Art - Studio Concentration

Overview

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a terminal studio degree designed to further the individual development of degree candidates and to provide them with professional competency in studio arts.

All areas of study are taught by faculty who are practicing art professionals who maintain vigorous national exhibition schedules, which makes SIUE one of the most comprehensive studio art programs in the region.

SIUE is home to two connected buildings devoted exclusively to art and design. Each graduate student in the art studio program has their own private studio with year-round, 24-hour building access.

This program is offered through the Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Program Format

Coursework is offered as traditional daytime and evening courses.

What can I do with an MFA?

A graduate degree in art studio is intended to prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including positions in:

Museums
Art galleries
Cultural institutions
Academia

Recent graduates have found successful careers at many established institutions, including Craft Alliance, St. Louis Artworks and the Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum, and they have exhibited in local and regional galleries and museums. Many of our alumni have gone on to receive commissions, become master printers, preparators, gallery directors, designers, museum staff and university educators.

Hands-on Learning

Our students have access to the extensive collection of cultural objects housed in the University Museum and installed around campus. This allows for the firsthand study of original works of art, as does SIUE's location in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

St. Louis is home to many museums and cultural institutions, including:

Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM)
Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM)
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Cahokia Mounds
And more

SIUE students also participate in AIGA student events and have earned internships at the St. Louis Science Center and Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Students have the opportunity for their work to be on display in the SIUE Art and Design West Gallery, a 3,600-square-foot exhibition space. The Gallery hosts approximately 10 exhibitions each year, featuring national artists, as well as SIUE students and faculty members. Our students have also been regularly represented in exhibitions at the Edwardsville Art Center.

The Sculpture on Campus event provides 12 students the opportunity to design and install large-scale outdoor sculpture throughout campus. Students whose designs are chosen receive a stipend and the professional benefits of proposing, designing and installing major sculptural works that are on view for a full year. Each year, guest jurors award student prizes at the Sculpture on Campus reception after the campus-wide sculpture walk.

To help enhance the academic program, the Department of Art and Design has robust exhibition and visiting artist programs. These programs provide an opportunity for both art majors and non-majors to become acquainted with well-known artists and artwork brought to the University.

Assistantships

The Department of Art and Design awards assistantships to many graduate students. While an assistantship is not guaranteed, selected students receive a 25% assistantship for the duration of the three-year program, which provides a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. The assistantship may include teaching introductory courses, assisting in studio labs/fabrication areas, or in the art gallery. Please visit the Graduate School website for additional financial support opportunities.