Admission Requirements

• Master of Fine Arts

Degree Requirements

• Master of Fine Arts

Mailing Address:
School of Art and Design (MC 036)
929 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7038

Campus Location: 106 JH
Program Code: 20FS5256MFA
Telephone: (312) 996-3337
E-mail: ebrady@uic.edu
Web Site: http://adweb.aa.uic.edu/web/?program
Director, School of Art and Design: Marcia Lausen
Director of Graduate Studies: Jennifer Reeder

The School of Art and Design offers work leading to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in New Media Arts. The school also offers programs leading to the MFA degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Moving Image, Photography, and Studio Arts. Consult the appropriate sections of catalog for more information on these programs. The School of Art and Design is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Fine Arts

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions; however, individuals who apply must demonstrate an advanced level of competence in new media arts through their portfolio submission.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required None.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 580 (paper-based); 237 (computer-based); 92, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required.
• Personal Statement Required. This statement of purpose should outline applicant’s current or previous work as relevant to plans and objectives for advanced study; describe professional goals and how these goals were developed; and state why applicant would like to study in the chosen area in the school.
• Other Requirements Applicants must submit a portfolio of visual work demonstrating proficiency in the area of computer graphics, video, and/or new media arts. Portfolios are submitted online at: http://uic.slideroom.com/. No portfolios are to be submitted with application materials. Experience in digital video or computer graphics programming (C, C++, GL, Open GL) or mathematics may be required prior to entrance.
• Deadlines The application deadline for this program is February 1; contact the School of Art and Design for more information.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Fine Arts

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 64.
• Course Work Required Courses: 16 semester hours of AD 502. At least 48 semester hours must be in the area of specialization and must include at least 36 semester hours at the 500-level.
• Electives: At least 12 semester hours of graduate-level electives are required. The completion of at least two courses in art history is strongly recommended.
• Comprehensive Examination None.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Project required. No other options are available.
• Project: All MFA candidates must present for review a public exhibition or showing. Documentation in the form of a major paper and DVD of the project must be presented to the school for archival purposes.
• Other Requirements Continuation in the MFA program beyond the second semester requires an evaluation and recommendation of the Graduate Advisory Committee in the student’s area.