Herron School of Art and Design
Graduate
Degree Programs
MFA in Visual Art
Admission into the Visual Communication Design graduate program is competitive. The Department of Visual Communication Design seeks graduate candidates who have strong skills for thinking critically about complex issues and working collaboratively in teams that represent a diversity of perspectives.
Applicants ordinarily will be expected to hold baccalaureate degrees from colleges or universities of recognized standing prior to registration as graduate students. Applicants for a master's degree program should have achieved a 3.0 (out of 4.0) grade point average or higher for the baccalaureate degree, or have other indicators of outstanding academic performance.
Students entering the MFA degree program in Visual Communication Design are not required to have an established background in design or art. The Visual Communication Design Program at Herron encourages cross-disciplinary research approaches and experiences. However, applicants who do not have a prior educational background in design or professional design experience may be required to successfully complete foundational pre-graduate studies in design before being accepted to initiate the MFA curriculum.
One or two semesters of foundational pre-graduate studies may be required before full admission into the MFA program in Visual Communication Design. Foundational pre-graduate courses in design may be offered for graduate credit but the credit hours do not apply to completing the 60-credit hour requirements in the MFA degree. Decisions regarding admission into the Foundational Pre-Graduate program are made on an individual basis.
