M.F.A. in Art

The Master of Fine Arts Program will challenge and support independently motivated artists in their intellectual, philosophical, and artistic development. The graduate program encourages lifelong learning, career success, and community involvement.

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Art is awarded for a high level of professional competence. Admission is highly competitive; it is a three-year interdisciplinary program with a cohort of two to four students accepted each year. The graduate faculty have expertise in studio areas such as painting and drawing, fibers, metals, ceramics, digital and analog photography, sculpture, video, performance, and more. Students are provided with a private studio and have 24/7 access to a wide range of equipment, labs, visiting artists, and events.

Students enrolled in this program study art from multiple perspectives, experience integrative coursework and spend substantial creative time in their studios. Students complete a thesis and are honored with a thesis exhibition in our main gallery. Students also create a thesis monograph that is documented in JMU's search-optimized Scholarly Commons. Graduates receive special commencement recognition along with the Ph.D. and other terminal degree graduates.

We know that success requires equal parts intellect and action. At JMU, that’s what Being the Change is all about.

When students graduating from James Madison University proudly walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, they’re more than just educated. They’re members of a fellowship of doers. They know how to make things happen. They’ve honed their ability to think critically. They’ve learned the importance of a strong work ethic and they’ve become committed to and skilled at collaborating with others. Diplomas in hand, they leave campus determined to live lives of meaning and pursue careers of purpose.

Only two hours from Washington D.C., JMU is fast becoming one of the nation’s leading lights in higher education. That’s because students enjoy unusually engaged relationships with world-class faculty who are at JMU because they want to pursue knowledge and teach talented students.

JMU students, faculty and alumni are using equal parts intellect and action to succeed in every sort of pursuit: they’re boosting innovation and discovery, leading in business, advancing culture, improving health care, reforming education, renewing civil society, competing in athletics — they’re Being the Change in every imaginable way.