Master of Fine Arts in Art and Design

Graduate Program Advisor: Tom Stanley, 803/323-2653  

The M.F.A. program at Winthrop is about developing and nurturing the artist’s voice. In an ever-changing global experience, Winthrop’s Department of Fine Arts acknowledges the importance of the engaged artist who can navigate ideas of our time. The M.F.A. program prepares you for more than one discipline; it develops the artist’s ability to address a broad range of visual and conceptual ideas.

The Department of Fine Arts offers the M.F.A. degree in four areas of concentration. Candidates may elect a concentration in one of the following:

Crafts, Painting, Sculpture, or General Studio*

*15 semester hours in each of two major areas of concentration.

Admission Deadlines

All applicants to the Master of Fine Arts program must submit a digital portfolio representing the applicant’s studio artwork in the intended area(s) of concentration. Materials and applications are due by March 1 for the fall semester or September 1 for the spring semester. Final admissions decisions cannot be made until all information has been received.

Application Requirements

For admission to the graduate program, the applicant must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study at Winthrop University as well as:

1. Have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale;

2. Submit a written statement of purpose reflective of your creative goals in the intended major and minor areas of study. The statement should indicate how the applicant envisions his or her work developing and why it is important to pursue a graduate degree;

3. Submit a resume;

4. Have three original letters of recommendation submitted directly from art and design professionals; and

5. Submit one CD/DVD containing up to 20 digital images, saved in jpeg format and named using the following convention: “lastname_01.jpg”. Images should be optimized for screen media (72 dpi) and be no larger than 2 MB each. Please also provide a corresponding printed image checklist consisting of titles, date, medium, description and small thumbnail for each work included in the portfolio. Of the 20 images, five images should demonstrate foundational competency in drawing; five should demonstrate foundational competency in area of specialization; and the remaining images should demonstrate what you consider to be your best work.

6. Arrange and participate in an admissions interview with the MFA Advisor and appropriate Fine Arts faculty.

Required Program

Students are required to complete at least 60 semester hours of approved graduate-level work. At least half the work presented for the degree must be 600-level courses.  
 

Note: registration for GSTC 600, Continuing Graduate Studies, may be required. Check with advisor. 

*Courses must be in related area of art and design approved by advisor.

**A thesis project is required for the MFA degree in art and design, creative in content and including a written thesis statement that can be retained by the University. Upon completion of the thesis, students must pass an oral examination (to be completed at least two weeks prior to final examinations).

***Documented exhibition is required of every candidate for the MFA degree in art and design.  

Graduate Faculty

Visual and Performing Arts Home Page