Master of Fine Arts | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Master of Fine Arts

Interdisciplinary.
Mentor Based.
Limitless Possibilities.

Situated within Minneapolis’s vibrant art-and-design scene, MCAD's Master of Fine Arts is a rigorous four-semester program designed to expand your thinking and promote experimentation in your practice. As a diverse, international community of makers, thinkers, researchers, and professionals, students explore social, cultural, and professional needs. Students are invited to be strongly self-directed and highly motivated as they set personalized goals and plans to guide each semester in collaboration with their mentor. 

Our diverse student body—one with a robust international presence—explores and fulfills social, cultural, and professional needs stretching across practices. Students are encouraged and supported in exploring wide-ranging processes and histories via rigorous studio practice, individual mentorship, and intense discourse.

MFA student standing in front of their artwork

Hear about the MFA experience

As a Master's of Fine Arts student, you will:

  • Work one-to-one with a mentor to establish goals and plans for each semester.
  • Work independently and collaboratively in studios, classrooms, modern creative facilities, and public gallery spaces.
  • Pursue creative work in one or more practices: animation, comic arts, drawing/painting, public arts, experimental video/film, furniture design, graphic design, illustration, installation, paper and book arts, photography, printmaking, sculpture, web and multimedia, and performance.
  • Participate in opportunities in the Twin Cities’ creative community that includes galleries, art centers, regional funders, and nonprofits designed to set you up for success post-graduation. 
  • Become part of the strong, supportive MCAD alumni network.
     
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Class Highlights

This 60-credit Masters of Fine Arts program required classes include: 

  • Criticism and Theory
  • Mentored Credits
  • Graduate Critique Seminar
  • Community and Context
  • Thesis Preparation

After MCAD

There are many paths to explore with a Master's in Fine Arts. Potential careers include:

  • Exhibiting Artist
  • Arts Educator
  • Arts Administrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • Photographer
  • Editorial Illustrator

People

Current Mentor Roster
Mentorship​ ​is​ ​regarded​ ​as​ ​the​ ​core​ ​of​ ​the​ ​MCAD​ MFA​ ​curriculum. Students​ ​work​ ​one-on-one​ ​with​ ​their​ ​mentor​ ​to advance​ their ​studio​ ​work,​ ​research,​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​practice.​

Current Students
Current students partake in various events such as field trips, professional practice workshops, and interacting with visiting artists. Students are encouraged to utilize the program’s flexible structure by tailoring experiences to reach individual goals.

Alumni
In a survey of MFA alumni from 2010-2019, 85% reported working and doing freelance work in their field of choice. 

Opportunities 

Opportunities such as funded launch programs are available to help MFA students set themselves up for success after graduation. Opportunities range across galleries, residencies, art centers, and various nonprofits.

  • MCAD / Arrowmount University Fellows Scholarship
  • Soo Visual Arts Partnership
  • Forecast Public Art Design/Illustration Fellowship
  • Rochester Art Center Partnership
  • Wisher Sponsored Residency
  • Mildred’s Lane Fellowship

"I initially joined the program because I was at a point in my life where I had no discipline in my studio practice, and I felt no real foundation to the work I made. MCAD allowed me to build confidence in my work again." –Sishir Bommakanti ’18, Freelance Illustrator