CSULB Department of Art

Graduate Studies: Studio Art

Master of Fine Arts degree in Art with Concentration in Studio Art

(code ART_MF01, 60 units)

Master of Arts degree in Art with Concentration in Studio Art

(code ART_MA01, 33 units)

The department admits applicants into a program of study leading to the MA degree with Concentration in Studio Art only on an occasional basis. The thrust of our graduate studies in Studio Art is toward the MFA degree.

Our MFA degree is designed to foster both interdisciplinary and discipline-specific dialogue by engaging students in a set of core department-wide requirements, interdisciplinary opportunities, and discipline-specific courses and curricular “tracks.”

In both the MA and MFA with Concentration in Studio Art, the student develops a personalized program of study within established curricular parameters, and with the consultation and approval of the student’s Project Committee. In the MFA, the student develops a personalized program of study within one of thirteen discipline-specific curricular tracks including Ceramics, two Drawing and Painting tracks, Fibers, Illustration/Animation, Metals, Photography, three Printmaking tracks, Sculpture/4D, Visual Communication Design, and Wood.

Goals

Our MFA with Concentration in Studio Art is centered on the following goals for student learning outcomes:

Completion of an extensive curricular and independent experience in a specific studio area.
Completion of a program of study that includes consideration of art history, critical analysis, aesthetics, methodology and related humanities.
Advanced development of individual studio and scholarly talents, interests and philosophies, used creatively to both expand and preserve our cultural heritage.
Advanced development of professional studio competence as exemplified by ongoing development of a significant body of work, and production of a culminating "project" exhibition of work.
Ability to articulate effectively in oral and written form about their artwork, and production of a project report document that successfully functions in a companion relationship to their project exhibitions.
Potential to solve contemporary problems in art and to explore and address new questions and issues.
Advanced development of professional competence in the dissemination of knowledge, including logical, clear verbal and written presentation pf aesthetic ideas in teaching and other contexts.
Advanced development of scholarly competence in the organization, evaluation, and interpretation of knowledge.

Our MA with Concentration in Studio Art is centered on the following goals for student learning outcomes:

Development of a broad knowledge of art historical issues.
Familiarity with issues in contemporary art practice.
Intensive practice in a studio area of emphasis.
Ability to articulate effectively in oral and written form about their artwork.

Duration

Graduate degree program duration is contingent upon the number of units completed per semester, and time taken to complete Project. The MA degree usually is completed in 4 to 8 semesters. The MFA Degree structure is designed based upon a 6-semester (3-year) model, though it can be completed in fewer or more semesters. The MA degrees usually are completed in 4 to 8 semesters.

Certificates

The department also offers a graduate-level Certificate Program in Museum and Curatorial Studies (code ART_CT02) and an interdisciplinary program leading to a Certificate in Biomedical Art (code ART_CT01). Either of these Certificates may be pursued independently, or in combination with a program of study directed toward the achievement of one of the department’s degrees.

Admissions Review Process

Admission to a degree program at CSULB is a two-part process that requires application to and acceptance by both the University and the Department of Art into a specific degree program.

For graduate programs, the Department of Art accepts applications for Fall admission only, with applications being accepted January 1 through 31. Application forms are available on the web (www.art.csulb.edu).

Department of Art application materials must be sent to the Department of Art Student Services Office, FA4 Ð 106.

University Application must be made to the CSULB Office of Enrollment Services, Brotman Hall. Call (562) 985-4145 or 1655 to obtain a CSU application booklet, or apply online at www.csumentor.edu There is a $55.00 fee for the

University application process. (Do not send the Department of Art this fee; we will send it back to you.)

Some art programs may conduct applicant interviews, in which case they will contact you directly. Acceptance decisions are normally sent out by March 15th.

Acceptance to a degree program in Art: After submitting the Department of Art application materials, those who pass the program review are recommended by the faculty to be admitted as either Classified or Conditionally Classified. A Classified Graduate has satisfied all prerequisites. A Conditionally Classified Graduate has outstanding prerequisites to complete. Acceptance is not complete until the applicant has received both notification of acceptance from the Department of Art and a formal letter of acceptance from the CSULB Office of Enrollment Services.

NOTE: The Department of Art requires a GPA of 3.0 in upper-division (junior and senior level) art prerequisite units for acceptance to our graduate program. All applicants must be accepted by the Department of Art in order to be officially accepted by the University. There is no fee for the departmental application process. International Students must be accepted by the Department of Art and pass the TOEFL examination (minimum score of 550) before they can be admitted to the University. International students must apply to CSULB through the Center for International Education at (562) 985-5476.

