The School of Art & Design engages in creative, material and cultural inquiry within the discourse of practice, history and theory. The rigor and systematic inquiry our faculty, students and staff engage with on a daily basis- in classrooms, studios and labs are grounded in creation of new knowledge in, through and about the arts. Faculty in the School of Art & Design emphasize the role of the imaginative intellect in creating, criticizing and constructing knowledge that is not only new but also has the capacity to transform human understanding in an increasingly visual world.
The MFA programs at Alfred University, School of Art & Design are consistently ranked in the top ten nationally by US News and World Report. The graduate program in Ceramic Art is consistently acknowledged as number one.
Due to our coursework and dedicated faculty and staff, we provide students with skills in both making and research all the while creating curiosity, innovation and goals higher than they imagined. Our alumni have gone on to pursue active careers as artists, designers, curators, art directors, professors as well as a host of other opportunities in creative fields.
School of Art & Design faculty members (ceramic artists, sculptors, glass and neon artists, painters, printmakers, photographers, video and sound artists, designers, curators, art history scholar’s) critical inquiry and practice are consistently recognized by galleries, museums and forums of excellence worldwide.
Policy - Orientation and Handbook
MFA degree programs within the School of Art & Design are full-time, in-residence programs. These degrees are completed over two years and consist of four sequential semesters. Due to the sequential nature of the curriculum, students must begin the program in the fall semester and continue in a traditional fall/spring rotation. School of Art & Design MFA programs are full-time and are not designed for part-time study.
MFA students in the School of Art & Design will participate in an orientation process to onboard them into the graduate program. During orientation, students will receive the School of Art & Design MFA Handbook. Students are expected to read, review, sign, and agree to all policies, rules, and regulations outlined in the handbook. The handbook is updated annually and is subject to change.
Master of Fine Arts
The Master of Fine Arts degree objective is to prepare individuals for careers in Ceramic Art, Electronic Integrated Arts, Painting or Sculpture/Dimensional Studies (with a concentration in glass art or sculpture).
This two-year program is highly competitive; only eight Ceramic Art, five Electronic Integrated Arts, seven Painting, and five Sculpture/Dimensional Studies students are admitted annually. Each accepted M.F.A candidate in Ceramic Art, Electronic Integrated Arts, and Sculpture Dimensional Studies receive full tuition waivers and a financial stipend, either as a teaching assistant or as a graduate assistant. The Painting program does not offer tuition waivers.
In addition to studio courses, all graduate students take credits in a series of forums, seminars, art history, studio electives, and technical courses relevant to their area of study.
In the second year, students write a thesis and present an M.F.A thesis exhibition in the School of Art & Design’s Galleries. Students must submit documentation of their written thesis and their exhibition to Scholes Library as well as to the School of Art & Design's Dean's Office.