About Master’s Program,
The M.F.A. program at Maryland allows artists the opportunity to dedicate three years to intensive studio practice and to the development of a strong conceptual and historical foundation to that practice.
The Masters of Fine Arts program at the University of Maryland is a three-year, 60 credit interdisciplinary program of study. The focus of this program is placed squarely on studio practice.
Students admitted into the program are provided a spacious private studio and access to state-of-the-art facilities in sculpture, digital-media and printmaking. Throughout the three-year course of study, M.F.A students spend the majority of their time working individually with our full-time faculty. Our faculty of practicing artists provide guidance and expertise in a variety of media. M.F.A candidates work on an individual basis with faculty members of their choosing, developing a conversation in which studio practice is discussed and works in progress are critiqued.
The M.F.A program at the University of Maryland emphasizes the need for strong conceptual and theoretical understanding of contemporary art practices. Bolstered by an active visiting artist lecture series and a graduate colloquium that brings in regional and national scholars and critics on an annual basis to work with M.F.A. candidates, students in the program are expected to maintain a strong studio practice and develop and strengthen the critical and conceptual discourse around which they create their work.
Situated within five miles of Washington, D.C., and less than 30 miles from Baltimore, MD, the University of Maryland offers M.F.A. candidates unparalleled access to some of the country’s best art museums, galleries, performing arts centers and contemporary art institutions. In addition, the Department of Art maintains close ties to diverse areas of study within the university, including the performing arts, engineering, architecture, art history and archeology, among others. This allows candidates in our program to work with scholars from diverse media and have access to a diverse range of tools and technologies only available to those at large research institutions such as the University of Maryland.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
An undergraduate degree with a major in art from an accredited college, university or art school, or its equivalent, is encouraged, but not required, for admission to graduate study in the Department of Art. The applicant should have a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate work in studio art courses and approximately 12 credit hours in art history. Other humanities courses should be a part of the candidate’s undergraduate preparation.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The Department of Art offers numerous fellowships and graduate assistant positions. These positions and awards carry with them full or partial tuition remission as well as an annual stipend. Admission to the graduate program is a prerequisite for the award of a teaching assistantship or fellowship. Please make certain that all required documents for your application for admission, as well as the appropriate application for financial aid, have been submitted. Some awards are made on the basis of the applicant’s academic merit (GPA), others on the basis of need or ability to contribute to the program.
The University of Maryland recognizes the high cost of education and makes every effort to offer financial assistance to qualified students through a variety of programs. There are three campus units which administer the primary forms of financial support: The Graduate School, the individual department and the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Graduate School processes applications for University of Maryland fellowships and Maryland State Diversity Grants. The diversity grants are offered only to students who are Maryland residents. Applications are made directly to the Graduate School and not to the department. The individual programs (departments) award graduate teaching assistantships and nominate students for graduate fellowships.
The Office of Student Financial Aid processes College Work-Study and National Direct student loans.
Application Requirement,
- A completed application form
- A non-refundable application fee of $75
- One complete set of official transcripts reflecting all undergraduate and graduate work, completed or in progress
- A Maryland in-state status form (for those who wish to apply for Maryland resident status)
- Two letters of reccomendations
- Statement of purpose, research interests, and experiences
- If at any time you wish to check on the status of your application materials you may do so by visiting gradschool.umd.edu.
All decisions made by the Graduate Review Committee of the Department of Art are final. Please be assured that each applicant receives thorough consideration by every member of the committee. All aspects of the application will be reviewed, including the slide portfolio, statement of purpose, academic strength, art related background and recommendations.
Application Deadline,
Feb 04, 2025
Application Fee,
- A non-refundable application fee of $75
