Graduate Program

Director of Graduate Studies
Szu-Han Ho

Application Deadlines
Art Education: Fall Admission: March 30; Spring Admission: October 30.
Art History: Fall Admission: December 15.
Art Studio: Fall Admission: January 15.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in Art Education (M.A.)
Master of Arts in Art History (M.A.)
Concentrations: Art History; Arts of the Americas.
Master of Fine Arts in Art Studio (M.F.A.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Art History (Ph.D.)
Concentrations: 19th and 20th Century Western Art History; Art of Colonial America–Art of the United States; Built Environment; History of Architecture; History of the Graphic Arts; History of Photography; Modern Latin America/Latino Art History; Native American Art History; Pre-Columbian Art History; Spanish Colonial Art History.

The Department offers degrees in three fields: art studio, art history, and art education. The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Art Studio student can focus on painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, art and ecology, electronic arts, or 3D. Students interested in art history can pursue the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with a concentration in either the Arts of the Americas or the Arts of the Modern World. The M.A. in Art Education program is oriented toward the development of a professional who has an understanding of the core profession of art education as a humanistic discipline, and to developing specialization in a particular area of personal interest related to art education.

All students admitted to the graduate studio program are given studio space on campus. Admission is selective and limited by the number of studio spaces available. All photography graduate students are given both darkroom and individual studio spaces.

NOTE: The art studio printmaking program and the art history programs in Arts of the Modern World and Arts of the Americas (both M.A. and Ph.D.) are recognized by the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) for inclusion in their Out-of-State Programs at In-State Tuition. Qualified residents of the 15 participating states in the Commission may enroll at reduced tuition rates in these three programs.

Financial Assistance

The Department has a limited number of graduate and teaching assistantships to offer graduate students. These are generally available after the first year in the graduate program. Assistantships are dependent upon departmental need. The appointments are usually .25 FTE and made on a semester to semester basis. Students must be enrolled for at least 6 graduate credit hours during this appointment.

Master of Arts in Art Education

Student Information:

UNM Art Education Program Office
Masley Hall Room 101
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1231
(505) 277-5861 (Department Office)
art@unm.edu

Application Deadlines
Fall semester	March 30
Spring semester	October 30

The graduate program offers two options leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Art Education:

• M.A. in Art Education with New Mexico Visual Art preK-12 licensure coursework
• M.A. in Art Education without licensure coursework

The two programs of studies options support graduate students with a wide range of interests.

The licensure program prepares graduates to teach visual art in public schools (which requires a current state-issued teaching license), private schools, charter schools, museums, parks, and/or community-based organizations.

Students in licensure programs need to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours in ARTE550 Topics in Art Education in a course designated as a ‘curriculum intensive’ topics course and identified as such in the course title.

Per state licensure requirements, the student’s prerequisite degree work needs to include a minimum total of twenty-four hours in the visual art content area (studio art and/or art history) with twelve or more hours in the content area completed at the 300-level or higher.

Students are required to pass state-sanctioned licensure examinations before being eligible to apply for a teaching license.

The non-licensure program promotes a deeper-level understanding of art education including: theoretical foundations, contemporary art pedagogies, art teacher-researcher reflective practices, community connections, and emerging questions and contemporary issues related to the field.

Practicing licensed teachers can use the non-licensure program to advance to a higher level within the New Mexico Public Education Department’s (NMPED) licensure system.

Students in the non-licensure program need to complete an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in an art-related concentration from an accredited university/college; students can otherwise have completed 24 credit hours or more in an art-related concentration as part of an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in a different concentration from an accredited university/college.

Both graduate programs can be used to prepare graduates to research and advocate within the field of art education, and/or can be used as a prerequisite in continuing on to a doctorate degree in art education or a related concentration.

Requirements for the M.A. in Art Education with New Mexico Visual Art PreK-12 licensure coursework

Refer to the Graduate Program section of this Catalog

			Credit Hours
1		Principles of Teaching and Learning: Professional Coursework
		EDUC438 Teaching Reading in the Content Area	3
		ARTE505 Introduction to Art Education	3
		ARTE310 Elementary Art Education	3
		ARTE310 Elementary Art Education	3
		ARTE525 Studio Methods, Materials, and Modifications	3
		ARTE530 Growth, Development, and the Exceptional Art Student	4
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE460 Student Teaching Art PreK-Grade	4-6
		ARTE470 Student Teaching Art Grades 6-12	5-6
		Total Principles of Teaching and Learning: Professional Coursework	34
2		Art Education Coursework
	a.	MA ARTE Core Coursework
		ARTE500 Philosophical Foundations in Art Education	3
		ARTE575 Research in Art Education	3
		MA ARTE Core Coursework Subtotal	6
	b.	Educational Research Methods
		Select one of the following courses: LLSS501 Practitioner Research LLSS502 Introduction to Qualitative Research LLSS623 Ethnographic Research EDPY505 Conducting Quantitative Educational Research	3
		Educational Research Methods Subtotal	3
	c.	Exit Requirement Coursework
		ARTE581 Research Communities: Preparation and Proposal	3
		ARTE582 Research Communities: Development and Defense	3
		Exit Requirement Coursework Subtotal	6
		Program Total	49-52

A. Candidates maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their program of studies. Candidates in the licensure program are furthermore required to earn a B- or higher in ARTE courses specific to licensure in order to meet state-determined benchmarks.

