This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
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 in art requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a Graduate College program grade-point average of at least 3.00. Students complete the degree with a subprogram in one of the following studio art disciplines: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, intermedia and video art, jewelry and metal arts, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or three-dimensional (3D) design.
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.
The MA in art requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Primary Studio Art Discipline | 16 |
| Secondary Studio Art Discipline | 8 |
| Art History and Theory | 6 |
| Electives | 8 |
| Thesis | |
| Additional Requirements |
Primary Studio Art Discipline
Students complete 16 s.h. of coursework in their primary studio art discipline, which is the same as their subprogram.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics | ||
| Ceramics courses (prefix CERM) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Drawing | ||
| Drawing courses (prefix DRAW) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Graphic Design | ||
| Graphic design courses (prefix DSGN) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Intermedia and Visual Art | ||
| Intermedia and visual art courses (prefix INTM) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Jewelry and Metal Art | ||
| Jewelry and metal art courses (prefix MTLS) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting courses (prefix PNTG) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Photography | ||
| Photography courses (prefix PHTO) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Printmaking courses (prefix PRNT) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture courses (SCLP) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| Three-Dimensional Design | ||
| Three-dimensional design courses (prefix TDSN) numbered 3000 and above | ||
Secondary Studio Art Discipline
Students complete 8 s.h. in one secondary studio art discipline; this cannot be the same as the subprogram in which they are enrolled. The secondary discipline may be one of those listed above, or one of the following.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Book Arts | ||
| Papermaking courses (prefix BKAT) numbered 3000 and above | ||
| UICB:3140-UICB:6520, excluding UICB:3900 and UICB:5550 | ||
| Other | ||
| Courses outside of the studio arts disciplines taken with program permission | ||
Art History and Theory
Students complete 6 s.h. of coursework from ARTH:3000–6999, excluding ARTH:3985, ARTH:3995, ARTH:6020, and ARTH:6040.
Electives
In consultation with an advisor, students complete 8 s.h. of UI coursework numbered 3000 or above, excluding ARTS:7000.
Thesis
MA students with a subprogram in three-dimensional design are required to write a thesis and enroll in ARTS:6000 MA Written Thesis. MA students in other studio art disciplines choose to complete the MA with or without a thesis in consultation with their discipline advisor. Students may earn 1 s.h. of elective credit for writing a technical or substantial thesis by registering for ARTS:6000 with approval of the thesis supervisor, but they are not required to enroll in the course.
Thesis credit earned in an MA program is not applicable to MFA requirement.
Additional Requirements
Students provide five images of their MA work for the Grad Archive.
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.
Teacher Licensure
Students interested in teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education. 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. All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and the School of Art, Art History, and Design.
The deadline to submit materials to 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 Graduate Admissions and to the specific program.
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 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 who are able to assess an applicant's 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.
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
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.