People viewing the university art gallery.

Develop Your Artistic Talents

Refine your talent with A&M-Commmerce’s MFA degree that prepares you to teach at the university level or pursue other careers in art.

Expand your ability to create and communicate as a professional artist. Our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) with Studio Art Emphasis offers an advanced, intensive study that deepens your language of expression. While here, you'll explore a broad range of issues meaningful to your artwork while refining your technical skills. Your exploration may touch upon individual modes of expression, formal elements, experimentation with media and methods, themes and symbols, and the relationships among the visual arts and other disciplines. The MFA is a terminal degree that prepares you to teach at the university level or pursue other careers in art. Many of our students show in professional galleries while in the MFA program.

Where It Is Offered Commerce
Duration 3 years
Foreign Language No foreign language credits required
Delivery Face-To-Face
Total Credit Hours 60 hours
Thesis Requirements Thesis Exhibition
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SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A DEGREE IN Studio art

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Dedicated Faculty

Engage with exceptional faculty and award-winning artists who challenge your creativity and artistic exploration. Our goal is for you to produce quality artwork that is both unique and engaging in contemporary culture.

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Cultivate Your Imagination

Learn the discipline, intellectual curiosity, research methods, technical skills and historical perspective needed to excel in the visual arts. Our program prepares you to succeed in a variety of professions and pursue a life-long appreciation of the visual arts.

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Our Facilities

The Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building includes one of the region’s best ceramic facilities and private studios for graduate students. You’ll also find the department’s photography facilities located here.

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Nationally Accredited

The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD). Accreditation ensures that the degrees, curriculum and faculty meet rigorous standards of breadth and quality.

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Career Readiness

Thinking critically and communicating effectively. That's what employers are looking for. The College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts is dedicated to providing you the knowledge and resources for exceling in the workforce.

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MFA Program Details

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) with Studio Art Emphasis offers a personalized approach towards earning your degree. Students are initially accepted into the Master of Arts track, allowing you to establish yourself in the program. You can apply for formal acceptance into the MFA program once you have completed no more than 42 semester hours. From there you’ll work with the committee, department head and graduate coordinator to develop a targeted degree plan based on your medium.

View Full Curriculum
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Faculty Spotlight

Leigh Merrill

Art has the ability to show us what we don't expect to see – to challenge and remind us of the potential around us.
More About Leigh

Chad Smith

Photography never seems to stop changing and it is always challenging me and is such a beautiful universal language.
More About Chad
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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

A degree in studio art will offer you the opportunity to:

  • Work with faculty, staff and students who are united in their goal to inspire creativity and foster critical thinking
  • Develop techniques and methods of art-making
  • Gain a deeper understanding of historical and contemporary art
  • Produce a sustained and cohesive body of work that forms your final exhibition
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Internship opportunities

Internship experience provides the foundation employers are often looking for. Although not required for your degree, internships are an important part of your education experience. These are just a few of the companies that partner with Career Development and offer opportunities for A&M-Commerce art students.

Epic Games logo.
The Met logo.
Activision logo.
Truth Initiative logo.
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Careers

Earning your BA/BFA equips you with the expertise, versatility and experience needed to achieve success in a complex and rapidly changing world. Graduates are able to visually demonstrate their specialty and area of emphasis with a collection of high-quality original artworks. Many of our graduates have pursued graduate programs to further refine their skills and knowledge, the educational field and the professional studio practice.

Career Possibilities

  • Painter
  • Sculptor
  • Art educator
  • Production Potter
  • Commercial Artist
  • Art Critic
  • Studio Technician
  • Curator, Studio Owner
  • Resident Artist
  • Apprentice/Studio Assistant
  • Art Center Positions
  • Art Therapist
  • Gallery Owner
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Featured Courses

The Creative Process ARTS 505

Taken in the first year of the master's degree, this class considers what it means to be an artist. Students will experiment with both proven and experimental methods of art-making in a team-based environment.

Gender, Art and Popular Culture ARTS 532

Through the careful study of artworks and popular culture, students will be engaged in an extended, historically-based examination of issues concerning gender.

Master of Fine Art Exhibition in Studio Art ARTS 515

Upon the approval of the major advisor and admission to candidacy for the MFA degree, students will mount an exhibition that demonstrates a unified theme and is supported by a written statement and visual documentation.

View Full Curriculum In The University Catalog
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Course Delivery

Enhance your creativity by becoming a part of our competitive program. Our MFA degree uses traditional face-to-face instruction at our main campus to concentrate on your specific skills. You’ll receive one-on-one instruction with studio visits from our renowned faculty as you develop your skills.

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Graduate Program Cost

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.

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Financial Aid
Scholarships
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ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS International/Domestic Tabs

Admission

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Art (MFA) Studio Art EmphasisArt (MFA) Studio Art Emphasis :: Program Admission Requirements Intl. copied not edited

Deadlines

  • Fall admission consideration: June 1
  • Spring admission consideration: October 15
  • Summer admission consideration: March 15

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Step 1. Submit Application

Submit your application at tamuc.edu/apply.

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “Art, MFA” as your “Major.”
  • Pay the $75 application fee.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Step 2. Submit Documents

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Official Transcripts
  • Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
    Texas A&M University-Commerce
    Attn: Graduate School
    2600 S. Neal St.
    Commerce, Texas 75428

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Transcript Evaluation

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

Letter of Recommendation

Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

Statement of Intent

Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you applying for the MFA program.

Resume or CV

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Electronic Portfolio

Provide the following material;

  • 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
    • Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com

Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Vaughn Wascovich, Graduate Program Coordinator.

English Proficiency

You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:

  • TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
  • IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
  • PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
  • Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)

*Scores must be less than two years old.

Official Sponsor Documents

Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted

  • Official sponsor statement
  • Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Rebecca Stevens Graduate Student Services Coordinator: College of Business, College of Humanities Social Sciences and Arts, and Non-Degree

Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance

Step 4. Register for Classes

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Amanda Grant Graduate Enrollment Specialist for College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts/Adjunct Faculty
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Deadlines

Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Step 1. Submit Application

Submit your application at tamuc.edu/apply.

  • Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
  • Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

  • Select “Art, MFA” as your “Major.”
  • Pay the $50 application fee.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Provisional Status

After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.

Step 2. Submit Documents

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Official Transcripts

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].

  • We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

  • If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
  • If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Postal Alternative

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Letter of Recommendation

Request one signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:

If you are unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

Statement of intent

Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests, and goals in no more than 500 words. Please mention why you are applying for the MFA program.

Resume or CV

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Electronic Portfolio

Provide the following material;

  • 20 images, clearly labeled with your name, title of piece, medium, dimensions and date completed
    • Examples of sites for building a portfolio include Squarespace.com and Blogger.com

Send portfolio to the Graduate School and Vaughn Wascovich, Graduate Program Coordinator.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Rebecca Stevens Graduate Student Services Coordinator: College of Business, College of Humanities Social Sciences and Arts, and Non-Degree

Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance

  • Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
  • Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
  • Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Step 4. Register for Classes

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Amanda Grant Graduate Enrollment Specialist for College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts/Adjunct Faculty

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We are here to help!

Amanda Grant Graduate Enrollment Specialist for College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts/Adjunct Faculty
Rebecca Stevens Graduate Student Services Coordinator: College of Business, College of Humanities Social Sciences and Arts, and Non-Degree
David Scott, Ph.D. Associate Dean/Head of Art Department/Graduate Music Education
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  • Dallas, TX 75231

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