Since graduating from Cal State Fullerton with my B.F.A. I've become very interested in knowning what exactly an M.F.A. degree is all about. I found these guidelines set by College Art Association about M.F.A. degrees. Check out the link:
http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/mfa.htmlDEFINITION AND PURPOSE
The M.F.A., unlike most master's degrees, is used as a guarantee of a high level of professional competence in the visual arts. It is also accepted as an indication that the recipient has reached the end of the formal aspects of his/her education in the making of art, that is to say, it is the terminal degree in visual arts education and thus equivalent to terminal degrees in other fields, such as the Ph.D. or Ed.D.
First and foremost, the profession demands from the recipient of the M.F.A. a certifiable level of technical proficiency and the ability to make art. However, having earned the degree does not necessarily guarantee an ability to teach this proficiency to others. When work toward the M.F.A. has been concentrated in a particular medium, there should be complete professional mastery of that medium. The generalist, whose preparation has been broader and less specialized, must still meet the critical demands of the profession by convincingly demonstrating expertise and knowledge in a number of areas. The need for thorough training of the mind, the eye, and the hand is self-evident. The remainder of this document outlines specific standards and requirements for the M.F.A. that are approved and endorsed by the CAA Board of Directors.
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
The minimum requirement for the M.F.A. is 60 semester credits of course work at the graduate level (or 90 quarter credits), including courses in art history and cognate areas of study. These required credits may not include course work that is required as make-up for undergraduate deficiencies.
Undergraduate degrees (B.A., B.F.A., B.S., B.Ed.) differ in disciplinary credit distribution and educational emphasis. In order to compensate for these differences in the studies (both undergraduate and graduate) leading ultimately to the M.F.A. degree, the following combined (undergraduate plus graduate) semester credit totals are recommended: art studio, 100; history of art, 24. However, new genres/disciplines in the visual arts at the graduate level may require or take into consideration undergraduate study outside traditional art studio areas (video and computer-based art, for example). Thus the total semester credit hours recommended for the undergraduate/graduate program leading to the M.F.A. in studio art may have to be adjusted to include appropriate course work relevant to new genres of studio practice. The above recommendations are not absolute minimum requirements, but provide reasonable guidelines for faculties concerned with maintaining the standards of the profession.
