THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ART GRADUATE PROGRAM (STUDIO)

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1 THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ART GRADUATE PROGRAM (STUDIO) Program Requirements, Graduate Statements and Thesis Guidelines--MA/MFA Program Requirements: Master Of Arts Degree In Studio Art The MA degree in Studio Art requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work, including 6 hours in Art History, hours in a major studio field; 6-9 hours in a minor or selected studio areas is an optional program choice. Candidacy for the degree is determined by a review after the completion of 18 semester hours. A thesis exhibition and an oral review are required for successful completion of the program. Normally, at least 3 terms are required to complete the program. Master Of Fine Arts Degree In Studio Art Admission to the Master of Fine Arts program is by recommendation of a faculty review committee. This committee reviews the student's work after the completion of a minimum of hours of graduate work in the Master of Arts (Studio) program. These hours must include graduate work in Art History, in the major and in another studio area. The Master of Fine Arts degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate work, including at least 9 hours in Art History, hours in a major studio area and hours outside the major. Graduate students may select a minor concentration or elect classes from within the Department of Art or approved electives. Admission to candidacy for the MFA degree is determined by a review after 45 hours of approved graduate credit. To successfully pass the candidacy review, the student must demonstrate a personal direction in his/her work of sufficient quality for an MFA thesis exhibition. *A thesis exhibition is presented at the end of the candidate's final term. During the thesis exhibition, an oral examination will be conducted by the faculty committee. At that time, the candidate will defend his/her exhibition and written statement. *See the Gallery policy for MFA thesis exhibitions. Review Procedure: A Graduate Review Committee is selected by each graduate student. The committee is comprised of faculty members in the student's major, two additional studio faculty and an art historian. The chairperson of the committee is a faculty member from the student's major area of study. The Chair of the Department of Art serves on all graduate committees. After consultation with the departmental chair and the graduate committee chair, the student may add other faculty to his/her committee. This committee which is to be established after completion of 18hours, will work with the graduate student throughout his/her studies. 1

2 The committee meets at or near the end of each term to review the student's progress and makes recommendations on his/her behalf. These reviews can be scheduled more often if the situation warrants. The student or any member of the committee may call for a review by notifying the committee chair in writing. The student is provided with a written summary of the Graduate Review Committee's comments. Residency Requirements: Residency is required of all students in the Studio Graduate Program. Graduate Statements: All graduate students, except those in their final semester, must present a written statement concerning their work in the current term. It must be typed, double spaced and of suitable length to cover the issues of content and process. This statement will be distributed to the members of the Graduate Review Committee one week prior to the scheduled semester review. Its nature and content should be sufficient to discuss the student's direction ideas and influences. Thesis Guidelines - MA/MFA The Master of Arts and the Master of Fine Arts degree includes a thesis statement and thesis exhibition. The MA/MFA Degree - Thesis Statement The thesis statement is a formal paper, written by the candidate, as a portion of the requirements for the MA/MFA degree. The thesis topic should be based directly on the candidate's creative studio work and should include references to other artists that are relevant to or have influenced the candidate's creative work. The thesis statement must: 1. Provide evidence of scholarly research and thought through direct reference to influences, concepts and principles. 2. Be presented as a competent, written discourse. 3. Reveal the ability to select, organize and demonstrate, in writing, the independent thought and originality reflected in the candidate's studio work (MA/MFA exhibition). 4. Examine and discuss appropriate historical, philosophical aesthetic issues. All members of the candidate's graduate review committee will review the thesis statement in each of its developmental stages. The candidate will be called upon to discuss the finished thesis statement as part of the oral exam requirement. 2

3 DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION SHEET ON PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS IN STUDIO AREAS Please fill in this data sheet and return to the Department of Art. Examples of work are to be sent directly to the department. NAME: CURRENT ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE NUMBER: ( ) SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: - - EDUCATION: High School: Undergraduate: Other Study: OPTIONAL: Date of Birth: Martial Status: EXPERIENCE: List experience in any fields of art, including exhibitions, travel and teaching. Proposed Degree: MA MFA Proposed art major and minor (selected from ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture) Major Minor Anticipated date of enrollement: 3

