About Our MFA Program

School of Fine Art

About Our MFA Program

The MFA curriculum in Fine Art allows students to concentrate on Painting, Printmaking or Sculpture with a focus on technical and conceptual development. The departments provide graduate students with studio space, exhibition galleries and state of the art facilities and equipment. The program encourages interpretations and exploration of imagery in either figurative or non-objective art. The courses are taught by a faculty of professional artists and focus on combining technical mastery with personal vision.

The resulting independently conceived portfolio/body of work is critically appraised and subject to evaluation by faculty and professionals at the graduate student's Final Review, and is professionally exhibited to the fine art community in San Francisco's gallery district.

MFA Program Learning Outcomes

School of Fine Arts

MFA graduates of the School of Fine Art will meet the following student performance criteria:

1. MFA Thesis Project

   • Ability to create a final, MFA thesis project that is rigorous and unique in concept and viewpoint, supported by appropriate technique and materials. Graduate Students are required to present to a review committee prior to being granted an MFA degree.

2. Continuity in a Body of Work

   • Ability to produce a body of professional-level artwork demonstrating personal and critical vision.
   • Ability to produce a body of work that holds together in style, group, and concept, appropriate to the student's professional goals.

3. Conceptual Development

   • Ability to explore ideas and generate creative possibilities working within a given topic or subject.
   • Ability to think about and articulate concepts and ideas before producing work.

4. Aesthetic Sensitivity

   • Ability to work with skill in a specific medium or mediums.
   • Ability to choose appropriate materials for their concept.
   • Willingness to work to achieve the desired aesthetic quality.
   • Awareness of styles and directions in their field, both contemporary and traditional.
   • Demonstrate mastery of visual language and aesthetic vocabulary.

5. Professional Readiness

   • Ability to work professionally at a level commensurate with the MFA degree.
   • Ability to set priorities, manage workload, and meet deadlines.
   • Demonstrate professional work ethic and concern for the quality of their work.

6. Critical Analysis

   • Ability to embrace objective criteria and to discuss work intelligently and critically, including describing facts, analyzing composition, interpreting content, and judging results. Ability to be self-critical.
   • Ability to give and receive constructive criticism, and to benefit from critiques by improving upon errors, and using mistakes as building blocks for growth.

7. Oral Presentation Skills

   • Ability to participate effectively in interviews, discussions, presentations and question and answer sessions.

8. Presentation of Work

   • Ability to display their artwork professionally.
   • Demonstrate care about the aesthetic details and finished quality of their work.

9. Broadened Interest in the Field

   • Broadened interest in other artists’ work and exploring new ideas, techniques, mediums, and approaches.
   • Recognize the need to grow and improve constantly, both technically and aesthetically, and seek out opportunities to do so.
   
   

   MFA Sculpture students will meet the following additional criteria:

10. Communication with the Sculptural Form

    • Ability to clearly incorporate concept, unique viewpoint, technique and chosen medium in a sculptural format, including preliminary sketches, drawings, and maquettes.

11. Conceptual / Critical Thinking

    • Ability to articulate thoughts, including analysis of aesthetics, technique, and concept, in discussing and evaluating one’s own work, work of one’s peers, and the work of professionals.
    • Ability to observe and place ideas and movements in historical and contemporary context.
    • Ability to conduct project-related research with acumen.

12. Sculptural Tools and Skills

    • Ability to use advanced mechanical and technical skills.
    • Ability to appropriately apply advanced tools and skills to projects, showing evidence of forethought and planning.
    • Ability to produce projects showing expertise in craftsmanship.
    • Ability to choose materials, combined with the ability to apply them, resulting in strongly cohesive and unique sculptural projects.

13. Professional Outreach Skills

    • Ability to give clear, concise, professional presentations, including portfolio presentation, utilizing visual, verbal, and written communication skills.
    • Ability to generate creative and clearly resolved project proposal solutions for clients and commissions.
    • Ability to work and communicate effectively with a project team, in order to identify and inform all projects parameters.

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

For application and portfolio requirements, please contact Graduate Admissions at 800-544-2787 or info@academyart.edu.

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