Get your Master of Fine Arts Near Chicago
Governors State’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art is a dynamic multidisciplinary terminal studio
arts degree designed to further the individual
development of artists and to provide them with
professional competency in the studio arts. Areas of
concentration at GovState include: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking,
and Sculpture.
At GovState, areas of study are taught by faculty who are
practicing art professionals with a national exhibition
record. Together our exceptional Studio and Art
History faculty help make GovState one of the most
comprehensive, flexible, and affordable studio art
programs in the Chicagoland region.
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Reach Your Career Goals
The MFA in Studio Art is a terminal degree that will
make you a competitive player within the arts. Your
graduate degree will prepare you to pursue a career as
a professional artist, arts administrator, museum worker,
entrepreneur, or educator.
Delivery Format
Full-time students (9 credits) should expect to spend three academic years to complete the MFA degree (60 credits). A majority of courses are offered to accommodate working students. Part-time enrollment is accepted. The program is based on the individual’s area of interest and undergraduate training and is jointly planned by the student, professional advisor, and a professor who serves as mentor to the student. Students present a solo MFA thesis exhibition at the end of their final year.
Gallery Spaces
Each academic year, the Visual Arts Gallery and on-campus art spaces present over 30 exhibitions; an
exhibition schedule that welcomes research projects,
experimentation, and diverse topics.
MFA Students Embrace Research Through:
- Regular group trips within Chicagoland to the world’s
finest museums and galleries
- MFA Graduate Student Biennial Exhibit
- Yearly Graduate Reviews
- Research Day Presentations
- Dynamic Multimedia Graduate Seminar
- Graduate Assistantships
Apply online for MFA: Studio Art
MFA Special Admission Requirements
Note: The Studio Art MFA supports artists interested in developing their work in Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Applicants interested in Film, Photography, or Digital Imaging should consider applying to the Independent Film and Digital Imaging (IFDI) MFA at GovState.
In addition to meeting university criteria, applicants must submit to Slate:
- • A digital portfolio of 20 artworks, each with accompanying identifying information (title, date, medium, and dimensions).
- ‣ The portfolio should include works completed in the last 5 years, highlighting advanced technical proficiency, independent research, and artistic voice. Submitting recent work helps the review committee better judge the applicant’s current skills and artistic vision.
- ‣ Applicants should select examples that demonstrate a sense of visual and conceptual cohesiveness and rigor appropriate to serious graduate-level studio art work. Please do not include commissioned work in the vein of pet portraits or fan art, etc.
- ‣ Work should be properly documented (see guidelines for photography below) and professionally presented.
- ‣ All major file formats under 5GB are accepted (Pdf, Jpeg, Jpg, PowerPoint, etc.). A link to personal portfolio website may also be included.
- • A 1000-word written statement that outlines the applicant’s artistic development, current body of work, and academic and career goals, with support¬ing rationale and plan of study.
- • Resume/CV
- • Transcripts
- • 3 professional or academic references from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s work and/or artistic vision.
An undergraduate degree in Art is highly recommended, BFA preferred. An exceptional portfolio of work or post-baccalaureate certificate can prove proficiency in the field if an undergraduate degree is not held. Supplemental courses to fill in art foundations deficiencies may be required based on MFA Faculty recommendation. The GRE is not required.
Students will not be admitted to the program until the portfolio and written proposal, reflecting potential for graduate work, have been approved by the graduate faculty review committee. The committee may reach out with a request for more information if need be. Please contact Graduate Admissions (graduateadmission@govst.edu) or the Art Program Coordinator with any questions about the application process.
Guidelines for Photographing Work for a Digital Portfolio:
Professional, properly lit images are expected so that the committee can properly judge the quality of work submitted. Portfolios containing images that do not meet the following standards may be rejected:
- • Images should be clear, in focus, and of the highest resolution possible so that they do not appear blurry or pixelated.
- • The work needs to be well lit. Unless you have professional lighting equipment, it is best to photograph during daylight, next to a window or outside. Do not photograph under regular room overhead lights as these create discoloration and are rarely bright enough for the camera.
- • Make sure that the work is squared—all 4 sides of a 2D work should be parallel to the edges of the camera’s viewfinder.
- • Eliminate distracting backgrounds by filling the camera’s viewfinder as much as possible with the artwork and by using a neutral background.
Application Deadlines:
Priority Deadline April 1 For Fall admission, October 1 for Spring admission (applications are reviewed as needed outside of the priority deadline).
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For more information,
please contact:
MFA Advisor:
Bryce
Johnsen
bjohnsen2@govst.edu
MFA Program Coordinator:
Dr. Rebecca Siefert
rsiefert@govst.edu