The Department of Visual Arts (DoVA) is a department within the Arts & Humanities Division at the University of Chicago, situated in the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. DoVA is proud to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree.
This MFA program is distinguished by its focused attention on understanding how the pluralism of today's art making practices relate to one another, and by its commitment to creating conversations that bridge DoVA and other areas of study at the University of Chicago. Our faculty are diverse in their interests and at different points in their careers — all are committed teachers engaged in a lively and sustained dialogue within the department, while remaining deeply engaged in their own work.
Our students work in sculpture, photography, painting, installation, performance, video, and new media. We admit students to the program based on the quality of their portfolio, taking into account their interest in and capacity for engaging with this interdisciplinary program within a university environment. We focus on working with students to develop their practice and equipping them to leave the University with the tools to support a lifetime of art making. As part of this process, we encourage students to explore not only the artistic concerns central to their work, but also the theoretical, social, and historical issues that intersect with and inform it.
The MFA is a two-year program (six quarters) comprising 18 courses, many of which are earned through the development of individual work in conversation with faculty.
First- and second-year students work together to articulate their work and sharpen their skills in critical thinking and writing. Students come to the program with diverse intellectual, cultural, and artistic backgrounds and a range of art making practices. Together, we work to develop a shared critical language with which to discuss and make art within this supportive community.
As part of the MFA program, DoVA hosts a lively visiting artist program under the auspices of the Open Practice Committee (OPC). The University of Chicago also provides an exceptionally rich intellectual environment, with engaging lectures and workshops across all areas of study. Students are often drawn to events hosted by the Center for Gender Studies, the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture, the Smart Museum of Art, the Department of Cinema and Media Studies, and the Department of Art History.
DoVA has offered a number of faculty-led trips to visit museums and galleries outside of Chicago; past destinations have included New York City, Delhi, Athens and Kassel (for Documenta 14), Münster (for Skulptur Projekte 2017), Beijing, Shanghai, Mexico City, and Cuba. Sponsored faculty-led travel is contingent upon funding. Students have also received competitive grants from UChicagoGRAD for self-organized trips to Detroit and New York.
Requirements for the Degree
MFA students register for 300 credits (three courses at 100 credits each) per quarter. A total of 1800 credits, or eighteen courses, is required for the degree. A comprehensive overview can be found in our program handbook. The basic requirements are listed below:
1. Graduate Studio Project + Graduate Crit Class (9 Courses / 900 Credit Hours)
ARTV 42000 Graduate Studio Project (500 units) is a means for students to receive academic credit for the independent work they do in their studios. There is no formal class for students to attend. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) assigns a pass/fail grade in consultation with the full faculty, based on participation in individual studio visits and quarter-end critiques, as well as attendance at Open Practice Committee lectures and other departmental events.
ARTV 40000 Graduate Crit Class (400 units) is offered every autumn and winter quarter, and serves a formal course for all first and second-year students. The course is organized as a weekly critique. The faculty teaching the class invites outside guests and other faculty to attend the critiques as needed. The course also serves as a potential venue for all faculty, students, and staff to gather for discussion and/or larger group critique. Students receive a pass/fail grade that is determined by their attendance, participation, and performance in the class.
2. Graduate Seminars (3 Courses / 300 Credit Hours)
In order to provide a core of common intellectual experience, all students are required to take three quarters of the Graduate Seminar in Visual Arts (ARTV 39200) during their first year. The content of these seminars varies with instructors, but may focus on many different issues in contemporary theory and criticism.
3. Electives (6 Courses / 600 Credit Hours)
Students are required to take six graduate-level electives. At least three of the six electives must either be academic (i.e. non-studio based) or originate in departments outside of DoVA. DoVA’s course offerings can be found on the Graduate Announcements. You may also consult the websites of other departments in the Arts & Humanities Division or other divisions to view their course offerings.
4. Thesis Presentation
In the fall quarter of the second year each student will work with a committee of two faculty members who will assist in the preparation of the thesis work. In the final quarter of the program each degree candidate presents studio work in an MFA exhibition. In addition to this exhibition, students will be expected to submit a short but focused written abstract of their work.
5. Standards Of Performance
Each graduate student must maintain high standards of engagement and achievement in studio and academic performance, including evidence of substantial growth in their work.
For additional information, please email: dova@uchicago.edu.