CSU general requirements include: a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution; a grade point average of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester units taken; and good standing at the last college attended.

General Prerequisites

An applicant may be accepted if, in addition to having satisfied specific prerequisites set by the Department of Art for each degree concentration, the applicant has satisfied the following minimum university standards: To qualify for admission in conditionally classified graduate standing, a student must:

Applicant holds an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or has, as determined by an appropriate CSULB authority, completed equivalent academic preparation in a university outside the United States;
Applicant has attained a grade-point average of at least 2.5 (A = 4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted;
Applicant has been in good standing at the last college attended.

Special Action: In rare and compelling circumstances, an applicant who doesn’t qualify for admission under the previous provisions may be admitted by special action if on recommendation of the appropriate faculty of the department/college concerned and in the judgment of the Associate Vice President for Graduate and Undergraduate Programs or his/her designee there exists acceptable evidence that the applicant possesses sufficient academic, professional, and other potential pertinent to her/his educational objectives to merit such action, as shown through aptitude scores, recent academic performance, and experiential background.

Studio Art Prerequisites

The Department of Art prefers, but does not require, that Studio Art applicants have undergraduate degrees in art, Application to our graduate programs is competitive and most applicants to the studio programs will have an undergraduate degree in art, many with a BFA in their chosen media. For Studio Art admissions, the part of the application that is given the most weight is the portfolio of work. The Department of Art invites all applicants who feel they have strong portfolios to apply. If faculty feel the application is strong, but the applicant needs additional preparatory work, the Department of Art may admit the applicant with conditionally classified graduate standing, with specific prerequisites stated on a case-by-case basis at the time of admission.

Departmental Application Requirements

January 1 through 31 prior to the fall term for which the applicant seeks admission, applicant must submit departmental application materials as follows:

Department of Art Application
Statement of purpose
portfolio of studio work
transcripts
two letters of recommendation

Acceptable portfolio formats

We are no longer accepting slides as part of the Graduate admissions process.
Portfolio of JPEG images, no more than 20 total, and no larger than 800x600 pixels each, contained in a folder, and accompanied by an image list as a Microsoft Word file contained in same folder as JPEGs. Image list must include clear thumbnail images, title, medium, dimensions, and date for each work in portfolio. JPEG portfolio must be accompanied by a printed copy of the image list on 8½ X 11" paper.
PDF file containing portfolio of no more than 20 images total, either with captions under each image or an image list included in the PDF. Title, medium, dimensions, and date for each work in portfolio must be provided. PDF portfolio must be accompanied by image list including clearly printed thumbnail images, complete with captions on 8½ X 11" paper
We do not accept files of images in other formats, and we do not accept portfolios in PowerPoint, Keynote, or other presentation software files.
Works in film, video, or other time-based digital media, or recorded documentation of works in installation, performance, or other time-based work may be submitted via DVD portfolio. Maximum of five videos and maximum of ten minutes total. Longer works must be excerpted. QuickTime, Flash or Shockwave are the acceptable formats. Standard menu-driven DVDs may be also used. DVD submissions must be accompanied by a printed list of works that includes a thumbnail still, title, date, and description for each work.

Transcripts

When you formally apply to the University, two official (sealed) sets are required; send one to Enrollment Services and one to the Department of Art.

Transfer Units

Transfer units are allowed on a case-by-case basis. With faculty approval, up to 12 post-baccalaureate units from another university may be accepted into the MA degree program and up to 24 units (for example, from a previous MA degree) into the MFA degree program. In the case of an existing MA degree from CSULB with a concentration in Studio Art, up to 30 units may be accepted into the MFA degree.

MA and MFA General Degree Requirements

A minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with no grade below a "C".
Successful fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) by passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE), usually completed in the first semester in residence at CSULB and required to be fulfilled prior to Advancement to Candidacy. Students unable to pass the WPE may be able to fulfill the requirement by completing a special GWAR course.
Successful completion of an Advancement to Candidacy review. Reviews generally occur when a student has completed between one third and one half of the units required for the degree, and require the submission of a complete list of coursework for the degree. Additional advancement requirements: Studio Art majors participate in a group exhibition in the Art Department galleries and present an oral defense of their work.

If all scheduled units for the MA or MFA degree have been completed but the final written component has not been approved and submitted, registration in GS-700 (I unit, no credit) through University Extension is required in order to maintain in enrollment until the semester of graduation. Care should be taken not to exceed the University limit of seven years for all masters’ degrees.

Additional information may be found in the "Department of Art Graduate Guidelines," given to each student accepted into a master’s program.

