Master of Fine Arts

The MFA program at Washington State University is a three-year program that encourages an interdisciplinary approach to studio practice.

You may focus in ceramics, drawing, digital media, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. Emphasis is placed on personal and conceptual artistic development in light of contemporary art practices.

Highlights of the program

• Private studio with 24-hour access.
• Regular individual and group critiques with faculty artists.
• Opportunities to meet one-on-one with visiting artists to gain insight into their creative works.
• Practical seminar your first year and art history seminars every year.
• Small cohort of peers enables greater individual guidance and mentoring.

Required exhibitions

At the end of your second semester, you will create a first-year review show with one of your fellow MFA students for installation in one of the department’s on-campus galleries.

Your MFA thesis exhibit will take place in April of your third year and will be installed at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU.

Potential funding

Teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis by the faculty and college. Most teaching assistantships include a full tuition waiver (once in-state status is granted), about $13,000 in an annual stipend, and health insurance.

Many of the teaching assistantships include teaching responsibilities as teacher of record for one class per semester. Additionally, 11 hours of service work per week is required of each teaching assistant.

Smaller MFA scholarships that range between $1,000 and $8,000 are available annually.