C. Candidates will complete a thesis project, action research project, curriculum project, or exhibition project based on the approval of their examination committee members.

D. Candidates form an examination committee to be chaired by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in art education and comprised of other tenured or tenure-track faculty members in art education and/or an instructor with whom the student has taken graduate-level coursework (examination committees must include at least two tenured or tenure-track faculty members in art education); committee members help mentor and support the candidate through the exit requirement process and the completion of a thesis project, action research project, curriculum project, or exhibition project

E. Candidates will participate in the yearly graduating student exhibition and share their exit requirement work as part of the exhibition’s showcase event

Requirements for the M.A. in Art Education without licensure coursework

Refer to the Graduate Program section of this Catalog

			Credit Hours
1		Art Education Coursework
	a.	MA ARTE Core Coursework
		ARTE500 Philosophical Foundations in Art Education2	3
		ARTE575 Research in Art Education2	3
		MA ARTE Core Coursework Subtotal	6
	b.	Educational Research Methods
		Select one of the following courses: EDPY505 Conducting Quantitative Educational Research LLSS501 Practitioner Research LLSS502 Introduction to Qualitative Research LLSS623 Ethnographic Research	3
		Educational Research Methods Subtotal	3
	C.	MA ARTE Topics Coursework
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
		MA ARTE Topics Coursework Subtotal	15
	d.	Supporting Professional Area Concentration Coursework (coursework in domain-specific to student’s professional goals; all concentration courses need to be in the same domain, i.e. museum studies, learning sciences, arts administration, studio art, art history, early childhood education, special needs education, arts leadership and business, arts-in-medicine, land arts, library science, criminal justice, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, EAT, STEAM NM, etc.)
		300 to 500-Level Elective in Selected Professional Area Concentration	3
		300 to 500-Level Elective in Selected Professional Area Concentration	3
		Supporting Professional Area Concentration Coursework Subtotal	6
	e.	Exit Requirement Coursework
		ARTE581 Research Communities: Preparation and Proposal	3
		ARTE582 Research Communities: Development and Defense	3
		Exit Requirement Coursework Subtotal	6
		Program Total	36

A. Candidates maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their program of studies.

B. Candidates submit a program of studies (a plan of coursework towards completion of the degree and approved by the candidate’s art education faculty advisor) to UNM’s Graduate Studies Office in preparation for graduation.

C. Candidates will complete a thesis project, action research project, curriculum project, or exhibition project based on the approval of their examination committee members.

Requirements for the Graduate-Level Minor in Art Education

Students completing the graduate-level minor in art education engage in the systematic study of art education and will have the 12 credit hour minor represented on their transcript.

ARTE500 Philosophical Foundations in Art Education	3
ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
ARTE550 Topics in Art Education	3
ARTE575 Research in Art Education	3
Graduate-Level Minor in Art Education Total	12

Art Education Application Information

Individuals interested in specific information about the graduate program in art education may apply request an application packet online. Meeting with a program advisor may be requested by calling (505) 277-6672.

General Academic Prerequisites
See the Graduate Program section of this Catalog for general prerequisites and application procedures for graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. To be eligible for admission to the University of New Mexico’s graduate Art Education Program, applicants must meet the following prerequisites:

A. Students applying to the graduate program need to complete an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in an art-related concentration from an accredited university/college; students can otherwise have completed 24 credit hours or more in an art-related concentration as part of an undergraduate or graduate-level degree in a different concentration from an accredited university/college.

B. Moreover, the prerequisite degree work of students applying to the licensure program needs to include a minimum total of twenty-four hours in the visual art content area (studio art and/or art history) with twelve or more hours in the content area completed at the 300-level or higher.

C. Prerequisite coursework in the content area needs to be completed with at least a ‘B’ average (3.0 GPA), and applicants need to maintain a 3.0 GPA overall for work in the last two years of their existing degree work.

D. Completion of 18 credit hours of prerequisite content area coursework is required prior to admission to the graduate program in art education.

Application Process
The graduate studies in art education application is available online. For admission procedures, applicants are requested to submit the following materials for review:

A. Letter of Intent: The letter needs to outline the applicant’s professional and research goals, summarize the applicant’s philosophy of art and education, relevant experiences, and reasons for applying to UNM, and include other information that the applicant feels is pertinent to the application (including whether the applicant is applying for the MA with licensure or the MA without licensure coursework).

B. Transcripts: Transcripts from each institution the applicant has attended need to be uploaded as part of the online application and mailed to the Office of Admissions.

C. Current Resume

D. Reference Letters: Three reference letters from people in supervisory positions (i.e. professors, cooperating teachers, work supervisors, and program coordinators) need to be uploaded as part of the online application

E. Artwork Portfolio: Ten (10) high-quality images of personal artwork need to be uploaded as part of the online application as a single multi-page PDF.

F. Application Fee

Admission to the Art History Programs

Applicants for admission to the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art History should preferably have an undergraduate major in the history of art with a minimum of 24 credit hours (or the equivalent as approved by the admitting faculty) as well as advanced courses in history, literature, and philosophy. Any deficiencies in this required preparation must be removed during the first year of coursework for the degree. Graduate credit is not be given for courses taken to remove a deficiency, but graduate courses may be taken concurrently. Prospective students should note that candidates for the M.A. degree are required to demonstrate a general knowledge of the history of art.

In preparing an application for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Art History, the potential candidate is urged to state aims clearly and to specify the field of art history to be investigated. A candidate is not accepted unless these aims fall within the scope of the University’s program and unless the Department believes these aims can be realized. Field work and travel are inevitably be necessary in support of research at the doctoral level.

