MFA Credit Requirements
A minimum of 60 credits must be earned for program completion. Full-time low and full residency students take 10 credits per trimester. Taking fewer than 6 credits per semester changes a student’s status to part-time. Students must have permission to enroll part-time.
MFA Credit Distribution
60 Credits over 2 Years:
- Studio Credits (60% of total credits)
- Studio Seminar Credits (20% of total credits)
- Academic Studies consists of Art History and Art Theory Credits (20% of total credits)
Permission To Proceed
Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (A=4.0), satisfy all course requirements as stated in course syllabi, and must be granted permissions to proceed from the Chair of the program, in consultation with the faculty, at several points during the program:
Students must receive permission to proceed at the end of the 2nd trimester (December of the 1st year) and at the end of the second summer, trimester 4.
The Chair retains the ability to dismiss a student from the program at any time during the program of study if circumstances arrive that warrant dismissal. This can only be done in consultation with the Dean of the College.
Any student whose GPA dips below the required 3.0 GPA will be placed on academic probation and will follow the college policy regarding probation. A graduate student cannot be on probation for more than one trimester. Continued low GPA will result in an academic dismissal.
GPA Requirements
Graduate students shall maintain a 3.0 (B) GPA or higher each trimester, satisfying all course requirements as stated in course syllabi. In order to graduate you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, completed 60 graduate credits, and successfully defended both the studio and written theses during the Comprehensive review of Second Year Spring Residency.
Academic Probation And Dismissal
Academic Probation Status is determined by this measure alone; a student with a semester GPA below 3.0 is put on probation for the following semester. Any student who has earned a semester grade point average below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the College. This measure is not affected by full residency or low residency status. * See also “Student Admitted on Probation.” If a Graduate student's grade cumulative falls below a 2.0, the Chair of MFA may waive the probationary status and dismiss the student directly.
Studio Thesis Exhibition and Written Thesis (The May Intensive Residency)
The end of the second year is given over to thesis defenses, during which each graduating student defends the written and studio thesis exhibition.
The student will present a final professional exhibition of their work which will introduce the student’s work to the public and to the professional and arts communities. This exhibition is almost always in the ICA at MECA&D, though other arrangements can be made by the college. This requirement serves as evidence of a final studio thesis. The studio thesis assures that the student has achieved high proficiency in their field and is prepared to assume the responsibilities of a professional artist. The thesis will be exhibited before and after May commencement as part of the MFA Thesis Exhibition.
Thesis defenses combine the defense of the Studio and Written thesis projects into one cumulative defense held in front of the studio exhibition installation. Defense of the studio and written thesis requires the students to explain each aspect of the studio thesis, including its historical context and to explain in depth each section of the written thesis and how this relates to the studio work in the exhibition.
Following the oral presentation, the Thesis Defense Panel, which includes faculty, internal reviewers and external reviewers, poses questions to the student. Notes or outlines are not permitted during oral presentation or in response to questions. Successful studio thesis defense fulfills a requirement for graduation. The Chair and faculty notify each student whether they have passed the defense shortly after it is completed.
MFA Graduation Requirements
The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art degree is awarded to MFA students who have:
- Earned at least 60 credits (according to the curricular distribution requirements) with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of not less than 3.0,
- Submitted a PDF version of their Written thesis to the MFA office, for printing by the Joanne Waxman Library. The PDF version will also be kept on file.
- Successfully defended both the studio and written thesis during the Comprehensive Review of Second Year Spring Residency. Students who do not successfully defend either their studio or written thesis projects may return to the May Intensive in the following year to re-defend.
- Completed all academic requirements within the parameters of Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Submitted an Intent to Graduate Application to the College Registrar’s Office.
- Completed a Financial Aid Exit Interview (for students receiving federal loans).
- Satisfied all financial obligations to Maine College of Art & Design.
- Returned all books to the Joanne Waxman Library (even if they are not overdue).
- Returned all equipment borrowed from the College.
NOTE: All credit requirements must be completed to participate in Commencement ceremonies.
Students in the final trimester of MECA&D’s MFA program may not be granted permission to graduate if the Graduate committee feels that the thesis defense and exhibition did not demonstrate sufficient mastery over the methodology, content and articulated context of the student’s work or, if their overall GPA is below a 3.0. No incompletes will be allowed in the final trimester unless there are extenuating circumstances that are documented. In these cases graduation may be delayed until the following year and depending on the situation, courses may need to be taken again.