Degree Requirements

Graduate Studio, 2CU

Graduate Studio I, FNAR 5010
Graduate Studio II, FNAR 5020
Graduate Studio III, FNAR 6010
Graduate Studio IV, FNAR 6020

Each semester the requirement for Graduate Studio includes individual critiques with visiting artists, faculty and critics, attending visiting artist lectures and workshops, public lectures, as well as the mid-term and final reviews. Students participate in exhibitions throughout the year. Graduate Studio is taught each semester by a team of standing fine arts faculty and rotating visiting critics. This class is required all four semesters for a total of 8 credits. This course takes place on Thursday evenings for MFA programming and additionally requires asynchronous meeting times for studio practice and one-on-one studio critiques.

Graduate Critique, 1CU

Graduate Critique, FNAR 7010
Graduate Critique, FNAR 7020
Graduate Critique, FNAR 7030
Graduate Critique, FNAR 7040

This course is designed to introduce students to different pedagogical methodologies relating to the critical examination of works of art as well as to assist students in terms of speaking about their own work. Graduate Critique provides a democratic and interactive forum for the voicing of opinion in an informed context. This class is required all four semesters for a total of 4 credits, and takes place on Tuesday evenings 5:15-8:15pm.

The Graduate Seminars are intensive topical or single discipline-based courses that rotate each semester. We encourage the MFA students to use these courses to advance their thinking in their disciplines, or to take a course in an unfamiliar or new topic in order to augment their approach. MFA students are required two graduate seminars over the four semesters, about 2-4 Seminar classes are offered each semester. Below you will see a list of both past and present graduate seminar courses:
 

MFA Seminars Offered in Spring 2023:

If Night Is A Weed And Day Grows Less, FNAR 5410-401
David Hartt, M 10:15 AM-1:14 PM

Interrogative Design, DSGN 5100-401
Krzysztof Wodiczko, Thursday 10:15am-1:14pm

Performance Studio, FNAR 5023-401
Geo Wyeth, Friday 10:15am-4:15pm

Sachs Research, FNAR 8020
Visiting Professor Every Ocean Hughes
*By Permission Only. This is not a traditional course, it is optional grad seminar credit ICU for those who are accepted to the research group.

MFA Seminars Offered in Fall 2022:

FNAR 5047 Advanced Sculpture: Installation & Interventions 
Michelle Lopez, F 10:15am – 1:14pm 

FNAR 5059 Public Art and Issues of Spatial Production 
Ken Lum, T 1:45pm – 4:44pm 

FNAR 5061 Mystics & Visionaries: Arts and Other Ways of Knowing 
Jackie Tileston, T 1:45pm – 4:44pm 

FNAR 5064 Is This Really Happening? Performance & Contemporary Political Horizons (SNF Paideia Program Course) 
Sharon Hayes, Brooke O’Harra W, 5:15pm – 8:14pm 

Past MFA Graduate Seminars:
Descriptions of past seminars.

FNAR 802/ 804 Sachs Research w/ Visiting Professor Every Ocean Hughes *By Permission Only - Offered Spring 2022 

FNAR-585 Performance Studio, Sharon Hayes

FNAR 613 The Chinese Body and Spatial Consumption in Chinatown, Ken Lum

FNAR-127-201 Space/Form Michelle H Lopez

FNAR-676-401 Advanced Lens Based Projects David Hartt

FNAR 615 Across Forms: Art and Writing,  Sharon Hayes/Rachel Zolf,

FNAR 801-405 Sachs Research w/ Visiting Professor Ernesto Pujol *By Permission Only. Offered Spring 2021 

FNAR 3110 Public Art and Issues of Spatial Production, Ken Lum

FNAR-598 - Grad Sculpture Seminar, Michelle Lopez

FNAR 801-405 - Sachs Research w/ Visiting Professors Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley *By Permission Only. Offered Spring 2020

FNAR 801-402 - Praxis & Poiesis: A Studio Practice Intensive, Matt Freedman 

FNAR 801- 403 - Contemporary Human and its Critique, Orkan Telhan

FNAR 801-401 - Perspectives in Art: A Nomadic Approach, Jackie Tileston

FNAR 801-402 - Defense Against the Dark Arts, David Hartt

FNAR 801-403 - Creative Research, Orkan Telhan

FNAR 801-401 - Covert Structures, Michelle Lopez

FNAR-568 – Interactive Design Studio: Cultures of Making, Orkan Telhan

FNAR-576 – Critical Issues I: A History of Ideas in Art, Jackie Tileston

FNAR-576 – Critical Issues II: Contemporary Themes, Jackie Tileston

FNAR-712 – Visual Epistemologies, Orkan Telhan

Seven elective courses are required over 4 semesters; two MFA Graduate Seminars, two must be outside of the Fine Arts Department, the remaining three courses may be taken either in the department or anywhere in the university.