4 REGISTRATION General Requirements Any graduate student utilizing the assistance of a faculty member or any facility of The University of Alabama in relation to a degree program must be registered in an appropriate course reflecting that activity. This includes such activities as coursework, thesis and dissertation advising and reading, comprehensive examinations, and other degree requirements. Registration in courses numbered 599 (Thesis Research), 699 (Dissertation Research), 598 (master s Research), and 698 (Doctoral Research) may be repeated. PREREQUISTIES If the student s undergraduate preparation in either the major or minor subject is considered inadequate, certain preliminary courses will be prescribed by the department or school concerned. These courses become prerequisites and do not carry graduate credit. They must be taken, if possible, during the first semester of enrollment. ASSISTANTSHIPS AND ADMISSION STATUS Conditionally admitted students, those on probation, and those in nondegree status may not hold assistantships without special permission of the graduate dean. All graduate assistants must be full-time students. However, full-time means from 1 to 12 hours of graduate work, depending upon the obligations of the assistantship. A 1.00 full-time equivalent (FTE) assistantship award would represent a 40-hour work week. Minimum full-time enrollment loads for graduate assistants vary with the FTE of their awards. Maximum course loads are also recommended for each FTE level. The following table illustrates these limits. Any exceptions to these limits must be approved by the divisional dean and the dean of the Graduate School. FTE Level Minimum Hours Req Maximum Hours 1.00 (40 hours) (30 hours) (20 hours) (10 hours) 9 12 If you are awarded a 0.50 assistantship your tuition waiver would be $ , and your stipend would be $ monthly before taxes. If you are awarded a 1.25 assistantship your tuition waiver would be $889.00, and your stipend would be $ monthly before taxes. 4

5 DEPARTMENT OF ART Craig Wedderspoon Graduate Coordinator (205) Box Tuscaloosa, Alabama Phone: (205) (dept. office) Submit directly to the Art Department Portfolio of twenty significant pieces representing your work in major and minor fields(portfolio can be either slides or CD) Image identification sheet Self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage for return of slides or CD Completed assistantship application (if desired) & Dept. Information Sheet 3 Letters of Recommendation with attached recommendation form (see forms at Admission Requirements Applicants to all graduate programs must satisfy admission policies established by the Graduate School of The University of Alabama. The Graduate School does not require the MAT or GRE for admission to the graduate program in studio art. All application materials should be sent to the dean of the Graduate School at the time of application. Each studio applicant must submit a comprehensive portfolio of work directly to the art department. The portfolio should include a minimum of 20 works of art in the proposed major. Slides or CD reproductions of art work are preferred. It is recommended that a prospective graduate student hold a degree in art, having maintained at least a B average in art. Additional courses may be required of the applicant, which would make acceptance into the program conditional. All studio art students enter the M.A. level graduate program. Residency is required of all studio art students. GRADUATE SCHOOL Box Tuscaloosa, Alabama Phone: (205) for online application and downloadable forms Submit directly to the Graduate School: Completed application form Statement of Purpose Official transcript (s) Application fee *DEADLINES: Completed application due: Fall admission: March 15 th Spring admission: October 15 th 5

6 UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Department of Art ASSISTANTSHIP APPLICATION FORM Check appropriate box(es) Graduate Teaching Assistant Emily Irene Thames Endowed Fine Arts Scholarship Fund Applicant (Annual Outstanding Incoming Graduate Art Student Awards) NAME Last First Middle CURRENT ADDRESS Street City State Zip Code TELEPHONE: ( ) SS#: - - EDUCATION: Undergraduate: G.P.A.: Overall Art Graduate: G.P.A.: Please list graduate credits taken at other institutions: Other Study: EXPERIENCE: List experience in any fields of art, including exhibitions, travel and teaching. (Use reverse side if necessary). PROPOSED DEGREE: MA MFA PROPOSED ART MAJOR & MINOR: (Select from ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture) MAJOR MINOR Anticipated date of enrollment: 6

