Degree Programs

The B.F.A. Degree plan lists the courses needed and when they are offered. For Graphic Design and Interdisciplinary Design Concentrations, see the first document . For Studio and Crafts concentrations, see the second document.

In order to be an art major, the student must go through a portfolio review, take the first three art core classes (ART 1010, ART 1060 and ART 1150) and pass a faculty review. The portfolio consists of either a collection of ten digital images or portfolio of ten physical works.

The Master of Arts degree is an on-campus or a low residency online program. The on-campus version allows the student to interact with faculty and facilities. There are also Graduate Assistantships and personal studios available. The online version allows the student to work from home. Most classes are available online, however the student is required to attend two three-week summer sessions or one semester at the beginning of their degree. The student will get to know the faculty and facilities which will foster a more personal online learning experience. At the end of the degree, the student will return to campus to set up an art exhibit.

Applying for Graduate School

To apply to the graduate school, go to their website, https://www.nsula.edu/graduateschool/, and follow the guidelines listed on the left-hand menu.

To apply for the Master of Arts degree please submit a portfolio, letter of intent, and artist statement on or before March 15th for Fall semester and October 15th for the Spring semester. The portfolio should contain no less than twenty quality digital images (.jpeg or .pdf) that demonstrate technical mastery, intellectual and artistic maturity, as well as the capacity to develop an idea through a series of work. Applicants should include a series of most recent work that indicates their current artistic direction. A written statement should accompany the portfolio, summarizing relevant issues in the current work and providing a sense of the direction the work might take during graduate study. Applicants should also include an image list that provides the title, date completed, medium and size of each image in the portfolio.

Total Hours 33

Emphasis specific
18 Hours:

  • 5010. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN PAINTING. Contemporary trends; research and laboratory practice in painting problems. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5020. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN DRAWING. Contemporary trends; research and laboratory practice in drawing problems. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5080. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN DESIGN. Work in design related subjects. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5090. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN PHOTOGRAPHY. Student selects an area of photography to be investigated in depth. Many include new technical applications and equipment, creative theme development in black and white, color, filmmaking, or a combination of any of these. Student must present a paper or creative project at the end of the course. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5110. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN CRAFTS. Advanced experience in the design and construction of various craft projects. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5130. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN SCULPTURE. Exploration in a specialized direction of personal significance. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5140. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIO. Work with a member of the faculty in advanced studio problems. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5220. ADVANCED GRAPHICS. Exploration in a specialized direction of personal significance. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5240. GRADUATE STUDIO. (3 to 6-1-5). Advanced studio problems. Students must meet with instructor to approve specific problem in writing prior to registration. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated for a total of fifteen hours credit when topic varies. Subtitles: 01 – Painting, 02 – Drawing, 03 – Sculpture, 04 – Design, 05 – Ceramics, 06 – Advertising Art, 07 – Watercolor, 08 – Stained Glass, 09 – Photography, 10 – Graphics.
  • 5420. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN WATERCOLOR. Further experimentation with watercolor as a medium. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5440. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN CERAMICS. Clays, glazes, computation, and measurements. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.
  • 5450. ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN COMMERCIAL ART. Planning and execution of a complete design project such as web-site design, multimedia design, computer graphics, illustration of sequential art. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit when topic varies.

Art History
6 Hours:

  • 5460. RESEARCH IN ART HISTORY. Research in art history. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
  • 5950. RESEARCH IN ART. Research techniques and their application in visual arts; preparation of prospectus.

Graduate Seminar
3 Hours:

  • 5900. GRADUATE SEMINAR. Discussion of contemporary trends and developments in art; investigation of studio or theoretical problems.

Final Project – Thesis Exhibition
6 Hours:

  • 5970. CREATIVE RESEARCH DOCUMENTATION. Research Techniques and their application in the field of visual arts through intensive indiviidula investigation in the use of primary sources of documentation – graduate thesis part one.
  • 5980. CREATIVE RESEARCH EXHIBITION. Continuation of Art 5970. Research Techniques and their application in the field of visual arts through intensive indiviidula investigation in the use of primary sources of documentation – graduate thesis part two.

Comprehensive Exam
All students must pass a comprehensive oral exam. Questions are based upon problems from the courses taken.

Interested in being part of our online Master of Arts in Art degree program? Here is some information on how to apply, how to find temporary housing for your summer residency and other pertinent information.

Start at the Graduate School where you can apply online for admission to the University Graduate School. There are many useful links on the left-hand side of the Graduate School home page.

To apply for the Master of Arts in Art, you need the following:

  • transcripts from an undergraduate art degree
  • 20 jpeg or pdf images of your work either on CD, or a link to your website
  • the ability to attend a required three week residency the summer before you begin
  • the ability to come and set up your final exhibit at the end of your degree

Campus Housing will help you find housing at a very reasonable rate for your summer residency.

Financial Aid is available for summer sessions if you take 6 or more credits (two or more summer courses).

Information for current students

When registering for classes, to receive the out-of-state waiver, please only register for classes with section numbers ending in “I”. That means it’s an online class.

Please remember to follow the “Creative Research” (page 8) format for your paper. On the templates, where it asks for “Thesis” or “Paper-in-leiu-of Thesis”, please put “Creative Research”.