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Degree Requirements

The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts offers both the Master of Arts in Art and the Master of Fine Arts. 

Master of Arts in Art

The Master of Arts in Art is the intermediate level graduate program for students, who may specialize in painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture. It allows for concentrated study over an extended period of time under personal and intensive guidance of the graduate Art faculty and with an assigned major professor. The purpose of the program is to present students with theoretical and practical knowledge to make art approaching professional quality. The M.A. in Art is offered for students who are intent on pursuing a terminal degree in art such as the M.F.A. It also aims to meet the needs of art teachers in secondary schools who wish to deepen their knowledge of their field. At ten credits per semester, completion of the program normally takes three semesters (including independent study during the summer). 

30 credit hours of course work

The M.A. requires a minimum of thirty credits, of which fourteen credits must be earned in the following: two consecutive semesters of the M.A. Seminar, a course in both modern and contemporary art and the M.A. Exhibition course. Studio courses can be selected by the student with the approval of the major professor. After the completion of nine to fifteen hours of course work students must apply for candidacy. 

Candidacy review

In the candidacy review the full graduate art faculty examines the student’s work and knowledge and grants or denies candidacy. The examination may be repeated only once, within the period of one semester.

Thesis exhibition

The program culminates in a thesis exhibition and an oral defense of the exhibition. The thesis exhibition is presented on campus. Full documentation of the exhibition is required before the degree is granted.

 Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts is the accepted terminal degree for studio artists. It is the purpose of the M.F.A. program to develop students who have superior competence in their studio area, knowledge of a spectrum of studio procedures, proficiency in the history of art and an understanding of the responsibilities of the artist or the artist-teacher. The program is designed for students of high qualifications who wish to prepare themselves as professional artists and for positions in senior institutions. It requires the completion of the Master of Arts program from University of Dallas or other colleges and acceptance by the full graduate art faculty. At ten credit hours per semester, completion of the program normally takes three semesters as well as two summers of independent study.

30 credit hours of course work

The program requires a minimum of thirty hours beyond the Master of Arts. The following courses are required: two consecutive semesters of M.F.A. Seminar, two graduate courses in art history and the M.F.A. Exhibition course. All other courses are selected with the approval of the major professor. 

Professional exhibition

The M.F.A. Exhibition is a professional exhibition on or off campus.  Presentation of full documentation of the exhibition including an artist statement is required for the granting of the degree.

Oral examination

The oral examination is administered by the full graduate art faculty. Students entering the program with an M.A. from another institution have their work and knowledge examined by the faculty after completion of nine to fifteen hours of study. 

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