Fine Art

Faculty | MFA | Courses
Director, School of Fine Art and Music - Mary Cyr (201 Zavitz Hall, Ext. 8452)

(Email: mcyr@arts.uoguelph.ca)
Graduate co-ordinator:
Margaret Priest (410 Zavitz Hall, Ext. 3140)
Graduate secretary - Patricia Law (204 Zavitz Hall, Ext. 3988)
(Email: patlaw@arts.uoguelph.ca)
 
 
FACULTY
John W. Fillion AOCA - Associate Professor

Suzanne M. Lake MFA Concordia - Professor
Margaret Priest MA RCA London - Associate Professor
Ronald L. Shuebrook BS, MEd Kutztown, MFA Kent State - Professor
Elton J. Yerex BFA Manitoba, MFA Michigan, MA Wayne State - Associate Professor

Additional Faculty in Art History:
Hendrik J. Horn BA British Columbia, MA, PhD Yale - Professor
W. Chandler Kirwin BA Princeton, MA, PhD Stanford - Professor
Gerta Moray Diplome de Langue et de Civilization Francaise Lyon, MA Oxford, Postgraduate Diploma Courtauld, PhD Toronto - Associate Professor

    
MFA PROGRAM
   The MFA program in the field of studio art offers specializations in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and alternative practices. Though emphasizing studio practice, the program includes courses in art theory, criticism, history and pedagogy. A thesis exhibition is also required. The objective of the program is to prepare students as professional artists and artist-teachers. The MFA is intended to represent a high level of professional competence and personal originality in the informed practice of a studio discipline. In response to the numerous and divergent approaches to the making of visual art, the MFA program provides an individually oriented education that is primarily concerned with the development of independent studio work while encouraging a critical awareness of the cultural context and its ideological complexities. In addition to their intense involvement with studio practice, students will be required to demonstrate their pertinent knowledge and judgment about the visual arts in presentations, discussions, and written papers within the required coursework.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the master of fine arts program in studio art may be granted on the recommendation of the Department of Fine Art to:

(a)    the holder of a BFA degree (honours equivalent), or an honours BA (or its equivalent in fine or visual arts);
or
(b)    in exceptional cases, the holder of a degree in another field who has completed a minimum of six one-semester
courses in fine or visual art; or
(c)    a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from the provisional-student category.
Specific Application Materials for Admission Each applicant must submit the following:
1.    A slide portfolio of 20 recent works or other documentation of artwork.
2.     A single-page statement that outlines the applicant's career objectives and reasons for wishing to study
in the University of Guelph's master of fine arts program in studioart.
3.     Letters of reference from two studio professors. The applicant must have taken a significant
proportion of coursework from at least one of the professors. An acceptable alternative to one such letter may be from the department chair on behalf of the department in which the applicant has studied, or from a professional in the field who is familiar with the applicant's abilities.
   It is highly recommended that applicants complete at least eight semesters of courses in art history, cultural studies, or related areas prior to applying. Serious interest in, and substantial familiarity, with contemporary issues in the visual arts is expected.

Degree Requirements
   The MFA degree at the University of Guelph requires the attainment of a professional level of studio practice, and a sophisticated awareness of contemporary discourse in visual arts as well as a detailed knowledge of the selected field of specialization. Each degree candidate will complete a thesis. The MFA thesis consists of an exhibition, a brief supporting paper, and an oral examination. The following are some of the specific degree requirements for the MFA degree in studio art (The complete MFA degree regulations are to be found in the Degree Regulations section of this calendar):

