MFA - Master of Fine Arts

Visual Arts

The Graduate Programme in Visual Arts at York University stresses a multi-media approach to artmaking in keeping with contemporary ideas and current trends within the artworld.

The programme combines studio practice and art related theory and criticism. MFA Students choose advisors who share common theoretical interests and can guide them in the realization of their visual projects.

Set within and responding to a University context, the MFA program in Visual Arts seeks to provide students with an ability to think critically about their art practice and its relation to society as a whole. Therefore, individual creative research and art production is developed in conjunction with an evolving understanding of theoretical discourses and debates surrounding contemporary art and culture.

Central to the program is independent studio research. No emphasis is placed on any one medium. Drawing, digital, painting, performance, photography, printmedia, sculpture and time-based art (performance, video, audio, time-based installation, interactive media) are represented and much of the student research crosses these disciplines.

It is now possible for students to obtain their Master of Fine Arts in combination with a Master of Business Administration degree. Please see the Combined MFA/MBA section of this website for more information.

Degree Requirements

Students complete their degree by thesis support paper and exhibition:

Courses

All first-year student must complete two half-courses in contemporary theory and criticism, one that shall include Visual Arts 5600 3.0: Contemporary Theory in Visual Arts. the second half-course may be Visual Arts 5610 3.0: Theoretical Issues in Contemporary Art, or students may substitute it with half-course offering in the Graduate Art History Program.

All first-year students must also complete one full course in student practice, Visual Arts 5630 6.0: Contemporary Investigation in Studio Practices. All first- and second-year students must complete the MFA seminar, Visual Arts 5620 6.0. This course is taken in both years of the program.

Those lacking sufficient academic background may be required to do additional makeup work in art history or philosophy. Incoming students have the option of taking an additional cognitive course from another discipline that is appropriate to their research.

In the second year of the program, upon successful completion of Visual Arts 5630 6.0: Contemporary Investigation in Studio Practices, Masters in Fine arts students in Visual Arts enroll in VISA 6000 0.0: MFA Thesis, to engage in independent studio research and work with two co-supervisors and one outside member who are most able to address the students' research needs, concerns and goals. This second year supervisory committee supervises the preparation of the thesis exhibition and thesis support paper and acts as a part of the jury for the final oral examination.

Thesis Exhibition Support Paper

To graduate, each student must present a final solo thesis exhibition which is supported and elaborated by a written paper. The written paper should be 20 to 50 pages in length. At the final oral examination, both the art works and the written paper are defended.

Minimum Time To Completion

Five full-time terms

Year 1: fall, winter and summer

Year 2: fall and winter

For more information about admission, and faculty of graduate studies regulations, click here.

The deadline to apply is on January 15, 2012. Apply now