Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking and conceptual problem solving within the particular focus and practice of their field;
- demonstrate a personal vocabulary, approach, and vision in creative work;
- demonstrate knowledge of historical, social, and cultural perspectives in relation to visual art and design;
- demonstrate technical proficiency in relation to the tools, techniques, and materials used in their field; and
- develop a professional package that includes a curriculum vitae/résumé, statement about their work, images of their work, and prepare materials (i.e., teaching and research statement, online portfolio, etc.) for specific careers as a professional emerging artist/designer or in teaching, art, or design-related positions.
The Master of Arts program in art requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00. The degree is offered with emphases in the following studio art disciplines: ceramics, graphic design, three-dimensional (3D) design, drawing, intermedia and video art, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
MA students must hold a BA or BFA in art equivalent to that offered by the University of Iowa. Undergraduate deficiencies, if any, may be made up concurrently with graduate study but do not count toward the graduate degree requirements.
Required Courses
The 38 s.h. of credit required for the degree includes at least 16 s.h. in a primary studio art emphasis; 8 s.h. in a secondary studio art emphasis; and 6 s.h. in the history and theory of art, excluding readings and directed studies. Students provide five images of their MA work for the Grad Archive.
Committee Review
Students undergo a division-wide review for MA candidacy by the faculty during their third semester in residence. All those except painting and drawing students must submit a written artist's statement or thesis.
Thesis
MA students in 3D design are required to write a thesis. They may earn 1 s.h. for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for ARTS:6000 MA Written Thesis, with approval of the thesis supervisor. Thesis credit earned in an MA program is not applicable to MFA requirements. MA students in other studio art disciplines choose the thesis or nonthesis option in consultation with their discipline advisor.
The College of Education offers an MA program in art education; see the MA in teaching and learning in the catalog.
Application materials should be uploaded onto a student's admissions profile (see instructions below under "Application Procedures"). All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and the School of Art, Art History, and Design requirements.
The deadline to submit materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions is Feb. 1 for studio art programs; admission is for the following fall.
School of Art, Art History, and Design Requirements
Prospective graduate students must meet the School of Art, Art History, and Design's admission requirements for the specific degree program they plan to enter. They must submit application materials to the university's Office of Graduate Admissions and to the specific program they wish to enter. Program-specific application requirements and deadline dates are listed below.
All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Application Procedures
Prospective students may apply online through the Office of Admissions website. After submitting an application, applicants will receive email instructions on how to access their admissions profile on MyUI. Applicants then upload the required supplemental documents through a secure portal.
Required documents include transcripts from all colleges and universities an applicant has attended, contact information for three individuals (able to assess applicants' potential for graduate study) designated to provide letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.
Applicants should consult the Studio Art Graduate Bulletin on the School of Art, Art History, and Design website. No separate application is necessary for scholarships or teaching/research assistantships for studio art applicants.
Studio art applicants' portfolio requirements are listed below. Images in the portfolio should be uploaded as PDF files no larger than 72 dpi and 1240 by 1240 pixels. File size must not exceed 18 MB. Images must be numbered according to the order they are to be presented to the admissions committee, beginning with 01. Applicants must include an inventory list that includes each image's name, title, medium, size, and approximate date of work, as well as their name and emphasis. They may supply a link to their personal website.
Portfolio contents and submission requirements for each program are as follows.
- Ceramics: 10 to 20 images.
- Three-dimensional (3D) design and jewelry and metal arts: eight images in the primary studio art discipline and two in a second discipline.
- Graphic design: documentation of 15 to 20 projects. Applicants should include a brief description of each work, illustrated with embedded still images and supplemented by links to online media. The precise number of images varies according to the nature of the work. Contact the School of Art, Art History, and Design with questions.
- Painting and drawing: eight images in the primary studio art medium (either painting or drawing) and two in a second medium.
- Photography: 15 to 20 images.
- Printmaking: 10 to 20 images.
- Sculpture and intermedia: applicants submit the following depending on their preferred area of emphasis.
- Sculpture: Twenty images in sculpture, including details, and two or three images in a second medium. Video links may be included.
- Intermedia: documentation of five to ten projects, including a brief description of each work illustrated with embedded still images and supplemented by links to online media. The precise number of images varies according to the nature of the work; contact the School of Art, Art History, and Design with questions.
The Office of Graduate Admissions notifies all applicants by mail of admission decisions.
Fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and tuition scholarships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of artistic and/or scholarly record.
Iowa Arts Fellowships
The Graduate College awards Iowa Arts Fellowships to two incoming or first-year studio art graduate students each year. For more information, see Iowa Arts Fellowship on the Graduate College website.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Assistantships are awarded to graduate students on the basis of academic record, promise as scholars or artists, and demonstrated ability to do the job. Quality of performance in one's graduate program at Iowa is generally the major criterion for awarding teaching assistantships. The number of hours of work required depends on the amount of the award.
Scholarships and Fellowships
The School of Art, Art History, and Design offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships made possible by contributions from alumni who wish to support promising artists and scholars. These awards are made on the same basis as teaching and research assistantships and a separate application is not necessary.
Information for graduate scholarships and fellowships is included in the admissions package and is available from the School of Art, Art History, and Design main office.
Renewal or reappointment for fellowships and assistantships depends on adequate progress toward the degree (students must accumulate at least 18 s.h. of graduate credit each calendar year and maintain a grade-point average above the required minimum) and satisfactory performance of assistantship duties.
Decisions on assistantships and financial aid generally are made during the latter part of the spring semester for the following academic year.
Many graduates pursue careers that match their degree specializations, for example, commercial or graphic designer, conservation or museum curator or administrator, art educator, public artist, or community art center coordinator or instructor.
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.
Art, MA
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| 38 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a, b, c | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Primary emphasis course | 4 | |
| Elective d | 2 | |
| History and Theory of Art course | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Primary emphasis course | 4 | |
| Secondary emphasis course | 4 | |
| Elective d | 2 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Primary emphasis course | 4 | |
| Secondary emphasis course | 4 | |
| History and Theory of Art course | 3 | |
| Division-Wide Review e | ||
| Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| Primary emphasis course | 4 | |
| Elective d | 2 | |
| Elective d | 2 | |
| Final Exam f | ||
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 38 | |
- a
- Students provide five images of their MA work for the Graduate Archive.
- b
- The degree is offered with emphases in the following studio art disciplines: ceramics, graphic design, drawing, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Note: three-dimensional (3D) design students must complete the Art MA (Thesis) program.
- c
- 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.
- d
- Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate coursework and sequence; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.
- e
- Occurs at the end of the third semester in residence; written abstract of Artist's Statement required unless primary emphasis is painting or drawing.
- f
- Completion of required coursework; provide preliminary Artist's Statement followed by Artist's Statement in the semester of degree completion.