Art, Studio Arts Concentration, M.A.

(Major Code: 10021) (SIMS Code: 660589)

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

Admission to the Master of Arts degree program in studio arts is limited to the fall semester. Applications and portfolios for the annual graduate review must be submitted to the graduate adviser by January 12.

All applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Admission and Registration . In general, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree in studio art or the equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum of 24 upper division units, including two semesters of the history of art, before they will be permitted to enter the graduate program. Applicants must also be able to show that they are adequately advanced to carry out projects that are up to graduate level standards. This requirement will be measured by a review of a digital portfolio of recent work by the graduate faculty in the area of concentration. The range should be great enough to give the faculty a knowledge of the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. If it is determined that the applicant is capable of doing graduate level work, he/she may be permitted to begin such work even though he/she has not completed an appropriate undergraduate degree in art.

Advancement to Candidacy

In addition to meeting the requirements for advancement to candidacy as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , all students must have: (1) completed a minimum of 12 units of program coursework with a minimum grade point of 3.0 (B); and (2) been reviewed by the tenured and tenure-track faculty of the emphasis area and received approval of an acceptable body of graduate work completed since classified standing fulfilling the requirements of the area of concentration.

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , students must complete a graduate program of a minimum of 30 units which includes at least 24 units in art from courses listed below as acceptable for master’s degree programs in art, of which at least 16 units must be in 600- and 700-numbered courses.

Required Courses

Those electing studio arts must complete a minimum of 18 units in the area of specialization.

A creative project accompanied by a written report is required as fulfillment of ART 799A . In conjunction with this project, each candidate for the degree must present an exhibition of representative graduate work.

ART 694 - Art and Design Theory and Criticism I Units: 3
ART 760 - Art and Design Theory and Criticism II Units: 3
ART 799A - Thesis or Project Units: 3
ART 798 - Special Study Units: 1-3 Not more than a total of six units will be accepted.

Thesis and Projects in Art

The project required for the Master of Arts degree with a concentration in studio arts and the Master of Fine Arts degree is an original body of creative artwork accompanied by a written report. Written reports accepted in satisfaction of a requirement for the master’s degree are cataloged and maintained in the SDSU library. A softbound copy of the report accompanying a master’s thesis exhibition must be provided by the candidate and will be retained in the School of Art and Design graduate advising office.