MFA: MFA Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Texas Arlington. Please consult these questions before contacting the advisor.

FAQs

The MFA in the Art+Art History department offers students a broad range of study and exploration within the areas of Intermedia, Film and Video, Glass and Visual Communication Design. If wish to discuss your work with a faculty member to see if UTA’s program is right for you, contact the MFA Director, Professor Darryl Lauster at dlauster@uta.edu or 817.272.2891 and he will coordinate an appointment with the appropriate faculty representative to discuss your goals and interests.

Arlington is situated in the center of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and offers convenient access to many diverse world class cultural activities. Institutions in the area include the Nasher Sculpture Center, The Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection, The Amon Carter Museum, The Kimbell Museum, and the Forth Worth Modern, as well as multiple professional symphonies and live theaters, music venues and international film festivals.

North Texas is an urban multi-cultural international center of commerce and culture, with vibrant neighborhoods boasting world cuisines and public festivals. There are two international airports within 25 miles of the university. For those more inclined to the exploration of nature, the state of Texas contains The Big Bend, The Big Thicket and The Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.

MFA students with the Art & Art History Department also have unlimited access to the Gallery at UTA, which offers students the opportunity to view exhibitions by regional, national and international artists. For more information about the Gallery at UTA and other museums and galleries in the area, visit www.uta.edu/gallery.

Yes, MFA students are assigned shared studio spaces. Many of the studios are equipped with state-of-the art computers for film editing, photography, and visual communication design. The department also operates several highly specialized digital imaging labs as well as traditional studio facilities.
You can find online admission applications at Admissions. Please remember that the Art+Art History Department has a two-stepped application process: (1) submission of the application to the Graduate School (transcripts sent to the Graduate College) and (2) submission of the online Slideroom Application (transcripts sent to Darryl Lauster, MFA Program Director). The department will not review incomplete applications until they are completed.
Graduate credit may be transferred from other accredited graduate schools and only if the credits have not been applied to another degree. Only course work pertinent to the M.F.A. will be transferred. Graduate Transfer credits may not exceed 15 hours for the M.F.A. degree and then only courses graded B or better.

Moreover, the department is committed to providing funding opportunities to and diverse professional experiences to all qualified and interested students and will maintain a balance in its various discipline numbers.

Currently 100% of the enrolled MFA students receive funding at the following levels:

Departmental area scholarships

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships
  • Graduate Research Assistantships