7 CERAMICS The graduate program in ceramics offers students a full range of courses dealing with all the aspects of the medium. The ceramic area is a large, fully-equipped facility with a complete inventory of clay and glaze materials. The work spaces total 7,700 square feet with graduate studio space available. Provided are clay mixing equipment, fourteen kick and electric potter's wheels, slab roller, ball mills, blunger for slip mixing, frit furnaces, five gas downdraft and updraft kilns ranging from twenty cubic feet to one hundred and eighty cubic feet, raku kiln, four electric kilns and materials for experimental kiln construction. A full stock of raw glaze materials is available for both low and highfire work. Plaster is also on hand for mold- making and casting. Personal instruction is given in all forming techniques, glaze calculations and kiln-firings. Students are encouraged to experiment with the medium and to explore new processes. Considerable emphasis is placed on the student's development of individual concepts and forms. PAINTING The philosophy of the painting program centers on the understanding that painting is a complex and vital art form that exists in a state of constant flux. It is a tradition that is both mired in its own history and capable of regularly evolving and redefining its purpose and place. Painting, as a discipline, often employs methods of production that go far beyond the brush. Painting today may incorporate a multitude of working methodologies that borrow from sculpture, photography, printmaking and digital media. While expanded definitions of painting are embraced, the program recognizes that some of the most cutting edge and provocative work produced today may employ traditional studio practices. The primary goal of the program is to enhance the student ability to conceive of a strong personal vision, and therefore its emphasis is individual growth. In order to facilitate the intellectual growth of its students the program is centered around weekly group critiques and critical discussions on issues relating to the discipline. The painting concentration is supported by well-lighted studio space, a comprehensive wood shop, and access to the Meadows Computer Lab. Studio or individual work areas are provided for reach graduate student. PHOTOGRAPHY The primary emphasis in graduate studies in photography is on the development of the individual student's vision and ideas. Photography is viewed as a means of personal exploration and expression. Instruction is individualized and tailored to each student's interest and needs. Although the facilities and equipment are basic and principally designed for black and white printing, the exploration of alternative and non-silver applications is encouraged. Graduate students are encouraged to actively participate in teaching activities on the undergraduate level and to increase their knowledge of the history of photography and the contemporary art world. Facilities include a film developing area, two darkroom containing twenty enlargers, a classroom with display space and a small photography gallery which has solo exhibits monthly during the Fall and Spring terms. PRINTMAKING Graduate printmaking is conducted in a workshop situation and with facilities for intaglio, lithography and relief. Studio space measures approximately 2,650 square feet divided among three rooms. The intaglio area is equipped with a 30" x 54" Crull etching press, a 33 1/2" x 60" Takach-Garfield etching press and a 23" x 42" Kimber press. There are two large hot plates and space for both black inking and color work. This same area also contains two proofing presses for relief printing. The lithography area has three presses, the largest being a 32" x 60" Takach- Garfield press. There are fifty lithographic stones ranging in size up to 24" x 30" and a 1,000 pound capacity truck lift for moving stones. A 28" x 38" x 3" slate support is used for plate lithography. A variety of rollers is available, including three larger diameter rollers. A separate area contains equipment for photo printmaking and includes a 30" x 40" Nu Arc Plate Maker and an Eskofot 5060 Copy camera capable of enlarging up to 18" x 24". SCULPTURE The graduate program in sculpture affords students the opportunity to work in a variety of media and processes while emphasizing individual concepts and directions. The program encompasses not only the more traditional media, methods and processes such as carving, casting, construction, welding, forging and modeling, but also modern technologies which can be adapted to sculptural activities, idioms and forms. The sculpture program is supported by excellent facilities, equipment, tools and graduate studio space. The sculpture area occupies 5,400 square feet of space. Included are a woodworking shop fully equipped with band saws, tilting arbor saw, 14" jointer, 24" surfacer, 36" x 12" lathe, 20" disc sander and oscillating spindle sander, a foundry for both investment and sand molding and casting, forging and welding(acetylene, arc, TIG, MIG) and a large variety of hand, electric and pneumatic tools.