Graduate Degrees and Programs: College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Department of Art

Master of Fine Arts in Art

Areas of Study

  • Graphic Communications

  • Painting

  • Photography/Digital Media

  • Sculpture

 

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the college's graduate admission requirements, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the Master of Fine Arts program:

  1. A minimum of 66 semester hours in art at the undergraduate or postbaccalaureate level with a 3.00 (A=4.00) grade point average, including 24 semester hours in a major studio discipline, 12 semester hours in art history, and 30 semester hours in related arts courses.

  2. A completed graduate application form

  3. Nonrefundable School of Art application fee of $25.00 (check or money order made out to the University of Houston)

  4. Two transcripts from each school attended must be sent by those schools directly to the address below

  5. Three letters of recommendation

  6. A brief statement of intent expressing reasons for pursuing graduate study in the particular area of interest

  7. A portfolio. Contact the School of Art Office (713-743-3001) or the School of Art website for detailed information on the format for the portfolio.

Conditional admission may be granted to students whose overall grade point average on the last 60 hours of course credit is at least 2.67 (A=4.00), whose grade point average in the discipline is at least 3.00, and whose scores on the Graduate Record Examination are high enough to indicate probable success in the program. The materials requested above should be sent to:

Cathy Hunt, Graduate Advisor
School of Art
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-4019

Degree Requirements

Requirements for earning the Master of Fine Arts degree include a minimum of 60 semester hours in graduate courses, including 18 semester hours of concentration in the major discipline, 12 semester hours in art history, 24 semester hours in related arts courses, and six semester hours in seminars. Candidates for the Master of Fine Arts degree are encouraged to complete all course work for the degree within three years to ensure the sustained concentration requisite to the achievement of quality work at the graduate level. Students must complete the degree program within five years.

Additionally, students are required to complete one academic year in residence during the course of their degree program. This residency is defined as 18 semester hours comprising a minimum of nine semester hours taken in two consecutive semesters.

Throughout the program of study, students will be evaluated on a regular basis. A progress review is required during each semester of enrollment in the graduate program.

Upon completion of all course work for the degree, students will present their work for exhibition with accompanying photographic documentation. The creative work and supporting documentation will represent the visual thesis. In addition, students must pass a comprehensive examination, which normally will be administered during the final semester of the final year of work for the degree. The examination will cover students' knowledge of their major discipline, of art history, and of related areas of art.

Master of Arts in Art History


Admission Requirements

The MA program in Art History follows the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences requirements for admission:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an overall 3.0 (B) average on the last 60 hours of course credit.

  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores

  • The materials listed below under Application Procedures.

The deadline for applications is February 1. All application materials must be received by that date. All applications are accepted to begin in the fall semester only.

Though an undergraduate degree in art history is not required, consideration is given to the number and variety of undergraduate courses in art history taken, as well as experience with humanities research and writing. An understanding of the discipline of art history and preparation for graduate study are essential.

Degree Requirements

  • 36 hours - 2 years at 9 hours (full-time) per semester

  • Graduate Seminar in Curatorial Issues and Practice: 3 hours 

  • Graduate Seminar in Art History: 3 hours

  • Four additional courses in art history (chosen from art history elective courses): 12 hours

  • Six free elective courses  (chosen from approved interdisciplinary courses, independent study, practical internships): 18  hours

  • Thesis Track - Thesis (in written or exhibition form): 6 hours (counts toward the 18 hour free elective requirement)

  • Non-Thesis Track – Oral and Written Examination

  • Demonstrated reading ability in one foreign language*

The department of Modern and Classical Languages (MCL) at the University of Houston offers courses in reading for graduate students in French, German, and Italian

Catalog Publish Date: January 14, 2013
This Page Last Updated: November 29, 2012