Applicants for admission to the Ph.D. program should have an M.A. in Art History or, in exceptional circumstances as approved by the admitting faculty, in such cognate disciplines as History, Anthropology, Archaeology, or American Studies. Those admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.A. in Art History may be required to take additional graduate courses beyond the minimum Ph.D. requirement of 48 credit hours of coursework; in all cases they must take and pass the M.A. comprehensive examination.

As part of the application for admission to graduate or doctoral study, the student must submit materials as follows:

1. Application for Admission, Registration Information and application fee.
2. Two sets of official transcripts from all institutions previously attended.
3. Three Letters of Recommendation.
4. Statement of Intent. A clearly written statement of intent describing in detail reasons for wishing admission. In evaluating this written statement, both its form and content are carefully considered. This statement, no more than three pages in length (typewritten), should include the following:

the proposed field of concentration;
a self-evaluation of current work;
an account of any special experiences which might indicate a background in art more extensive than most students with a B.A. degree;
a statement of goals while attending and after completing graduate study;
reasons for choosing the University of New Mexico as a place for graduate study.

5. Writing Sample. A recent example of creative scholarship in the form of an academic paper or article must be submitted for evaluation. This material is not returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

All items mentioned above should be mailed directly to the Graduate Office, Department of Art, MSC04 2560, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.

Master of Arts in Art History

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art History is offered under Plan I (thesis) according to the general requirements specified in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. Requirements for the degree are as follows:

A minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework
A minimum of 6 credit hours of 500-level coursework
A maximum of 6 credit hours of topics (529) courses
Six hours of Thesis (599) credit
Completion of a master's thesis

The M.A. in Art History is offered in two concentrations. Each has its own specific requirements and course distribution. Each student must select either:

Concentration in Art History
Concentration in Arts of the Americas

Concentration in Art History

Requirements

		Credit Hours
ARTH 500	Philosophy and Methods of Art History	3
ARTH	graduate courses in Pre Modern emphasis (pre 1400CE)	6
ARTH	graduate courses in Early Modern emphasis (c. 1400-1750CE)	6
ARTH	graduate courses in Modern and Contemporary emphasis (c. 1750-the present)	9
ARTH 599	Master's Thesis	6
	Total	30

All work offered toward degree requirements must fall within a five-year period. Transfer credit hours must fall within the Graduate Studies-mandated seven-year period.

There is, of course, some overlap between many of these areas of emphasis. In each case, the nature of these concerns vary owing to the predominant body of monuments being analyzed and the specific media whereby these artworks are produced. For example, the African American Art course, while placed in the Modern and Contemporary category, can also encompass all three chronological areas of emphasis. Courses that cover more than one emphasis can potentially be used flexibly in the Program of Studies, however one class cannot be used to simultaneously fulfill two emphases requirements. Contact the committee chair and the graduate advisor for more information.

Art History Emphases

While ARTH 551 and 552 (Graduate Problems courses) are available, M.A. students are limited to one 3 credit hour Graduate Problems course, as approved by her or his Committee on Studies. A student may also petition his or her Committee on Studies to approve a substitute course from another department, if it is closely related to the student’s specific concentration or emphasis. Courses marked with an asterisk are available for graduate credit.

Pre-Modern
511 Pre-Columbian Art: Mesoamerica
512 Pre-Columbian Art: South America
529 T: Art History
532 Islamic Art and Architecture
549 Art of Spain
560 Seminar in Pre-Columbian Art
567 World Architecture I: History of the Built Environment From Prehistory to 1800 CE
Early Modern
*330 Renaissance Art and Architecture
502 Native American Art I
506 Native American Art II
516 Southwestern Native Ceramics
520 History of Prints I
529 T: Art History
550 Ibero-American Colonial Arts and Architecture
572 American Art: 1675-1875
580 Seminar in Spanish Colonial Art
592 American Landscapes
Modern and Contemporary
515 Modern and Contemporary Native American Art
517 Seminar in Souvenir Native American Arts
521 History of Prints II
525 19th-Century Photography
526 20th-Century Photography
527 Contemporary Photography
529 T: Art History
553 African American Art
579 American Art: 1876-1940
582 Seminar in 20th-Century Art
583 Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art History
588 The Arts of Mexico, 1810-1945
591 Late 20th-Century to 21st-Century Art
592 American Landscapes
595 European Art 1830-1900

Concentration in Arts of the Americas

Requirements

		Credit Hours
ARTH 500	Philosophy and Methods of Art History	3
ARTH	graduate courses in primary emphasis	9
ARTH	graduate courses in secondary emphasis	9
ARTH	graduate course in another (third) emphasis	3
ARTH 599	Master's Thesis	6
	Total	30

All work offered toward degree requirements must fall within a five-year period. Transfer credit hours must fall within the Graduate Studies mandated seven-year period.

Each student must select a primary and secondary emphasis in either:

Native North American Art History
Art and Architecture of the Ancient Americas
Ibero-American Colonial Art History
Modern U.S. and Canadian Art History
Modern Latin American Art History

There is, of course, some overlap between many of these areas of emphasis. In each case, the nature of these concerns vary owing to the predominant body of monuments being analyzed and the specific media whereby these artworks are produced. Part of Native American Art, while placed in category A, is then also considered Modern U.S. and Canadian or Latin American Art History. Courses that cover more than one emphasis can potentially be used flexibly in the Program of Studies, however one class cannot be used to simultaneously fulfill two requirements. Contact the committee chair and the graduate advisor for more information.

