MFA-ARTD
Version 3
Will Require Approval of CHE
MASTER OF FINE ARTS in ART and DESIGN
MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN STUDIO ART
Admission Requirements. All applicants to the Master of Fine Arts program must
submit a digital portfolio representing the applicant’s studio artwork in the intended
area(s) of concentration.
Formatted: Not Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Strikethrough
The M.F.A. program at Winthrop University develops and
nurtures the artist’s voice. Winthrop’s Department of Fine Arts
engages artists who can navigate ideas of the contemporary
world. The M.F.A. in Studio Art program demands focused
research in traditional, interdisciplinary or emerging practices in
visual and conceptual art.
Formatted: Strikethrough
Materials and applications are due by March 1 for the fall semester or September
1 for the spring semester. Final admission decisions cannot be made until all
information has been received.
Formatted: Highlight
The Department of Fine Arts offers the MFA degree in four areas of concentration.
Candidates may elect a concentration in one of the following:
Formatted: Strikethrough
Crafts
General Studio*
Formatted: Strikethrough
Painting
Sculpture
*15 semester hours in each of two major areas of concentration.
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Strikethrough
For admission to the graduate program, the applicant must:
Formatted: Highlight
1. Have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Formatted: Highlight
2. Submit a written statement of purpose reflective of your applicant’s creative goals in
the intended major and minor areas of study. The statement should indicate how the
applicant envisions his or her work developing and why it is important to pursue a
graduate degree.
Formatted: Highlight
3. Submit a resume.;
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Strikethrough
4. Have three original letters of recommendation submitted directly
from art and design professionals.; and
5.. Submit one CD/DVD containing up to 20 digital images, saved in jpeg format and
named using the following convention: “lastname_01.jpg”. Images should be
optimized for screen media (72 dpi) and be no larger than 2 MB each. Please also
provide a corresponding printed image checklist consisting of titles, date, medium,
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
MFA-ARTD
Version 3
description and small thumbnail for each work included in the portfolio. Of the 20
images, five images should demonstrate foundational competency in drawing; five
should demonstrate foundational competency in area of interest. What does
‘foundational competency’ mean exactly? If we don’t want to be specific, we could say
‘ten images should demonstrate foundational competency, five of which should be in
drawing’ in the area of specialization; and the remaining images should demonstrate
what you consider to be your you’re the candidate considers to be his or her best
work.
Formatted: Font color: Custom
Color(RGB(79,129,189)), Strikethrough,
Highlight
Formatted
6. Arrange and participate in an admission’s interview with the MFA Advisor and
appropriate Fine Arts faculty.
Formatted: Highlight
A limited number of graduate assistantships and other awards are available for
qualified applicants. Also, a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships
postitions are may be available for qualified graduate students after they have completed
18 semester graduate hours or more in the major concentration.
Formatted
Students are required to complete at least 60 semester hours of approved
graduate-level work. At least half the work presented for the degree must be 600-level
courses.
Formatted: Highlight
With approval of the M.F.A. advisor, (comma) prior to the end or of the first semester,
M.F.A. students select a major professor;(period) With the completion of 9 to 12
graduate credit hours from Winthrop, students must form a Graduate Committee and
apply for Candidacy with followed by following the the Committee’s review of work; and
at the end of 18 hours students must apply for Approval of Thesis Proposal together with
a Candidacy exhibition and statement.
Formatted
Art History:
ARTH 683 Seminar in Aesthetics, Theory and Criticism of Art
500-600 level art history courses
500-600 level electives outside Fine Arts and Design
ARTS 695 Thesis**
ARTS 696 Thesis**
Graduate Exhibition***
Total Semester Hours
3
6
3-6 9
3
3
0
...
...
Formatted: Strikethrough, Highlight
Formatted
...
Formatted: Font color: Custom
Color(RGB(79,129,189)), Strikethrough,
Highlight
Formatted
Semester Hours
Required Program
500-600 level courses in major area approved studio curriculum
36-42
(Including Special Topics in Art: MFA Studio Seminars ARTS 584,
ARTS 585 and ARTS 690 in area of specialization)
500-600 level courses in minor*
9-12
...
...
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
Formatted
30
...
Formatted
...
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted
...
Formatted
...
Formatted
...
Formatted
...
60
Note: Registration for GSTC 600, Continuing Graduate Studies, may be required.
Check with advisor.
Formatted: Highlight
*Courses must be in related area of art and design approved by advisor.
Formatted: Strikethrough
MFA-ARTD

Version 3
**A thesis project is required for the MFA degree in Studio Art art and design,
creative in content and including a written thesis statement that can may be
retained by the University. Upon completion of the thesis, students must pass an
oral examination (to be completed at least two weeks prior to final examinations).
***Documented exhibition is required of every candidate for the MFA degree in art
and design fine arts..

Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at:
0.25" + Indent at: 0.5"
Formatted: Strikethrough, Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Highlight
JUSTIFICATION
The MFA in Art and Design was the degree title originated when there was a former
Department of Art and Design. In fact, at one time there were MFA in Art and Design
concentrations in Graphic Design and Interior Design. However, those concentrations
where eliminated long ago and the Department of Art and Design split into the
Department of Fine Arts and the Department of Design in 2007.
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at:
0.25" + Indent at: 0.5"
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
The new title represents more clearly the nature of the program focusing on studio areas
of inquiry We are also proposing to eliminate all concentrations providing students with
an opportunity to develop a program based on evolving contemporary issues in visual
arts.
Formatted: Strikethrough
Formatted: Highlight
Formatted: Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at:
0.25" + Indent at: 0.5", Tab stops: 0.25",
Left + 0.69", Left + 2.87", Right + 3.88",
Left + 4.94", Left + 6.38", Right + 6.69",
Left
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted: Underline