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Arts-Fine Arts

Degree Type
  • Master of Fine Arts
Location
  • Main Campus in Radford, VA
Format
  • In-Person

 

Overview

Reach new creative heights with our M.F.A. degree with concentrations in Studio Art or Design Thinking. Graduate students receive individualized instruction from accomplished artists and art historians. Students benefit from group critiques, studio visits, workshops with visiting artists, and in-depth experiences to solve complex design problems.

student painting

Degree Concentrations Offered

M.F.A. with a concentration in Studio Art
Take courses in drawing, painting, watercolor, ceramics, sculpture, photography, animation, video, illustration, and graphic design, and international art history. To develop professional practices, you'll complete courses in studio management, professional writing, and instructional design. The Studio Art concentration is in the Department of Art.

M.F.A. with a concentration in Design Thinking
The Design Thinking concentration is a 100% online, terminal degree graduate program that provides students with in-depth experiences in using the design process to solve complex problems. While enrolled in this graduate program, students participate in interdisciplinary teams using creative and multifaceted design methodologies that address international issues. The Design Thinking concentration is in the Department of Design.

Why Study Art at Radford?

  • You’ll get excellent and attentive mentorship from faculty.
  • We are a small and diverse community of creators.
  • We offer affordable and high-quality programs.
  • You’ll get opportunities to meet and work with professional artists through the department’s artist-in-residence program.

Careers and Internships

Some possible career paths you can follow with an M.F.A.:

  • Exhibiting artist
  • Art director and art leadership
  • College-level teaching gallery and museum curation
  • Studio manager

Opportunities for Art students at Radford

Students gain the ability to further refine and focus their creative voices. They will become responsive, flexible, and independent creatives, makers, and thinkers contributing to visual culture. Art students will develop an understanding of the visual arts through a studio-based curriculum and develop professional practices to pursue work as an independent artist, college instructor, museum worker, or arts administrator.

Admissions Requirements

  • A cover letter indicating professional goals and artist statement
  • Electronic portfolio with 10–20 recent works in 1 single PDF document (do not to exceed 50MB). At least 50% of images should be of work in your preferred medium.
  • B.F.A. degree preferred.
  • B.A. or B.S. degrees in art or a related discipline will be considered. Applicants must have at least 12 credit hours in upper-level studios and 6 credit hours in art history. A strong portfolio showing evidence of quality work will be considered.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.75 overall.
  • 2 letters of reference.

  • 1 of 5 NASAD accredited art programs in Virginia

    Across the nation, fewer than 350 institutions have earned the prestigious distinction of being accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Ready to Study at Radford?

We want to get to know you better and we are excited that you are ready to take your next step and learn more about us. We are here to help you and look forward to working with you during your college search process.