Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Fine Art
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Master degree
DURATION
6 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,615 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,407 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Fine Art at Academy of Art University offers advanced studio study in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students develop technical and conceptual skills in figurative, abstract, or landscape work and get studio space, galleries, and facilities. Requirements include Final Thesis Project, 63 units (minimum grade C) and 2.0 cumulative GPA, plus one Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic and one Cross-Cultural Understanding course.
Career Outcomes: Graduates may work as studio artists, printmakers, gallery curators, art educators, or art directors, working in galleries, museums, studios and agencies, applying studio practice, portfolio development, exhibition-making.
The Master of Fine Art program provides students a framework for advanced study in drawing and painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students are focused on technical and conceptual development in figurative, abstract, or landscape work. The School of Fine Art provides graduate students with studio space, exhibition galleries, and world-class facilities.
Unit Requirements
| Major Coursework | Units |
|---|---|
| Major | 27 |
| Direct Studies | 18 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Graduate Liberal Arts | 12 |
| Total | 63 |
Degree Requirements
MFA Fine Art Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
- A minimum grade of C in all required 63 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
- 1 Cross-Cultural Understanding course
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
MFA Thesis Project
- Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
- Demonstrate the feasibility of the thesis project
- Produce a body of professional-level artwork warranting a professional gallery exhibit, demonstrating personal vision, rigor, and cohesiveness in style, group, and concept
Visual Communication
- Work with appropriate skills in a chosen medium or medium.
Planning and Conceptual Development
- Conduct project-related research
- Explore ideas and articulate concepts.
- Choose appropriate materials and techniques to support concepts.
Critical Analysis
- Critically evaluate personal work using objective criteria: describing facts, analyzing composition, interpreting content, and judging results.
Communication Skills
- Give clear and concise professional presentations (verbal and visual).
- Professionally present ideas in writing.
Professional Readiness
- Produce a gallery-ready professional portfolio.
- Produce professional promotional materials.
Specialty Skills: Printmaking
- Demonstrate proficiency in relevant printmaking techniques
- Demonstrate editioning skills
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Semester 1
- FA 601: Drawing
- FA 609: Painting
- FA 630: Color Theory
Semester 2
- FA 606: Still Life Painting
- FA 626: Chiaroscuro
- FA 639: Expressive Drawing
- GLA 601: Classical Aesthetics and the Renaissance
- GLA 603: Anthropology: Experiencing Culture
Semester 3
- FA 602: Head Drawing
- FA 604: Figurative Painting
- FA 655: MFA Thesis Preparation/MA Portfolio Review
Semester 4
- FA 605: Landscape Painting
- FA 644: Quick Studies
- FA 800: Directed Study
- GLA 600: Educational Psychology
Semester 5
- FA 800: Directed Study
Semester 6
- FA 800: Directed Study
- GLA 674: Professional Practices for Fine Artists