Art and Art History
[edit] Description
For a brief description of the program, application requirements and contact information, view the graduate program summary .
Department Chair: Edward Forde
Graduate Committee: Professors Pinnell (chair), Mamiya; Associate Professors Fritz, Neal
The department offers graduate instruction leading to the degrees of master of arts (M.A.) in art history, and master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in studio art. Candidates may pursue the MFA in the following areas of emphasis: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or a combination of several of these disciplines. The department reserves the right to retain for its collection one creative work by each graduated MFA student.
Undergraduate Requirements
Candidates for the M.F.A. must have obtained the bachelors degree from an institution of recognized standing and preferably have completed undergraduate preparation substantially the equivalent of that required for the bachelor of fine arts degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Applicants for the M.A. in art history will ordinarily have a bachelor’s degree with an art history major or minor, however we recognize that M.A. applicants may come from a wide variety of backgrounds that may require individual structuring of their programs. Those without a demonstrated background in art history may be advised to take undergraduate courses in the department prior to admission to the program or concurrent with their M.A. studies (these classes will not count toward M.A. program requirements). Regardless of an applicant’s undergraduate major, admission to the M.A. program assumes a minimum of a B average in undergraduate work. In addition, the applicant must meet the standards of admission to the Graduate School, and must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Application Procedure
An applicant must submit two separate packets of documents, one to the Office of Graduate Studies (deadline January 1) and another to the Graduate Chair of the Department of Art and Art History (deadline February 1). Send the application form, application fee and two official copies of all transcripts of previous college work to Graduate Studies. Send one official copy of all transcripts of previous college work, three letters of recommendation (sent directly from the references), a statement of professional intent and evidence of creative work to the Department of Art and Art History. Students may apply in one or two studio disciplines, but in order to emphasize two areas, they must be accepted in both. Creative work must be presented in the form of a portfolio consisting of 20 images submitted as 35mm slides, or on a CD, DVD, or as a videotape. Applicants in graphic design may provide a Website address for us to view their work. Applicants in photography may send a portfolio of 20 original photographs. Materials should be mailed in a plain manila envelope. They will be transferred to a file upon receipt. (No binders, boxes, or plastic page sleeves, please.) The departmental application deadline is February 1 for entry the following August. Applicants should consult the Department of Art and Art History Website, www.unl.edu/art/, for more detailed information about portfolio requirements.
Master of Fine Arts Requirements
To apply for the M.A. in Art History, or the M.F.A. in Studio Art, it is necessary to send certain materials to the Department of Art and Art History and other specific materials to the College of Graduate Studies. Applicants are considered for admission in the fall of the calendar year that they apply. There is no admission for spring or summer session.
Art Department Application Materials: M.A. Art History
- Entrance Exam: GRE.
- A statement of intellectual and professional goals and reasons for applying to do graduate work in art history (maximum 500 words).
- Three letters of recommendation that address your academic qualifications to undertake graduate work Please attach the UNL Letter of Recommendation form (.pdf).
- Writing sample (e.g., paper from an art history course or related field, senior thesis).
- Curriculum vitae.
Art Department Application Materials: M.F.A. Studio Art
- Click here to complete the MFA supplemental application.
- Portfolio: Creative work must be presented in the form of a portfolio consisting of 20 images, submitted on a CD. Please use only .jpg files (1 to 2 Mb). Number images “01 (Title)”, “02 (Title)”, “03 (Title)” etc. Images may also be submitted in a single Powerpoint or .pdf document. Applicants in photography may send a portfolio of no more than 20 original photographs. Applicants in graphic design may provide a website address in addition to the 20 images. Applicants in sculpture may include no more than seven detail views of sculpture. Disks will not be returned.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your recent work. Please attach the UNL Letter of Recommendation form (.pdf)
- A statement that describes the applicant's goals in entering the program and the applicant's objectives in the portfolio submitted.
- A list of slides that corresponds to the portfolio, listing media, sizes and dates of completion.
Note: Application materials are reorganized and filed by office staff. Please do not present your work in binder or folder as this creates extra work and presentation materials are discarded.
Art Department materials must be received by February 1 for admission in the Fall. Mail items to the following address:
Department of Art and Art History 120 Richards Hall University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-0114
College of Graduate Studies Application Materials
- A completed and signed application found in the Graduate Admissions Guide, or on-line at http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/
Please indicate your studio area in the "comments" portion of the online application (ceramics, graphic design, photography, painting, printmaking, or sculpture). - A $45 non-refundable application processing fee.
- Two sets of official transcripts from every college and university attended.
- For international students: verification of English proficiency (if your native language is not English) and financial resource information (for international F or J visa holders).
College of Graduate Studies applications must be received by January 1 for admission in the fall. Mail items 1-4 to the following address:
College of Graduate Studies
1100 Seaton Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0619
Master of Arts in Art History Requirements
The M.A. program requires a minimum of 30 hours of advanced study, balanced between coursework designed to promote coverage of the field, cross-disciplinary explorations, and focused research. The M.A. candidate must complete a written thesis or pass a comprehensive exam. Competency in a modern foreign language is also required.
Master of Fine Arts Requirements
The M.F.A. candidate must: a) complete 60 credit hours of approved course work; b) present an original body of creative work, known as a “thesis exhibition,” in a gallery space on campus; c) write a brief essay on the thesis work; d) pass an oral examination. The program requires a minimum of 26 hours of work in the area(s) of emphasis and a minimum of 9 hours in regularly scheduled art history courses. An additional 9 hours may be taken in approved academic courses. Additional studio course work brings the total to the 60 credit hour minimum.
Minor available:
Art History
