The ASU School of Art's MFA program is one of a few nationally ranked, tuition-funded, three-year Master of Fine Arts programs. Students benefit from graduate assistantships, scholarships and awards that support student travel and research.
Program curriculum provides artists with a formal and conceptual foundation in contemporary art, a visiting artist and scholar lecture series, professional development workshops, teaching opportunities and pedagogical training. The curriculum fosters global awareness, civic engagement, social responsibility and collaborative action. Augmenting the curriculum are numerous internships offered by a wide variety of arts organizations, more information is available at Creative Career Services.
Students work closely with faculty to develop knowledge, expand technical skills and participate with communities to create research and a lifelong professional arts practice. The coursework is designed to advance discourse across a range of fields and establish intersections between disciplines and shared research interests, including representation, advanced technology, materials, ecology and sustainability.
The program culminates in a solo thesis exhibition in one of the four School of Art galleries. Prior thesis projects can be explored on the School of Art webpage.
Graduate students are provided world-class studio space at Grant Street Studios, located in the cultural hub of downtown Phoenix, which includes a wood shop, printmaking presses, darkroom, kilns, computer lab and 3D print lab.
The Master of Fine Arts program emphasizes collaboration and immersive learning, providing students access to specialized facilities and collections. The Northlight Gallery is a dedicated photographic gallery directed by Cecilia Fajardo-Hill, a curator in modern and contemporary art. The gallery houses two important historical photographic collections: the Northlight Gallery permanent collection and the Solari Foundation collection. The Pyracantha Press is an independent publishing imprint with publications in 105 national and international public collections. The press includes the largest collection of type at any institution of higher education in North America and several printing presses, including an 1834 Columbian.
In addition to the expansive curriculum, students benefit from the vast resources afforded by a Research I university. Students are encouraged to engage with faculty across all disciplines and with world-renowned researchers from a variety of departments across ASU. Students also have access to the vibrant community of museums, galleries, businesses and cultural organizations in Phoenix, as well as in nearby Los Angeles, Santa Fe and Denver. Special initiatives also add dynamic opportunities for professionalization and connecting with artists and curators. The School of Art galleries, the Ceramics Research Center and Archive and the ASU Art Museum support a robust schedule of public exhibitions and visiting artist and scholar lectures. These events offer students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art and culture while they build a professional network.