The Painting and Drawing program is based upon the belief that painting is a language that simultaneously upholds tradition and constantly seeks experimentation to expand and redefine its boundaries. We offer graduate students intensive professional training in a liberal arts setting. Graduate students are encouraged to experiment with a broad range of technical and theoretical interests in a way that upholds, expands, and redefines the boundaries of Painting.

The Master of Fine Art in Painting and Drawing is an intensive three-year program. The first and second years are primarily devoted to studio, seminar, art history, and elective coursework. During the third year, the emphasis is an intensive commitment to studio time in preparation for the thesis exhibition. As part of this 3-year studio experience, the student will have individual and group meetings with faculty, interaction with peers in and outside of the area, and will participate in graduate critiques. A normal full-time academic load is 15 credit-hours per semester, and progress toward the degree is guided by the student?s graduate review committee members to the successful completion of 90 credit hours.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate mastery in skills, techniques and material germane to the student?s research focus, evidenced through a mature body of creative work
• Identify key figures, works and sources, both historical and contemporary, as evidence to support a clearly stated thesis contextualizing the student?s work
• Generate documents appropriate to professional practice in the student?s field of focus, and be prepared for participation in the professional world of Art
• Execute a public exhibit of the student?s creative work