Art of the Americas Emphases

While Art History 551 and 552 (Graduate Problems course) are available, M.A. students are limited to one 3 credit hour Graduate Problems course, as approved by her or his Committee on Studies. A student may also petition his or her Committee on Studies to approve a substitute course from another department, if it is closely related to the student’s specific concentration or emphasis. Courses marked with an asterisk are available for graduate credit.

Native American Art History
502 Native American Art I
506 Native American Art II
515 Modern and Contemporary Native American Art
516 Southwestern Native Ceramics
517 Seminar in Souvenir Native American Arts
529 T: Native American Art
Art and Architecture of the Ancient Americas
511 Pre-Columbian Art: Mesoamerica
512 Pre-Columbian Art: South America
529 T: Pre-Columbian Art
560 Seminar in Pre-Columbian Art
Ibero-American Colonial Art History
*330 Renaissance Art and Architecture
529 T: Spanish Colonial Art
549 Art of Spain
550 Ibero-American Colonial Arts and Architecture
580 Seminar in Spanish Colonial Art
Modern U.S. and Canadian Art History
525 19th-Century Photography
526 20th-Century Photography
527 Contemporary Photography
529 T: Modern Art of America and/or Europe
553 African American Art
579 American Art 1876-1940
582 Seminar in 20th-Century Art
591 Late 20th-Century to 21st-Century Art
592 American Landscapes
Modern Latin-American Art
529 T: Modern Latin-American Art
583 Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art History
588 The Arts of Mexico, 1810-1945

Committee on Studies

A student forms a Committee on Studies during the semester in which 12 graduate credit hours are completed. This three-member committee is formed in consultation with the proposed chairperson of the Committee and the Department Director of Graduate Studies and with the approval of the Department Chairperson. Changes in membership are also made in this manner.

Filing Program of Studies

Students must file the Program of Studies form soon after completing 12 graduate credit hours. Before a student may file their Program of Studies and commencement of the thesis, a student must:

Successfully complete ARTH 500 (Philosophy and Methods of Art History) during the first year of residence.
Successful participate in the Spring Symposium. The student presents a satisfactory 20-minute formal paper or research work in progress to peers and faculty during the 12th week of the second semester (Spring semester) in the program.
Provide evidence of proficiency in at least one foreign language appropriate to the student's area of concentration (see Department Graduate Advisor for methods of fulfilling this requirement).

Approval of the Program of Studies is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies only after the residency requirement is met and the Program of Studies has been approved by the Committee on Studies and the Department Director of Graduate Studies.

Approval of the Program of Studies in no way implies successful completion of the M.A. degree. The Program of Studies must be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies for approval by October 1st of the semester before the student intends to graduate at the latest.

Comprehensive Examination in Art History

Students must pass a written comprehensive examination covering the major areas of the history of art. The M.A. candidate should take this Comprehensive Examination, scheduled early in every Fall and Spring semester, in the semester after which 12 credit hours of coursework has been completed.

M.A. Thesis and Defense

The thesis is an extended research paper that demonstrates a candidate’s ability to perform research and analysis at the graduate level. The student defends the thesis in an oral examination administered by the Committee on Studies.

The student must notify Graduate Studies at least two weeks before the date of the thesis defense on the forms available. Results of the defense are recorded on the reverse side of the final examination announcement form. The student is responsible for initiating the procedure and making sure that the original notice is sent to Graduate Studies.

Time Limit to Complete Requirements

All work offered towards the M.A. degree must be accomplished within a five-year period from the time of admission, including transfer work from another institution.

Master of Fine Arts in Art Studio

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) is the terminal degree in art studio. The program is designed to afford the student an opportunity to amplify his or her abilities as a professional artist. As such it provides the opportunity for the individual to focus on the creative aspects of their work. The M.F.A. usually requires at least three years of intensive study and research beyond the bachelor’s degree. Although the formal requirements for the M.F.A. are in some respects comparable to doctoral degrees in other fields, the scope and objectives of the M.F.A. degree are uniquely different. As such, the M.F.A. degree represents strong creative achievement in studio art, an assured grasp of an area of focus, a sound knowledge of critical and historical artistic thought about art, and demonstrated expertise in conceiving and executing a significant body of creative work. Thus, as with the doctoral degree, its achievement is no mere matter of meeting requirements.

The program requires a dedication to the creative aspects of the studio work culminating in a dissertation that entails planning, installing, and documenting a solo exhibition of the student’s own creative work, producing a catalog, and giving an oral public presentation.

The Department of Art offers lithography-focused options to complete the M.F.A. in Art Studio in cooperation with Tamarind Institute, which is a division of the College of Fine Arts of the University of New Mexico. See the "Master of Fine Arts in Art Studio with Lithography Focus" section of this page.

Transfer/Application of Credit

With the approval of the graduate unit, up to 12 credit hours of the coursework requirements for an M.F.A. may consist of a combination of the following: graduate-level credit taken at another accredited institution, application of credit in graduate-level courses earned while the student was in non-degree or undergraduate status or graduate-level University of New Mexico extension courses. These credit hours may be applied or transferred provided that:

the coursework has not been counted toward a previous degree;
grades of "B" or better were earned;
the student has already completed at least 12 credit hours of graduate work in the M.F.A. program at the University;
the application/transfer of these credit hours is approved by the Committee on Studies and the Department Director of Graduate Studies in the student’s Application for Candidacy;
the application/transfer of these credit hours is approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Admission to the Studio Program

NOTE: Studio areas of focus are: painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, art and ecology, electronic arts, and 3D.

