The MFA in Fine Arts prepares artists for a career in the polyvalent 21st century art world by combining a critique-intensive studio approach with contemporary history, theory, and professional practices. Students may focus on Book, Paper, and Print, Media/Installation/Performance, or a self-determined combination of electives; each provides opportunities for the hybridization of practice and draws on the strengths of our faculty and facilities. This structured two-year program is integrated in the Chicago arts community, establishing supportive cohorts that foster professional connections beyond the degree.

As a result of successfully completing program requirements, students should be able to:

• create a professional body of contemporary artwork demonstrable via a public thesis exhibition and written thesis paper occurring at the end of the program of study;
• engage in critical discourse and demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate one’s work and that of others in the context of contemporary theoretical models;
• demonstrate mastery of materials and techniques;
• determine what audiences they want to engage in their work and what strategies are best to successfully engage them;
• engage in original research, and write and present papers; and
• develop professional practices to enact career and artistic outcomes.