Laurel Jay Carpenter, Graduate Coordinator for Studio Art 903-886-5208 (LaurelJay.Carpenter@tamuc.edu)
Veronica Vaughan, Graduate Coordinator for Visual Communication 214-954-3636 (Veronica.Vaughan@tamuc.edu)
The Department of Art inspires and prepares students to excel in the art profession, including the fine and applied arts, art history, and art teaching fields, and also expands the educational experiences of non-majors.
The general objectives of graduate study in art include:
- the refinement of technical skills in chosen studio areas;
- the development of a critical understanding of one’s own art in its historical, theoretical, and conceptual context; and
- the mastery of communication skills both in practice and in teaching.
These objectives are achieved through a close working relationship among students and faculty, wherein a student may pursue a course of study designed for his or her particular educational goals.
Programs of Graduate Work
Master of Arts in Art w/emphasis in Visual Communication
The Master of Arts in Art with an emphasis in Visual Communication Option II Non-Thesis is a 30-semester hour program offered at the Universities Center at Dallas near the Arts District. The MA-VisCom degree is open to all qualified applicants in the expanding field of Visual Communication but is especially relevant to the needs of practicing professionals who aspire to move upwards into design-centric leadership roles in their business or organization. Students explore innovative approaches to the creative process, progressive business practices and strategies, product advancement, and effective marketing techniques within the context of contemporary design. There is no thesis or foreign language requirement for this degree.
Master of Arts in Art w/emphasis in Studio Art
The Master of Arts in Art with an emphasis in Studio Art Option II Non-Thesis is a 30-semester hour program offered on the Commerce campus. Students may pursue the following areas: painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, ceramics, and mixed and multi-media art. Applicants for the degree should already possess the technical skills to work in one or more of these areas, as the graduate program concentrates on conceptual innovation in one’s work rather than technical instruction. The MA degree is suitable for students seeking to improve their portfolio, gain educational credentials, or to place themselves in a more competitive position to apply to the MFA program in art. There is no thesis or foreign language requirement for this degree.
Master of Fine Arts in Art w/emphasis in Visual Communication
The Master of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Visual Communication serves the practicing professional in this growing field who aspires to greater proficiency in industry-related innovation and problem-solving, business strategies, ideation and marketing, or a career in design education. The MFA is regarded as the terminal degree in the field of Visual Communication. The capstone of the degree is a design-centric research project (ARTS 545-Exhibition Topics and ARTS 548-Exhibition Development) and accompanying exhibition (ARTS 552-MFA Exhibition in Visual Communication) on a topic incorporating business practices, design education and social responsibility. During these final courses within the degree, MFA-VisCom candidates are expected to advance a premise that significantly expands the current boundaries of knowledge and to defend it through a convincing campaign or body of art works. Students who fail to meet the expectations of the program can be suspended from the MFA track. In such cases, it may be possible for the student to complete a Master of Arts with an emphasis in Visual Communication.
Master of Fine Arts in Art w/emphasis in Studio Art
The MFA program is intended for graduate students both committed to and capable of intensive, advanced study culminating in an individual and self-generated language of expression. It is a rigorous course of study as it leads to the terminal degree in the fine arts. MFA students are initially encouraged to explore a broad range of issues meaningful to their work, while simultaneously refining their technical skills. Their explorations may touch upon individual modes of expression, formal elements, experimentation with media and methods, themes and symbols, and relationships among the visual arts and other disciplines. Subsequent courses direct the student toward more mature and self-critical art, leading ultimately to a sustained and cohesive body of work that forms the Master of Fine Art Exhibition (ARTS 515).
MFA students in the Studio Art emphasis will participate in mid-term and end-of-term critiques. These critiques, together with the periodic evaluations of the student’s supervisory committee, determine whether or not the student meets the expectations of the program. Students who fail to pass a critique or fail in other ways to meet the expectations of the program can be suspended from the MFA track. Students must pass a critique for candidacy after their second semester or in the semester of their 30th hour (whichever comes first). The critique for MFA candidacy will include an exhibit supported by a written statement. Students who fail their candidacy may still pursue the Master of Arts in Art with an emphasis in Studio Art.
Admission
Admission to a graduate program is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the department. Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission in addition to meeting the general university requirements in Art.
Contact the departmental Graduate Coordinator for these requirements. The graduate degrees in art are individually designed to meet the unique educational, personal and professional needs of the student.
Degree Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with an art major or comparable experience, nine semester hours of art history and a minimum grade point average of 'B' in all undergraduate studio art courses.
In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, applicants for the MFA degree will submit an application to the Department of Art that includes a portfolio, a statement of intent, transcripts of all previous college-level work, and one letter of recommendation. Copies of transcripts are acceptable if the originals are on file at the Graduate School. All of these materials are important in considering an applicant’s suitability for graduate study, but the portfolio is of paramount importance because it represents the extent of a student’s education in art. Care should be taken in the selection and photographing of works for the portfolio (CD portfolio is acceptable). It is the Department's preference that the portfolio be posted online and that the link to the portfolio be provided to the appropriate graduate coordinator.
Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.
Note: Individual departments may reserve the right to dismiss from their programs students who, in their judgment, would not meet the professional expectations of the field for which they are training.
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Art
Joseph Daun
Professor
B.F.A., Florida State University; M.F.A., University of Texas at San Antonio
Josephine Durkin
Associate Professor
B.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University; M.F.A., Yale University.
Josh Ege
Associate Professor
B.F.A., University of North Texas; M.F.A. Texas A&M University-Commerce
Mitchell McGarr
Associate Professor
B.F.A.,Texas Tech University; M.F.A., Texas A&M University-Commerce
Leigh Merrill
Associate Professor
B.F.A. University of New Mexico; M.F.A., Mills College
Emily Newman
Associate Professor
BA., Carleton College, MA., The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D., The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Chad Smith
Associate Professor
M.S., East Texas State University; M.A., Texas AM University-Commerce.
Vaughn Wascovich
Professor
B.F.A., Youngstown State University; M.F.A., Columbia College.