A prospective student in the graduate studio program must have completed an undergraduate degree including 42 credit hours in studio courses and 18 credit hours in art history. Any deficiencies in the required preparation must be removed during the first year of coursework for the degree. As part of the application for admission to graduate study, the student must submit materials as follows:

1. Application for Admission, Registration Information and application fee.
2. Two sets of official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, send directly to the Department.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. Statement of Intent. A clearly written statement of intent describing in detail reasons for wishing admission. This statement, no more than three pages in length (typewritten), should include the following:

information about the major and the proposed focus (painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, 3D);
a self-evaluation of current work;
an account of any special experiences which might indicate a background in art more extensive than most students with a B.A. or a B.F.A. degree;
a statement of goals while attending and after completing graduate study;
reasons for choosing the University of New Mexico as a place for graduate study. In evaluating this written statement, both its form and content is carefully considered.

5. Portfolio. Applicants should submit work in a form that represents them best. This can include, but is not limited to, slides, original prints, CD-ROMs (specify Macintosh or PC), DVDs, and VHS. We take reasonable care but cannot be responsible for loss or damage. A combination of prints, slides (no more than 20), or other media is acceptable based on the uniqueness, size, or nature of your work. You may provide your work in any form that may be viewed directly on standard equipment (CD, DVD, VCR) but we take no responsibility for incompatibility or media failure. It is your responsibility to represent yourself well in this context; avoid complex presentations and excessive packaging. Also expected are:

an identifying list with information on the date, medium, and dimensions of each work.
a check or money order (no stamps) to provide sufficient funds for the return of the portfolio via U.S. Postal Service.

NOTE: For slide portfolios, fifteen to twenty 2" x 2" color slides must be sent in a standard 80-slide carousel tray. In addition to the information requested above, each slide must be labeled with the applicant’s name.

All items mentioned above should be sent to the Graduate Office, Department of Art, MSC04 2560, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. Phone: (505) 277-6672.

Degree Requirements

General guidelines for completion of the M.F.A. in Art Studio are set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. The M.F.A. in Art Studio requires a minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework. Of these, 36 credit hours must be completed at the University of New Mexico, of which at least 18, exclusive of dissertation, are taken after admission to the M.F.A. program.

		Credit Hours
ARTS 502	Interdisciplinary Seminar	3
ARTS	graduate courses (in addition to 502)	21
ARTH	graduate courses	6
Electives	Twelve credit hours outside studio	18
	Six credit hours any area
ARTS 699	Dissertation (solo exhibition and catalog)	12
	Total	60

In their first fall semester of work, all students entering the M.F.A. program must enroll in Art Studio 502 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Creative work is undertaken through graduate courses, topics courses, and one-on-one tutorial instruction. Elective coursework is determined by the student’s particular needs and shall be undertaken only with the advice and approval of the Department Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s Committee on Studies. At least 18 credit hours exclusive of dissertation must be taken in courses numbered 500 or above completed at the University of New Mexico and no more than 24 credit hours exclusive of dissertation may be taken with a single professor.

Residence Requirement

The M.F.A. degree shall require at least 36 credit hours of coursework completed at the University of New Mexico, of which at least 18 credit hours must be taken after admission to the M.F.A. program (exclusive of dissertation credit hours).

Transfer Credit Hours

A maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate work at another institution or from non-degree status at the University of New Mexico are transferable to the M.F.A. program. Courses taken as extension credit at other universities are not accepted for graduate credit at the University of New Mexico.

NOTE: Transfer of credit hours is not automatic with admission. The student’s Committee on Studies determines the number, if any, allowable for transfer. Transfer credit is limited to 12 credit hours. Aside from this limitation, all other conditions of transfer noted in the doctoral description in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog apply equally to the M.F.A.

Additional Requirements

All students are required to attend orientation and safety meetings before the start of the semester. Students are required to enroll in the Graduate Shop Foundations course offered every Fall semester.
Graduate Reviews. In each of the first two semesters, students participate in a review of their current and ongoing work. The review is open to faculty and students, and the public. These reviews are conducted by a four-member faculty committee.
Committee on Studies. Each student is assisted by the Department of Art Graduate Office in planning a program of studies until such time as they form their Committee on Studies. The formation of the Committee on Studies should take place before the end of the second semester of study.

Duties of a Committee on Studies

to conduct the M.F.A. Qualifying Review, which takes place at the beginning of the third semester.
to advise and assist the student in planning their program through the completion of degree requirements. This includes determining any transfer credit acceptable, the nature of elective courses and the approval of a specific dissertation program.
to conduct the Advancement to Candidacy/ Comprehensive Examination during the fifth semester of study.
to evaluate the exhibition work and dissertation or catalog/public presentation and submit M.F.A. Final Examination Reports.

Formation of Committee on Studies

The formation of the Committee on Studies is done in consultation with the Department Director of Graduate Studies and the approval of the Department Chairperson. The process begins with the student finding a qualified faculty member (all full-time, regular faculty are qualified), normally in the student's area of focus, who is willing to serve as Committee Chairperson. Together they select three additional willing members, one of whom must be from outside the studio area. This faculty member may be from Art History or another department. A Committee on Studies Approval Form is submitted to the Department Director of Graduate Studies for approval by the Department Chairperson and for forwarding to Graduate Studies. Changes in the membership of the committee are also made in consultation with the Department Director of Graduate Studies and with the approval of the Department Chairperson.

