Graduate Programs

Degree Programs

M.F.A. in Visual Art and Public Life
Furniture Design

Herron School of Art and Design has an established reputation in Furniture Design based on the long-standing strength of its undergraduate program. As a graduate student in Furniture Design at Herron, students develop their creative vision making use of an exceptionally well-equipped and maintained woodworking shop/studio which is housed in Herron’s new state-of-the-art 163,000 square foot facility that opened in 2005. Coursework stresses the development of professional mastery in conceptualizing, design research and development, and construction techniques and technologies. Students develop a body of work emphasizing a personal design aesthetic. Career goals and strategies are explored and developed, and a systematic sequence of coursework at the graduate level provides students with the experience and knowledge necessary to pursue professional commissions, to work in collaboration with other artists, craftsmen and creative thinkers, and to understand how to develop a successful professional career in the 21st century.  Coursework is augmented with visiting artists, field trips, design competitions, exhibition opportunities, public art projects, and other pertinent professional activities.

Furniture Design Suggested Plan of Study
First Year Course Work
Fall Credits
HER-Q 510 Studio Emphasis I: Materials and Methods in Furniture Design 6
HER-R 529 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Visual Arts 3
HER-H 560 Visual Culture: A Visual Studies Approach 3
HER-J 530 University Visual Art Teaching Practicum /or/ Free Elective 3
Total 15


Spring Credits
HER-Q 520 Studio Emphasis II: Theory into Practice in Furniture Design 6
HER-R 539 Urban Art Context (may be repeated) 3
HER-J 520 Project Management/Public Art 3
HER-H 5xx Art History 3
15
Second Year Course Work
Fall Credits
HER-Q 560 Studio Emphasis III: Advanced Practice in Furniture Design 6
HER-R 539 Urban Art Context (if repeated) 0-3
Graduate Studio Elective 3-6
HER-H 610
or HER-J 501
Art Theory & Criticism or A Critical Approach to Art 3
Academic Elective 0-3
Total 15


Spring Credits
HER-R 599 Studio Emphasis IV: Thesis 6
Graduate Studio Elective 6-9
Art History /or/ Academic Elective 0-3
Total 15
Program total: 60 credits