Campuswide, the University of Chicago has a long history of teaching excellence. In this spirit, all MFA students that enter the program have the opportunity to be a Teaching Assistant for a Visual Arts facutlty throughout the two-year program. This provides MFA students exposure to the wide variety of pedagogical approaches within the department, from the practical to the technical and philosophical.
Under the current funding structure, MFA students may receive on average around four TA positions during their time in the program. If teaching, students typically receive official notice of their TA assignments the quarter before their appointment. To learn more about funding, workload, and responsibilities, please view the 2024-25 TA policy
Teaching Fellowship in the Visual Arts
Leading up to their last quarter of the MFA program, students are given the opportunity to apply to be a Teaching Fellow in the Visual Arts. This Teaching Fellowship is a one-year program designed to enhance the pedagogical skills and extend the artistic practice of a current or recent graduate of DoVA. Teaching Fellows in the Visual Arts join an academic community around teaching, art making, and professional development, drawing on guidance and support from the Division, the Chicago Center for Teaching (CCT), and the Director of the TF Program for DoVA.
Successful candidates will be appointed as full-time Lecturers to teach four courses in the Arts core during the academic year at the undergraduate level. During this time the Teaching Fellows are expected to advance their own art practice, participate in campus activities, and attend the four quarter-end critiques for MFA students and undergraduate critiques in the spring quarter. Teaching Fellows will also participate in a program of pedagogical and professional development under the joint supervision of the CCT and the Director of the TF Program in DoVA.
UChicago Grad
UChicagoGRAD is a dedicated resource for graduate students and postdocs to receive personalized, flexible training to complement their academic pursuits—from fellowship and writing support, to career preparation and internships, to training in public speaking and networking.