Once the Committee on Studies has been established, it assumes the responsibility for guiding the student in academic and procedural matters. This in no way relieves the graduate student of his or her responsibility for complying with all regulations of the Department, College, and University, as stated elsewhere in this Catalog.

Any grievance or conflict between students, faculty, staff, or administrators regarding graduate student matters shall be taken to the following, in this order, in an attempt to resolve the issue:

Chairperson of the student’s Committee on Studies
Department Director of Graduate Studies
Department Graduate Committee
Chairperson of the Department
College Graduate Committee
Dean of the College
Dean of Graduate Studies
Faculty Senate Graduate Committee

M.F.A. Qualifying Review

1. The four-member Committee on Studies comprises the Qualifying Examination Committee.
2. The exam is given during the 12th week of the regular semester immediately after the student completes 18 graduate credit hours and has had two successful graduate reviews.
3. This examination consists of three parts:

a review of a comprehensive selection of the student’s work.
presentation of a formal typed essay of 7–12 pages (2,400–4,200 words) on the work to be reviewed (to be distributed to each committee member and the Department Graduate Office at least three days prior to the review).
an oral defense of the work by the candidate.

4. The candidate is informed at the conclusion of the exam of the results, which must be one of the following:

Pass, granted by the exam committee.
Fail with option granted by the review committee for a single retake. The second exam is given following completion of at least a 3 credit hour tutorial with the Chairperson of the Committee on Studies. A second failure results in being dropped from the program for unsatisfactory progress toward the degree.
Fail with no retest. The student is dropped from the program for unsatisfactory progress toward the degree.

Advancement to Candidacy and Comprehensive Examination

Between the Qualifying Review and Advancement to Candidacy, students should meet on a regular basis (at least once a semester) with their Committee on Studies to plan and monitor the program of studies and to review their creative work.

Admission to graduate study and a successful Qualifying Review do not imply Advancement to Candidacy for a degree. The M.F.A. student must formally apply for and be admitted to candidacy for the degree. The Application for Candidacy is the vehicle that formally establishes the student’s program of studies.

In order to be advanced to candidacy, the student must file an Application for Candidacy and have a formal Advancement to Candidacy and Comprehensive Examination meeting. The Application for Candidacy is filed when the student has completed the majority of the coursework (40–45 credit hours) and can, with some confidence, project the remaining courses in their program of studies. The Announcement of the Comprehensive Examination is filed with the Application for Candidacy and Appointment of Dissertation Committee form. In any event, the examination must be held no later than the semester before the student registers for dissertation credit hours.

The purpose of the Comprehensive Examination meeting is for the Committee on Studies to:

1. Certify that the Residency Requirement has been met.
2. Review the work and give an oral Comprehensive Examination in order to establish the following:

that an outline of the student’s dissertation, exhibition, catalog, and public talk is sufficient to allow the student to undertake his research.
that the student’s general knowledge of critical and historical issues in art is at a level expected of an M.F.A. candidate.

If problems arise with any of the above, the Committee may choose to meet again after the student has had sufficient time to remedy any shortcomings. In this case, a written summary of what is expected in the way of additional coursework or preparation needed for advancement must be furnished to the student (with a copy to the Department Director of Graduate Studies).

Approval of candidacy is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies only after the residency requirement is met and the program of studies has been approved by the Committee on Studies and the Department Director of Graduate Studies, providing the student has passed their comprehensive exam.

Approval of Candidacy in no way implies successful completion of the M.F.A. degree.

Dissertation Credit Hours

Enrollment in Dissertation (699) may not begin prior to the semester in which the student is Advanced to Candidacy and passed the comprehensive exam.

Once the student has enrolled for Art Studio/Art History dissertation (699), he or she must maintain continuous enrollment (exclusive of summer session) until the dissertation/final project is accepted by the Committee on Studies and the Dean of Graduate Studies. In extraordinary circumstances, the Dean of Graduate Studies may waive the requirement for continuous enrollment upon presentation of a written request from the committee chairperson and the graduate unit.

M.F.A. candidates must be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate, including the summer session.

Creative work done for the dissertation is substantially new work executed specifically for the final exhibition. The exhibition is in no way to be thought of as a retrospective of work done through class or tutorial instruction.

The dissertation/final project consists of:

a solo exhibition of studio work organized and installed by the student;
an exhibition catalog assembled by the student, which includes a written essay about or related to the issues represented in the creative work (10-15 pp. in length); and
a public presentation, a talk, or event that informs the audience about the nature of the creative process involved in the creation of the work.

Time Limit to Complete Requirements

A candidate for the M.F.A. has five years for completion of all degree requirements from the date the student is formally advanced to candidacy by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Under extenuating circumstances, a student may request an extension of this time limit in writing but it must be done prior to the end of the time limit. The request must be supported by his or her Committee on Studies, the Department Graduate Director, the Department Chairperson and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Notification of Intent to Graduate

The semester before the student intends to graduate, the student should inform the Department Graduate Office and, through it, Graduate Studies, of the intention to complete all degree requirements during the semester. Degrees are awarded three times during the year; commencement exercises are held in May and December.

