurrent with application for admission to candidacy.
ART 650 Thesis Project variable credit; 12 credits required minimum. Preparation and presentation in a one-person show of a significant body of work which demonstrates a professional level of competency within a unified creative point of view. An exhibition and slides of the works are required by the department under the supervision of the candidate's advisor. A graduate faculty orals committee will review and approve or disapprove the show and thesis proposal. May be repeated up to 16 credits. PREREQ: ART 649.
ART 699 Special Topics 1-4 credits.
Idaho State University Academic Information
Revised: May 1, 1996
URL http://www.isu.edu/academic-info/prev-isu-cat/grad96/artsci/artdept.html