Master of Fine Arts in Art- Visual Arts - Graphic Design

The 60-unit M.F.A. in Art option in Visual Arts emphasizes the experience and value of visual thinking and creative problem solving in art, as well as recognizing the concurrent importance of critical thinking, experimentation, innovation and perception. Graduate students must understand the history and traditions of art and their cultural, political and social relevance. They are encouraged to utilize and interact with the services, facilities and technologies offered throughout the University, as well as those provided by the Department of Art and Design. The program has areas of concentration in Ceramics, Drawing, Illustration, Painting, PhotographyVideo, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Students will acquire academic and professional knowledge and skills in various art media, concepts and methodologies. Students will produce an academic and professional body of individual and collaborative work suitable for a master of fine arts degree, for the local, national and global marketplace. Students will solve visual problems at an academic and professional level, including understandingapplication of the elements of art and principles of design. Students will utilize and apply critical thinking skills to communicate ideas for their intended audience at an academic and professional level in visual, oral, and written formats Students will acquire historical and contemporary knowledge of diverse cultural and aesthetic contexts, including political, visual and material culture. The Master of Fine Arts degree program in Visual Arts is the terminal degree for practicing artists and requires a minimum of 60 units. Students accepted into the program are encouraged to be registered full time, taking a minimum of 9 units per semester. First and foremost, the CSUN Department of Art and Design’s Communication Design program both challenges and prepares students to become informed, critical-thinking designers working creatively and collaboratively as problem solvers. Effective communication is required in order to meet the evolving demands of commerce, community, and culture. For this reason, the designer’s role has substantially expanded. Students must learn to craft impactful and appropriate messages within a broad range of design media and emerging technologies. Our curriculum is built on big ideas and the process of interpreting messages through a myriad of media channels, using research, data, and strategy to achieve and measure real-world results. Communication Design coursework involves exploring, researching, strategizing, and developing solutions through a creative process. Courses in our program include in-depth study of communication design theory, design history, visual design, illustration, photography, typography, motion, interaction, and user experience while utilizing the latest technology and design management tools.

Students must meet all classified graduate status requirements in order to enter the program.A bachelor’s degree in Art from an accredited institution or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 24 units of upper division Art, or the equivalency, as determined by the Visual Arts Graduate Committee.Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students who do not meet the undergraduate GPA of 3.0 must complete ART 611 or ART 615 with a minimum grade of “B.”Completion of 18 advisor-approved units of upper division and/or graduate coursework in the proposed emphasized area of concentration.Completion of a minimum of 12 units of art history, 6 units of which must be upper division.Successful completion of a Qualifying Portfolio Evaluation approved by the Visual Arts Graduate Committee, with emphasis in the proposed area(s) of concentration, a Statement of Intent and a resume submitted with the portfolio.Pass a personal screening interview conducted by the Visual Arts Graduate Committee.