Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

The Department of Art + Design faculty will review each candidate’s work following completion of 20 semester hours or first year of graduate study and following completion of 40 semester hours or second year of graduate study before permitting advancement toward completion of an MFA Thesis and MFA Project.

Exit Requirements for the MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design with separate tracks in Professional Practices or Academic Appointment:

The MFA Project and MFA Thesis in Graphic Design is completed over the course of two semesters. Typically, a Candidate would enroll in three semester hours of MFA Project (ARTS 5398) and three semester hours of MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395) during the fall semester. The Candidate would then continue completing their exit requirements during the spring semester by enrolling in three semester hours of MFA Project (ARTS 5398) and three semester hours of MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395).

MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design with track in Professional Practices

MFA Project (ARTS 5398)
A multi-media campaign project for their client of choice will be presented in a professional format as either a bound printed deck or digital website, to include:

• Campaign Overview
• Client Research
• Creative Strategy
• Implementation Strategy
• Creative Development
• Asset Development
• Future Exploration
• Conclusion
• Additional Considerations Unique to Project
• Public Presentation and Oral Defense of Final Project

MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395)

A 5,000-7,000-word written Thesis will serve as the foundational context for the Candidate’s multi-media campaign, to be developed for their client of choice. It will discuss applicable research that supports their proposed design solutions, consider the client’s market and category competitive analyses, review target audience behaviors and demographics, and defend technical and conceptual methodologies of the proposed campaign content.

MFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design with track in Academic Appointment

MFA Project (ARTS 5398)
The Candidate’s MFA Project will demonstrate advanced critical thinking in analyzing industry history, theory, criticism, and practices to support their research. The Candidate will present and defend their final Project during a scheduled public Defense. Additionally, the Candidate will adapt their self-promotional materials for application to positions in Education to include a Teaching Philosophy, Statement of Research, and Student Work samples under the department’s Portfolio and Professional Practices Course.

MFA Thesis (ARTS 5395)
A written Thesis suitable for publication as outlined by the Candidate’s Thesis Committee.