Master of Fine Arts

Mission Statement

The MFA Fine Art Department educates artists through a comprehensive and in-depth study in fine arts, criticism, art history, and humanities. MFA students become proficient in every aspect of their studio practice through a combination of rigorous critical discussion, broad-based studio and technical electives, collaborative opportunities, and concentrated study in their chosen areas. We consider our students to be artists whose intellect, talent, sense of inquiry, and work ethic will lead them to a professional life in the arts. We prepare them to become significant critical and creative leaders in artistic, scholarly and societal discourse.

Learning Outcomes

• MFA Fine Arts students will be able to exhibit work in the professional world with an appropriate understanding of business practices.
• Our graduates will demonstrate proficiency in the use of materials in the production of works of quality.
• MFA Fine Arts students will have a critical, multidisciplinary understanding of their work and where it sits in the art historical and contemporary world.
• Students graduating from our program must demonstrate ability for independent learning and be able to conceive and complete a project goal culminating in a final MFA thesis exhibition that is rigorous in its conception and execution and demonstrates clear integration of a central idea.

Degree Requirements

Applicants for admission to the MFA degree program in Fine Art must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, university or art/ design school.
 It is not required that applicants have majored in studio art in their undergraduate studies, only that they demonstrate their readiness for the challenges of MFA studies.

The 60-credit MFA program in Fine Art comprises four consecutive 15-week fall/spring semesters and begins in the fall. Accepted students may defer entry for one year. Those considering applying are strongly urged to visit Pratt and department tours can be arranged by contacting Nat Meade, Assistant to the Chair, 718-636-3792 (nmeade@pratt.edu).

Application Guidelines

In addition to Pratt’s general graduate admissions requirements, applicants to the MFA in Fine Art are required to upload the following materials to https://pratt.slideroom.com  

1) A digital portfolio of up to 20 well-selected images (including detail views) of recent works made in the last 2-3 years. The graduate admissions committee is looking for portfolios that show a serious exploration of an idea through body  of work rather than showing a disconnected sampling of concepts and styles. Applicants may show work in diverse media as long as all of the work shows evidence of a guiding sensibility or idea.

2) An accompanying numbered image list indicating the title, dimensions, materials used, and date of completion for each work submitted;

3) A Statement of Purpose (500 words maximum) outlining the applicant’s interests and goals in pursuing graduate study.

For international applicants whose first language is not English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper)/237 (computer)/93 (Internet) is required.

Applicants who are notified that they have reached the semi-finalist stage of admissions process will be interviewed on Skype. 

Curriculum

MFA (Painting/Drawing Emphasis) | MFA (Photography Emphasis)| MFA (Integrated Practices Emphasis)| MFA (Printmaking Emphasis)| MFA (Sculpture Emphasis)
 

Facilities

All full time students pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree and are taking 12 credits are guaranteed a studio for four consecutive semesters.  Students are required to pay a $50 key deposit to Pratt's Bursar's Office in exchange for use of the studio.  This deposit will be refunded at the end of the student's tenure as long as the requirements of the studio contract are met.

Full time photography majors pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree may utilize semi-private darkrooms. Students who wish to access the graduate level darkrooms must pay an additional $50 key deposit to Pratt's Bursar's Office.  This deposit will be returned at the end of the student's tenure as long as the requirements of the studio contract are met.