The M.F.A. degree focuses on book arts as a hands-on practice, as a creative medium, and as a historical and cultural phenomenon. Its principal objectives are to provide aesthetic and scholarly contexts for the making of creative work and for the study of book history, arts, and technologies. It also offers a structured program in book-related disciplines for graduate students interested in studio arts, in librarianship, and in literary and cultural history.

Learning Outcomes

Students will learn:

  • breadth of hands-on and contextual (studio, art historical, cultural) experience with art, craft, and design disciplines within the book arts;
  • depth of study within one or more craft disciplines within the book arts;
  • sustained, project-based problem solving accomplished through art-making;
  • proficiency in hand skills (scale: competence, proficiency, excellence/mastery);
  • interdisciplinary synthesis of studio art, scholarly practice, and material analysis;
  • critical thinking within and across these book-based disciplines; and
  • professional development and exposure to career tracks.

The Master of Fine Arts program in book arts requires a minimum of 60 s.h. of graduate credit, including a thesis. Students complete core courses and work with a faculty advisor to design an individualized curriculum spanning several studio practice disciplines: artist book work, bookbinding, lettering arts, digital book work, papermaking, or letterpress printing. The degree culminates with the successful completion of a thesis.

The M.F.A. requires the following coursework.

Studio Requirements

Courses from the areas below should be selected in consultation with an advisor.

Required Core Electives

Three of these (9 s.h.):
UICB:4205/BKAT:4205Bookbinding I: Materials and Techniques3
UICB:4300/ARTS:4300Letterpress I3
UICB:4400/ARTS:4400History of Western Letterforms3
UICB:4415/ARTS:4415Calligraphy I: Foundational Hands3
UICB:5110/BKAT:5110Islamic and Asian Papermaking3
UICB:5130/BKAT:5120European Papermaking History and Technique3

Graduate Book Arts Workshop

UICB:6520Graduate Book Arts Workshop (must be taken three times for a total of 9 s.h.)9

Book Art Seminar

This course:
UICB:6510Book Art Seminar: History, Practice, and Critique3

Studio Practice Electives

Studio practice courses15

Scholarly Inquiry Requirement

Two of the following, or students may request to use related courses approved by the head of the scholarly inquiry area (6 s.h.):
UICB:3140/ENGL:3140Literature and the Book3
UICB:3142/ENGL:3142Topics in Book History3
UICB:3980/ARTH:3980American Print Culture3
UICB:4150/ENGL:4150/SLIS:4150Introduction to Book Studies3
UICB:4910/HIST:4910/SLIS:4910The Book in the Middle Ages3
UICB:4920/HIST:4920/SLIS:4920The Transition from Manuscript to Print3
UICB:5600/SLIS:5600Reading Culture: History and Research in Print and Digital Media3
UICB:6100Book Studies Proseminar3

Material Analysis Requirement

This course:
UICB:4930/HIST:4430Topics in Material Analysis3

Additional Electives

Elective courses (may include 0–6 s.h. of thesis credit; see below)15

Thesis

Can be taken for a maximum of 6 s.h.:
UICB:6540M.F.A. Thesis Hoursarr.

M.F.A./M.A. in Library and Information Science

The Center for the Book and the School of Library and Information Science offer a combined Master of Fine Arts in book arts/Master of Arts in library and information science. The combined degree program allows students with strong interests in the book arts, book history, and material book studies to also gain expertise in library and information science. The degrees provide book artists and librarians with credentials reflecting a depth of skills and knowledge that have been used to secure positions in special collections libraries and archives. Students in the combined program earn both degrees by completing fewer semester hours than if each degree was completed separately.

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program. For more information, see the M.A. in library and information science in the Catalog.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website. Visit Admissions on the Center for the Book website for more information.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Book Arts, M.F.A.

Plan of Study Grid (Manual)
Academic Career
Any SemesterHours
60 s.h. of graduate level coursework must be completed; graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a
Work with academic advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.
 Hours0
First Year
Any Semester
Required Core Elective b 3
Required Core Elective b 3
Required Core Elective b 3
Studio Practice Elective c 3
Studio Practice Elective c 3
Studio Practice Elective c 3
Scholarly Inquiry Requirement d, e 3
 Hours21
Fall
UICB:6510 Book Art Seminar: History, Practice, and Critique 3
 Hours3
Second Year
Any Semester
UICB:4930 Topics in Material Analysis 3
Studio Practice Elective c 3
Studio Practice Elective c 3
Scholarly Inquiry Requirement d, e 3
 Hours12
Fall
UICB:6520 Graduate Book Arts Workshop f 3
 Hours3
Spring
Participate in third semester review, usually at the beginning of the fourth semester. Refer to UICB Student Handbook and academic advisor for more details.
UICB:6520 Graduate Book Arts Workshop f 3
 Hours3
Third Year
Any Semester
Additional Elective g 3
Additional Elective g 3
Additional Elective g 3
Additional Elective g, h 0
Additional Elective g, h 0
 Hours9
Fall
UICB:6520 Graduate Book Arts Workshop f 3
 Hours3
Spring
UICB:6540 M.F.A. Thesis Hours i 1 - 6
Exam: Final Exam-Thesis
 Hours1-6
 Total Hours55-60
a
Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
b
Choose three courses for a total of 9 s.h. from UICB:4205, UICB:4300, UICB:4400, UICB:4415, UICB:5110, UICB:5130
c
Complete a total of 15 s.h. of Studio Practice Elective courses. Work with academic advisor to determine appropriate graduate course and sequence; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.
d
Complete a total of 6 s.h. of Scholarly Inquiry courses. Work with academic advisor to determine two appropriate graduate courses and sequence from a select list OR related coursework approved by the head of the scholarly inquiry area: see General Catalog and department website for specifics.
e
Choose two courses for a total of 6 s.h. from UICB:3140, UICB:3142, UICB:3980, UICB:4150, UICB:4910, UICB:4920, UICB:5600, UICB:6100
f
Must be taken three times for a total of 9 s.h.
g
Complete a total of 15 s.h. of Additional Elective courses. Work with academic advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence; see General Catalog and department website for specifics. Up to 6 s.h. allowed for thesis credit.
h
Hours may be required for this Additional Elective if fewer than 6 s.h. of thesis credits are completed.
i
Maximum of 6 s.h. of thesis credit allowed.