Studio Art Concentration for the MA

33 units of approved graduate and asterisked (*) upper division units to include:
21 units Art
6 units graduate-level Art History
6 units ART 698B Studio Project as culminating experience within degree program.

Studio Art Concentration for the MFA

Total of 60 units of approved graduate and asterisked (*) upper-division units. At least 36 units must be in 500/600 levels taken at CSULB. Transferred units are allowed on a case-by-case basis. At least 39 units must be in studio courses. No more than 3 units of ART 693 (teaching internship) may be applied to degree.

Students are admitted into discipline-specific tracks. All students take a core of 21 units. Each student takes an additional 39 units of approved coursework according to the track into which the student was admitted.

Additional information, expectations, recommendations and guidelines for each track are included in the "Department of Art Graduate Guidelines" given to each student accepted into the MFA Concentration, and available upon request to applicants.

MFA Core requirements:

6 units of graduate-level Art History.
9 units of ART 694 (graduate Studies: Directed Studio) taken with members of student’s Project Committee beginning four semesters prior to completion of degree, or semester prior to advancement, which ever comes sooner. (Student must continue to enroll in 3 units of ART694 per semester for all semesters between advancement and semester of MFA project.)
6 units of ART 699 (Graduate Studies: MFA Project) taken in the final semester with members of student’s Project Committee.

MFA Tracks:

In addition to the MFA Core requirements, each MFA student takes 39 additional approved units according to the following discipline-based tracks into which students are admitted. NOTE: All 597, 598 and 599-numbered courses are studio-oriented variable-topic graduate courses, each with a discipline-specific focus, but with specific topic and structure varying from term to term. All courses listed in the tracks are 3-unit courses.

Ceramics Track

12 units from ART 597A, 598A, 599A (Ceramics)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Drawing and Painting Contemporary Practices Track

12 units from ART 597K, 598K, 599K (Painting)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 681 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 682 (seminar in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Drawing and Painting Figurative Track

12 units from ART 597L, 598L, 599L (Life Drawing and Painting)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 681 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 682 (seminar in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Fiber Track

12 units from ART 597N, 598N, 599N (Fiber)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 681 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 682 (seminar in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Illustration/Animation Track

12 units from ART 597F, 598F, 599F (Illustration/Animation)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 683 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 684 (seminar in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Metal Track

12 units from ART 597J, 598J, 599J (Metal)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Photography Track

12 units from ART 597V, 598V, 599V (Photography)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
6 units ART 680 (interdisciplinary critique)
3 units ART 681 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 682 (seminar in professional practice)
3 units from ART 536A (video), 550 (intermedia/installation), or 680 (interdisciplinary critique)
6 units approved graduate or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Printmaking Track A (general)

12 units from ART 597R, 598R, 599R (Printmaking)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Printmaking Track B (drawing-based emphasis)

12 units from ART 597R, 598R, 599R (Printmaking)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 597D (Drawing), 597L (Life Drawing and Painting) or 597F (Illustration/Animation)
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
3 units from ART 373, 384 or 481 (drawing courses)
3 units from ART 481 or 484 (drawing courses)
3 units from ART 492F (life drawing), 499F (illustration) or 693 (teaching internship)
3 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Printmaking Track C (digital emphasis)

12 units from ART 597R, 598R, 599R (Printmaking)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
3 units ART 575 (Printmaking: Photo and Digital Processes)
3 units from ART 340 or 349 (photography or computer art)
3 units from ART 449 (experimental photography), 506A (digital imagery), or 693 (teaching internship)
3 units from ART 506B (digital imagery), 573 (Seminar in Photo-based Art), or 693 (teaching internship)
3 units from ART 499 (special studies), 514 (documentary photography) or 680 (interdisciplinary critique).

Sculpture/4D Track

12 units from ART 597O, 598O, 599O (Sculpture/4D)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 680 (interdisciplinary critique)
3 units ART 681 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 682 (seminar in professional practice)
3 units from ART 536A (video), 550 (intermedia/installation), or 680 (interdisciplinary critique)
9 units approved graduate or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Visual Communication Design Track

12 units from ART 597S, 598S, 599S (Visual Communication Design)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units ART 683 (seminar in theory/criticism)
3 units ART 684 (seminar in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.

Wood Track

12 units from ART 597B, 598B, 599B (Wood)
6 units from any ART 597, 598 or 599 course
3 units from ART 681 or 683 (seminars in theory/criticism)
3 units from ART 682 or 684 (seminars in professional practice)
15 units approved graduate-level or asterisked (*) upper-division coursework.