Graduate Studies

MFA in Studio Art

U.S. News and World Report ranks our MFA program #33 among all schools. The ceramics program is ranked #4.
The Ohio State University Department of Art offers an MFA in Visual Arts with an emphasis in seven studio areas: Art and Technology, Ceramics, Glass, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Students work across disciplines and with faculty from all seven studio areas.
Graduate students have 24/7 access to private and semi-private studio spaces.
The MFA program is a 66-credit hour, three-year program and requires full-time enrollment during that time period.
The internationally recognized faculty is augmented each year by Visiting Artists, Critics and Curators who engage in critical discourse and discussion with graduate students.
Art department facilities include both material and digital fabrication studios. Additional sites of interest for graduate students: The Wexner Center for the Arts, a world-renowned contemporary art center located on campus; The Fine Arts and Cartoon Libraries; and the Urban Arts Space, an off-campus, OSU-run gallery in downtown Columbus. The Urban Arts Space is the location of the third-year thesis exhibitions.

Most students accepted into the MFA Program are funded with a Graduate Associate appointment, which requires working 20 hours a week in exchange for a fee authorization (payment of tuition) and a stipend. These appointments may include teaching introductory courses, assisting in department labs, and working for The Arts Initiative.
Graduate Fellowships are also available for incoming graduate students who show outstanding scholarly accomplishment and the most outstanding potential for graduate study. Students are nominated for fellowship consideration by the Department with final decisions on awards made by the Graduate School. Students may not apply directly for fellowship support.