The Final Examination

The M.F.A. Final Oral Examination is given in conjunction with the exhibition of creative work. The Committee on Studies, and other such persons as the Dean of Graduate Studies may require to be present, conducts the examination.

The examination covers the exhibition (the studio work and its installation), final copy of the exhibition catalog, and the public presentation. In order for the student to graduate in a given semester, the examination must be held no later than the published dates in November, April, and July.

The student must notify Graduate Studies at least two weeks before the date of the examination on the forms available. Results of the examination are recorded on the reverse side of the final examination announcement form. The student is responsible for initiating the procedure and making sure that the original notice is sent to Graduate Studies.

At the conclusion of the examination, the voting members shall confer in camera and vote their recommendations. The Committee may 1) recommend that the exhibition, catalog, and public talk be approved without change; 2) recommend that the exhibition, catalog, and public talk be approved subject only to minor corrections, editorial or otherwise; or 3) require the catalog be revised before approval. In the case of 1) or 2), no further meeting of the Committee is required. The Chairperson of the Committee is responsible for seeing that the corrections are made. In the case of 3), the full Committee must determine if their recommendations have been fulfilled.

Two original copies of the catalog, six slides and six or more digital files such as jpgs, shall be deposited with the Department Graduate Office, as a permanent record of the visual work.

Master of Fine Arts in Art Studio with Lithography Focus

Tamarind Institute
2500 Central Avenue SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 277-3901
tamarind@unm.edu
https://tamarind.unm.edu/

The Department of Art offers lithography-focused options to complete the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Art Studio in cooperation with Tamarind Institute, which is a division of the College of Fine Arts of the University of New Mexico. The M.F.A. requirements can normally be completed in three years, with credit hours taken at one or both of Tamarind's printer training programs applied towards the M.F.A. in Art Studio. Interested students must have a strong interest in collaborative printmaking as Tamarind’s programs focus on the acquisition of the technical and interpersonal skills for collaborative lithography.

Students must complete a non-degree graduate appliction to UNM and also apply to the Printer Training program at Tamarind. The Printer Training program is an intensive, year-long session that requires a time commitment of a minimum of 50-60 hours a week. Towards the end of the Fall semester of the Printer Training program, students who wish to pursue the M.F.A. in Art Studio must apply for admission to graduate study at the University of New Mexico. Acceptance into the M.F.A. program is not guaranteed. See the "Master of Fine Arts" section of this page for application and admission information.

After completion of the Printer Training program in Year 1, most students fulfill the M.F.A. coursework at the Department of Art during Years 2 and 3. A limited number of students in the Printer Training program are accepted to participate in the Master Printer Apprentice Training program, which requires an additional year of training in Tamarind’s professional workshop. M.F.A. students accepted into this program stay at Tamarind for Year 2, then complete the M.F.A. requirements at the Department of Art during Year 3. See below for M.F.A. degree requirements for both options.

Requirements

Tamarind: Printer Training Program

		Credit Hours
	Year 1: Printer Training Program Students must be enrolled in non-degree status at UNM during their first year. The following is completed at Tamarind.
Fall	Professional Lithography I	(4-AS)
	Lithography Workshop	(2-AS)
Spring	Professional Lithography II	(3-AS)
	History of Graphic Arts II	(3-AH)
	Subtotal	12
	Years 2 and 3: UNM Students must be accepted to the M.F.A. in Art Studio before their second year. The following is completed at UNM.
	ARTS 502 Interdisciplinary Seminar (must be taken during Fall of Year 2)	3
	Art History courses	3
	Art Studio courses	12
	Electives outside of studio	6
	Electives outside of department	6
	Free electives	6
	Subtotal	36
	ARTH 699 Dissertation	12
	Total	60

Tamarind: Printer Training and Master Printer Apprentice Training Programs

		Credit Hours
	Year 1: Printer Training Program Students must be enrolled in non-degree status at UNM during their first year. The following is completed at Tamarind.
Fall	Professional Lithography I	(4-AS)
	Lithography Workshop I	(2-AS)
Spring	Professional Lithography II	(3-AS)
	History of Graphic Arts II	(3-AH)
	Subtotal	12
	Year 2: Master Printer Apprentice Training Program Students must be accepted to the M.F.A. in Art Studio before their second year. The following is completed at Tamarind.
Fall	ARTS 595 Graduate Tutorial	9
Spring	ARTS 595 Graduate Tutorial	12
	Year 3: UNM The following is completed at UNM.
Fall	ARTH 500 Philosophy and Methods of Art History	3
	ARTS 502 Interdisciplinary Seminar	3
	Any 500-level graduate Art History or Art Studio courses	9
	Subtotal	36
Spring	ARTS 699 Dissertation	12
	Total	60

Doctor of Philosophy in Art History

Degree Requirements

General guidelines for completion of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Art History are set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog.

Those admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.A. in Art History may be required to take additional graduate courses beyond the minimum Ph.D. requirement of 48 credit hours of coursework; in all cases they must take and pass the M.A. Comprehensive Examination.

		Credit Hours
	Coursework
A.	A minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree, exclusive of dissertation:	48
	• A maximum of 30 credit hours from the M.A. degree, if approved, may be counted toward the 48 credit hour requirement
	• ARTH graduate courses in the concentration and graduate courses in supporting fields
	• Minimum coursework
	ARTH Dissertation	18
	Total	66
B.	Within the context of courses listed above:
	A minimum of 18 credit hours of 500-level courses or above completed at the University of New Mexico
	At least 18 credit hours completed in residence at the University

Because of the specialized nature of the Doctoral degree in Art History, concentration emphases at the Master’s level are full concentrations at the doctoral level.

