Navigating the UCLA Master of Fine Arts Program: Requirements and Opportunities

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a comprehensive Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program designed to cultivate the skills and artistic vision of emerging artists. This article provides a detailed overview of the program's requirements, curriculum, and opportunities.

Understanding the UCLA General Catalog

The UCLA General Catalog serves as the official source of information regarding academic programs, courses, and requirements. Published annually in PDF and HTML formats, the catalog strives for accuracy. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that all courses, course descriptions, instructor designations, curricular degree requirements, and fees are subject to change or deletion without prior notice. Prospective students should always consult the most current version of the catalog for the most up-to-date and officially approved information. Additional details about UCLA's various schools, including Arts and Architecture; Dentistry; Education and Information Studies; Engineering and Applied Science; Law; Management; Medicine; Music; Nursing; Public Affairs; Public Health; and Theater, Film, and Television, can be found in their respective publications.

B.A. in Art at UCLA: A Foundation for Graduate Studies

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art program at UCLA provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in fine arts. The program emphasizes a broad range of approaches to art making and interpretation, exposing students to diverse perspectives on the role of art and artists within society.

Rigorous Studio Courses

The program's core consists of rigorous studio courses that equip students with the tools, facilities, and curriculum necessary to develop skills in various areas, including:

Ceramics
Painting and Drawing
Photography
Sculpture
Interdisciplinary Studio and New Genres

Students are encouraged to explore these areas intensively, both within and across disciplines, to discover their unique artistic voices and develop their individual practices.

Art History and Critical Theory

Intensive studio work is complemented by courses in art history and critical theory, as well as liberal arts studies across the UCLA campus. This interdisciplinary approach fosters a well-rounded understanding of art within its historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts.

Advising

For general advising, students can contact the graduate advisor. A faculty advisor is appointed for new students.

Unit Requirements

A minimum of 72 units in the department in upper-division and graduate level courses is required, with a B average or better. A minimum total of 12 quarter units of art history and an additional 28 quarter units of art history or history, theory and criticism course work offered by related departments such as architecture and urban design, comparative literature, design|media arts, film, television, and digital media, and world arts and cultures in undergraduate or graduate study are also required (including Art C280). Studio-based courses cannot count as substitutions for this requirement. Art history and theory and criticism courses completed as an undergraduate count toward fulfilling the department’s combined 40-unit art history requirement but do not count toward the 72 units required for the degree. Students with few or no art history or theory or criticism courses in undergraduate study may take art history or theory or criticism upper division or graduate courses at UCLA as electives to be counted toward the 40-unit art history requirement and toward the total units required for the degree.

M.F.A. Program Requirements: A Deep Dive

The M.F.A. program at UCLA is designed for artists seeking to refine their skills, expand their creative vision, and engage in critical dialogue within a vibrant artistic community. The program provides a challenging and supportive environment for students to develop their individual artistic practices.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the M.F.A. program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. However, the primary criterion for admission is the evaluation of the applicant's creative work.

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Portfolio Guidelines

Prospective students should carefully review the Department of Art's Portfolio Guidelines for detailed instructions on preparing and submitting their portfolios. The portfolio is a critical component of the application process, showcasing the applicant's artistic abilities, technical skills, and creative potential.

Time-to-Degree Declaration

Students are required to submit a Time-to-Degree Declaration prior to September 15th of their second year. Students who fail to complete their comprehensive examination on the schedule of their Time-to-Degree Declaration are subject to academic disqualification.

Academic Disqualification

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. A student may be placed on departmental probation by a majority of the faculty or by their M.F.A. committee after a biannual graduate review if there is concern about the student’s ability to progress toward completion of the M.F.A. degree. Within six weeks of the review, the student will be informed of this action in writing by the faculty area head or the M.F.A. committee chair and advised to submit more work for review by faculty at the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the reviewed occurred, or at the end of summer for those students informed of their probationary status following a review in the spring quarter. At this subsequent review, the faculty will re-evaluate the student’s work and progress with regard to the student’s continuing status, and within two weeks of the review, by majority vote of the faculty, a recommendation for academic disqualification may be made. Students who fail to successfully complete their comprehensive examination on the schedule of their Time-to-Degree Declaration are subject to academic disqualification. Students who are subject to academic disqualification for failing to complete their comprehensive examination on the schedule of their Time-to-Degree Declaration can appeal to the Department of Art senate faculty for an extension through the end of the summer session of the academic year of their declared Time-to-Degree.

Financial Assistance and Employment Opportunities

UCLA recognizes the financial challenges of pursuing graduate studies and offers various forms of financial assistance to M.F.A. students.

Fellowships

M.F.A. applicants are encouraged to complete the fellowship section of the UCLA Graduate Application to be considered for campus-wide award opportunities. These fellowships can provide significant financial support to help offset the cost of tuition and living expenses.

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Teaching Assistantships

Admitted candidates have the opportunity to apply for Teaching Assistantship positions within and outside the Department of Art. These positions offer a quarterly salary and a partial fee remission during the term(s) of employment, providing valuable teaching experience and financial assistance.

Financial Aid

The UCLA Financial Aid Office administers financial support for eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents based on financial need. For graduate students, need-based financial aid is primarily awarded in the form of loans and work-study programs.

Extramural Fellowships

Many off-campus agencies and foundations offer extramural fellowships to support graduate students in the arts. Students are encouraged to research and apply for these external funding opportunities.

Competitive Awards

Applications for competitive awards through the School of the Arts and Architecture are made available and reviewed during the winter quarter for disbursement during the following academic year.

Connecting with the Program

UCLA offers information sessions for prospective M.F.A. applicants. These sessions provide valuable insights into the program, the application process, and the overall experience of being a graduate student in the Department of Art. These sessions are typically held remotely via Zoom, making them accessible to applicants from around the world. During these sessions, faculty members share information about the program and the application process and answer questions from prospective students.

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