Master of Fine Arts in Dance

The MFA in art with a concentration in digital technology combines technological and artistic goals and is designed for students with skills and experience in both realms, the program is offered by the School of Art in collaboration with the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. The School of Art supplies graduate-level courses in digital audio, video, photography, printing, interactive sculpture and rapid prototyping. Graduate courses offered by the School of Arts, Media and Engineering focus on topics such as interactive media, sensing and understanding activity, perception and cognition, programming and media installations. The curriculum provides artists with a foundation in contemporary art, a visiting artist and scholar lecture series, professional development workshops, teaching opportunities and pedagogical training. It fosters global awareness, civic engagement, social responsibility and collaborative action. Coursework is designed to advance discourse across a range of fields and shared research interests, including representation, identity, advanced technology, material studies, ecology, sustainability and science.

Students gain a foundation in digital media and have hands-on experiences in creating new digital tools. They work closely with faculty to develop knowledge, expand technical skills, and participate with communities to engage in impactful research and sustain a lifelong professional arts practice. Students are also provided world-class studio space at Grant Street Studios, which is located in the cultural hub of downtown Phoenix and includes a common wood shop, printmaking presses, photography darkroom, ceramics kilns, computer lab and 3D print lab.

The Master of Fine Arts program culminates in a solo thesis exhibition in one of the four School of Art galleries. Students can explore prior thesis projects on the School of Art exhibitions website.

Students in this program benefit from the vast resources afforded by a Research I university. Graduates 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. Augmenting the curriculum are internships offered by a wide variety of arts organizations. Special initiatives also add dynamic opportunities for professionalization, and for students to learn from and connect 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 building a professional network.

The Master of Fine Arts program emphasizes collaboration and immersive learning, providing students access to specialized facilities and collections that offer an invaluable resource for examining the ways in which history has shaped contemporary ways of seeing.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = A) in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = A) in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

graduate admission application and application fee
official transcripts
personal statement
teaching sample
recent creative works
current resume
letters of recommendation
proof of English proficiency
3.0 GPA or equivalent
IELTS - overall band score of 6.5
TOEFL IBT - minimum score 80.