Ph.D. Concentrations:
19th and 20th Century Western Art History
Art of Colonial America–Art of the United States
Built Environment (see below for concentration-specific requirements)
History of Architecture
History of the Graphic Arts
History of Photography
Modern Latin America/Latino Art History
Native American Art History
Pre-Columbian Art History
Spanish Colonial Art History

The 18 credit hours in Art History graduate courses in the concentration and graduate course in supporting fields can be taken from the course listing under the Master’s section.

Time Limit to Complete Requirement

A doctoral candidate has five years for completion of all degree requirements from the date the student is formally Advanced to Candidacy by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Students seeking the Ph.D. degree must demonstrate, beyond a general mastery of the discipline, comprehensive knowledge of their fields of study and the ability to conduct original research. Required coursework outside the Department of Art are determined by the student’s particular needs and shall be undertaken only with the advice and approval of his/her Committee on Studies.

Committee on Studies

The doctoral program is governed by a system of mentorship. Students seeking the Ph.D. must form a Committee on Studies, in consultation with the proposed Chairperson of the Committee and the Department Director of Graduate Studies, and with the approval of the Department Chairperson, during their first semester in residency. Changes in membership are also made in this manner. Dissertation committees consists of at least four members approved for graduate instruction (normally regular, full-time University of New Mexico faculty appointments). The external committee member, must hold a regular, full-time faculty appointment outside the student’s unit/department at the University of New Mexico or another accredited institution. The fourth committee member may be a regular University of New Mexico faculty member or non-faculty expert in the student’s major research areas. The chairperson must be a regular University of New Mexico faculty member from the department, and the dissertation committee must be approved by the Department.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students admitted to the doctoral program with an M.A. from another institution must meet the following general requirements before advancing to candidacy: ARTH 500, and Spring Symposium (Spring semester) (see M.A. Degree Requirements). Doctoral students admitted with an M.A. in a field other than Art History must also pass the Department M.A. Comprehensive Examination. Advancement to Candidacy usually takes place during the semester in which the student completes the minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework (500-level and above) beyond the M.A. In addition to those listed in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog, the requirements for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. are:

Evidence of proficiency in at least two foreign languages appropriate to the student's area of concentration (see Department Graduate Advisor for methods of fulfilling this requirement).
Successful completion of the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination, administered by the student's Committee on Studies; this written examination tests the student's comprehensive knowledge of the field of specialization.
Fulfillment of residency requirements.
Acceptance of dissertation proposal. A preliminary outline of the proposed dissertation subject and research must be approved by the student's Committee on Studies prior to beginning enrollment in Dissertation.

Dissertation and Defense

The dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to undertake original research and to write a readable, scholarly argument of book length. The student is expected to have complete knowledge of the historical, critical, theoretical, and methodological issues raised by the subject. The student defends the dissertation in an oral examination administered by the Committee on Studies.

The student must notify Graduate Studies at least two weeks before the date of the dissertation defense on the forms available. Results of the defense are recorded on the reverse side of the final examination announcement form. The student is responsible for initiating the procedure and making sure that the original notice is sent to Graduate Studies.

Concentration in Built Environment

Admissions Committee

An admission committee formed of the Art History faculty and members of the School of Architecture and Planning review applications to this program. Members of the committee meet after the application deadline to discuss and decide.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have earned an M.Arch., M.L.A., Master's in Planning, or M.A. in Art History, or equivalent as judged by the admissions committee. These degrees may provide up to 30 credit hours towards the PhD. The admissions committee may require additional courses and activities depending on the applicants’ previous education and experience.

Committee on Studies

In the first semester the student chooses a Committee on Studies that assist in course selection and act as advisors and evaluators of requirements to degree. The committee consists of two Art History faculty (one of whom is the chair of the committee), and two School of Architecture and Planning faculty (one of whom acts as the Built Environment mentor responsible for advisement regarding that discipline). All tenured, tenure-track, and Professors of Practice in Art History and the School of Architecture and Planning are eligible to serve on committees.

Coursework Requirements

48 credit hours (minimum) are required, of which 24 must be completed at UNM.
30 credit hours (maximum) from the M.A., M.Arch., M.L.A., or M. Planning degree may be counted towards the 48 credit hour requirement on approval. A minimum of 6 credit hours of UNM graduate-level Art History or History of Architecture (offered by School of Architecture and Planning) are required to fulfill the residency requirement (if the master's degree was not granted by UNM or there were insufficient credit hours).
14-15 credit hours in Art History graduate-level courses including ARTH 500 Philosophy and Methods of Art History, and 12 credit hours from Art History, School of Architecture and Planning History of Architecture courses, or other courses chosen in consultation with the student’s committee.
4 credit hours in the School of Architecture and Planning including ARCH 619 Built Environment Teaching Colloquium (1 credit hour), and a research course selected from ARCH/CRP/LA 590 Historic Research Methods, ARCH 621 Research Methodology, and CRP 513 Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours).

The Department of Art’s Responsibility

The Department of Art’s responsibility includes the evaluation of the creative work exhibited for the solo exhibition, catalog, and public presentation. The Department Director of Graduate Studies verifies to the Dean of Graduate Studies on designated forms the departmental approval.