Master of Fine Arts in Art

A rigorous, research-driven path for artists.

The three-year MFA in Art is a terminal professional degree that combines intense artistic practice with critique and critical inquiry within an interdisciplinary, research-driven academic environment. You will develop your studio practice in areas such as art + technology, ceramics, creative photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. 

MFA students refine their artistic practice and enhance their conceptual and technical skills through 60 credit hours of advanced coursework. Most credit hours are in your studio area of focus. Weekly graduate seminars address topics related to contemporary art, critical theory, critique, teaching pedagogy, and professional practices. A formal review each Spring will track your progress. The program culminates in the MFA Thesis Exhibition in the final semester.

Students are encouraged to leverage the extensive resources at UF, a large university offering expertise across more than 100 disciplines, from Art History and Latin American Studies to African Studies, Agriculture, Forestry, Food, Materials Science, and beyond.

All admitted students receive a graduate assistantship that covers tuition, provides health insurance, and offers a stipend in exchange for 20 hours of teaching or professional work each week. Students exhibiting their work beyond Gainesville or traveling to conduct research are eligible to apply for internal funding to help support their work.

Graduates of the program build successful careers as independent artists, college or university faculty, museum or gallery professionals, and creatives at design agencies.

See full details in the UF Graduate Catalog