Fine Arts elective courses play a critical role in allowing MFA students to expand their thinking and approach to studio techniques. All fine art elective courses can be searched by entering ‘FNAR’ into the search bar in Path.

Weitzman elective courses are offered by all departments within the School of Design and count as outside elective credit for MFA students. A selection of interdisciplinary courses in the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design extends the focus of the MFA program to the disciplines of:
Architecture
City & Regional Planning
Design
Historic Preservation
Landscape Architecture

University Wide Elective Courses
MFA students are encouraged to take courses outside of the Weitzman School. All courses can be searched by entering the instructor, title or keyword into the search bar in Path. 

MFA certificate programs are suited for both advanced level graduate students and professionals who wish to focus in the areas of Emerging Design and Research or in Time-Based and Interactive Media. An application and portfolio review are required for admission. Each certificate program requires 5 course units to be completed within two years.

The curriculum enables students to engage in working with emerging technologies and incorporating new methods into their practice. These certificate programs are available to School of Design students currently enrolled in advanced degree programs as well as stand-alone applicants who wish to pursue the certificate on a part-time basis.
 

Emerging Design and Research
Director: Orkan Telhan, Associate Professor of Fine Arts
otelhan@design.upenn.edu

The Emerging Design and Research Certificate addresses design challenges that require crossing disciplines. The program supports a research-based design pedagogy that integrates new skills, methods, tools, and techniques that often cannot be addressed with the expertise of a single discipline. Emerging design researchers respond to contemporary issues using a wide variety of media ranging from print and screen-based inter- faces, mobile applications, responsive materials, urban-scale installations to programming the behavior of organic matter. They question the role of design in the society and the way it resonates with the cultural, political economical and environmental realities of 21st Century.

The Emerging Design and Research Certificate certifies an area of concentration in the School of Design to address the needs for such design culture. It intends to facilitate the teaching of the theories, techniques and technology for a new breed of artists, designers and researchers who can be equally versed in visual communication, physical prototyping, software, hardware, and interaction design. For today’s cultural producers, “Emerging Design Practices” fosters a pedagogy in which individuals can design their creative expressions, resistances, responsibilities, and critical attitude as a response to the society they are living in.

The Certificate offers a research-based study plan. In addition to taking classes, students are expected to propose and realize a research project under the guidance of the certificate director and follow a study plan where they take the necessary courses to realize their project. In the new certificate, students will still be able study visual communication and take graphic design classes but now also have the chance to expand their studies by taking other type of design classes offered across the School of Design.

This a graduate only certificate. The program track requires 5 CU’s (course units), including two required courses and three electives, to be completed within six semesters to earn the certificate. All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree to be considered for admission. Applications for spring admission are due on November 1 and for fall admission on January 11. An application and interview are required as well as a statement of intent, research proposal, and portfolio. The portfolio should include at least 15 examples of digital images, printed images, books, video or interactive projects. Digital and video portfolios should follow the guidelines for MFA portfolios. During the interview, the certificate director will review applications and discuss a study plan with each candidate based on their research proposal.

Curriculum Details: (Emerging Design and Research PDF)

Application Details 

Time-Based and Interactive Media
Director: Joshua Mosley, Professor of Fine Arts
Email: jmosley@design.upenn.edu

The Time Based and Interactive Media Certificate Program is suited for graduate students and professionals who wish to develop skills with the moving image, digital technology and interactivity. The curriculum will enable applicants to engage in new technologies and skills that could be incorporated into their practice, or extend their knowledge to improve their career opportunities.

The program track requires 5 CU’s (course units) of electives to be completed within six semesters to earn the certificate. All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree to be considered for admission. Applications for spring admission are due on November 1 and for fall admission on January 11. An application and interview are required. Applicants who are not enrolled in Weitzman School graduate programs must submit portfolios containing slides, digital images, printed images, books, video, or interactive projects. Digital and video portfolios should follow the guidelines for the MFA portfolios. Video should be limited to excerpts which total less than 10 minutes. All interactive and time-based projects should include synopses or guides for interaction. Web sites and interactive projects must include a list of technical requirements. Portfolios will be returned only if a properly stamped and return-addressed envelope is included. While taking all reasonable care, the school cannot be held responsible for any damage to the work or portfolio.

Curriculum Details: Time Based and Interactive Media Certificate

Application Details 

See all Weitzman Certificates