  1. Minimum Duration. The minimum duration is at least four semesters of full-time study.
  2. Prescribed Studies. A total of 10.0 credits is required for the completion of this program. In addition to individually oriented studio courses, students are required to complete four MFA seminars; two graduate art history, theory and criticism courses; and two teaching practicum courses. A maximum of two courses outside the Department of Fine Art may be substituted for courses in art history, theory and criticism. The courses selected must be acceptable to the department and the Dean of Graduate Studies for graduate credit. All 12 "substantive" courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall average grade of at least 'B-' standing.
  3. Additional Courses. In addition to the prescribed studies, the student may undertake to achieve satisfactory standings in ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level. The standings obtained in them will not affect the average grade of the prescribed studies.
  4. Exhibition/Paper. Each degree candidate must present an exhibition, performance, or showing of their studio work, as well as a brief critical paper of approximately 1,000 words that articulates the aesthetic, historical and technical issues pertinent to their artwork. The submitted studio work must demonstrate a professional level of competence and a significant aesthetic investigation, as approved by the candidate's master's examination committee.
  5. The Master's Examination. At the time of the exhibition, the MFA candidate will be expected to successfully complete a final oral examination devoted chiefly to the MFA exhibition with reference to the supporting critical paper. This is a departmental examination identified as the master's examination.
  6. Department Regulations. In addition to meeting the university's MFA regulations regarding thesis format, the candidate must submit appropriate visual documentation of the MFA exhibition as well as the supporting critical paper to the chair of the Department of Fine Art for inclusion in the Department of Fine Art archives.
 
COURSES
1306510 Introduction to Graduate Studio (1.5)
A qualifying open-studio course to determine the student's interests and level of performance. The student will come in contact with a variety of faculty and may choose to work in a number of areas during this period.
1306515 MFA Studio I (1.5)
Sustained work at an independent level under the supervision of the chair of the student's advisory committee. Prerequisite: 1306510.
1306530 MFA Teaching Practicum I (0.5)
This course will give the MFA student supervised teaching experience in a studio discipline. In addition, a seminar component will consider theoretical and practical issues relevant to the teaching of studio art. Prerequisite: admission to the MFA program.
1306531 MFA Teaching Practicum II (0.5)
Continuation of teaching practicum under the guidance of a faculty member. The practicum seminar will consider theoretical and practical issues relevant to the teaching of studio art such as educational goals, course and curriculum planning, academic evaluation, health and safety policies, and appropriate materials and equipment. Prerequisite: 1306530.
1306540 MFA Seminar I (0.5)
Examination of critical issues in the visual arts relevant to studio practice.
1306545 MFA Seminar II (0.5)
Continuation of issues examined in 1306540. Prerequisite: 1306540.
1306610 MFA Studio II (1.5)
A continuation of 1306515. Prerequisite: 1306515.
1306615 MFA Studio III (1.5)
A continuation of 1306610. Prerequisite: 1306610.
1306640 MFA Seminar III (0.5)
Continuation of 1306545. Prerequisite: 1306545.
1306641 MFA Seminar IV (0.5)
Continuation of 1306640.
MFA Exhibition And Supporting Critical Paper
   Upon completion of coursework, MFA candidates will mount a major exhibition, performance, or showing of their studio work that demonstrates a professional level of competence and a significant aesthetic investigation. A brief, critical paper will be written that discusses the aesthetic, historic, and technical issues pertinent to the exhibited artwork.
Additional Courses
1306550 Selected Topics in Fine Art (0.5)
Seminar in a fine art topic in a subject to be specified by the instructor. Prerequisite: admission to the MFA program.
1306551 Seminar in Art Theory and Criticism (0.5)
Selected topics in art theory and criticism with particular relevance to studio practice. Prerequisite: admission to MFA program and permission of instructor.
1306552 Seminar in Canadian Art (0.5)
Selected topics in Canadian Art. Prerequisite: admission to MFA program and permission of instructor.
1306554 Seminar in Nineteenth Century Art (0.5)
Selected topics of the period. Prerequisite: admission to MFA program and permission of instructor.
1306555 Seminar in Twentieth Century Art (0.5)
Selected topics of the period. Prerequisite: admission to MFA program and permission of instructor.
1306650 Individual Study in Art History (0.5)
Students will pursue special study under the guidance of a faculty member with appropriate expertise. Prerequisite: approval of the co-ordinator of the MFA program.
1306651 Individual Study in Contemporary Art (0.5)
Students will pursue special study under the guidance of a faculty member with appropriate expertise. Prerequisite: approval of the co-ordinator of the MFA program.
1306652 Individual Study in Art Theory and Criticism (0.5)
Students will pursue special study under the guidance of a faculty member with appropriate expertise. Prerequisite: approval of the co-ordinator of the MFA program.
    
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