Master of Fine Arts Department Mission and Outcomes | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Master of Fine Arts Department Mission and Outcomes

Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies

The MCAD MFA strives to build a community of makers, thinkers, theorists, researchers, and creative professionals. As they pursue creative work in a lively, interdisciplinary environment, students respond to social, cultural, and professional needs while engaging in entrepreneurial opportunities that stretch across art and design practices. Individual faculty mentorships and formal committee reviews guide students toward mastery of their discipline as practitioners. Successful MFA candidacy will allow students to join professional and academic life.

The MFA program sees the prime scholarship to be in studio practice.

  • Pursue an active production and critical methodology of studio work through individual meetings with mentors, visiting artists, and other community members.
  • Research the historical and contemporary issues of their field and the larger field of art and design.
  • Present and defend ideas related to their work and the work of their fellow students through both written and verbal forms.
  • Contribute to group learning processes in multi-disciplinary critiques, advanced studio seminars, liberal arts seminars, and collaborative projects.
  • Complete a significant body of work, which will include the installation of a thesis exhibition and written thesis statement.