Graduate Programs
MFA in Art & Social Practice
Advance your creative practice with focused studio time, community-engaged projects, and close mentorship. At ¸£Àû¼§, the Master of Fine Arts in Art and Social Practice supports interdisciplinary artists working in traditional or experimental mediums who want to create collaborative, research-based projects.
The three-year graduate program positions students to lead creative projects, develop conceptual and educational initiatives, and gain teaching experience through graduate assistantships and mentorship. Students engage with Houston’s vibrant arts ecosystem and benefit from opportunities to collaborate with local organizations and visiting artists. ¸£Àû¼§’s Center for Community Engagement offers opportunities for students to connect their studio practice to community and develop leadership in the arts.
Graduate Program Details
Find everything you need to apply to the MFA in Art & Social Practice—details on admission steps, assistantship funding, and the creative facilities that support your graduate experience.
Eligibility
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in art with a 3.0 GPA in art coursework. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in related disciplines other than art must have a portfolio of work that demonstrates preparedness to succeed in studio courses at the master’s level. If accepted, students with undergraduate degrees other than art may be required to take prescribed undergraduate courses to meet the prerequisites of graduate study in art as a condition of admission.
Application Steps
-
Complete the ¸£Àû¼§ Graduate Application through
-
Upload all supplemental materials through the , including:
3. Check your application status in the ¸£Àû¼§ Self-Service Center once materials are submitted.
A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are awarded each year on a competitive basis. These positions help offset tuition costs and provide hands-on professional experience in areas such as photography, foundations, drawing, XR Lab, university galleries, and the visual resource center.
Assistantships allow students to work alongside faculty and may include teaching undergraduate courses during the second or third year of study.
Priority deadline: Applications received by the end of the first week of January (January 7, 2025) receive priority consideration for assistantships.
Graduate students in the College of Arts and Media may be eligible for scholarships that recognize artistic talent, academic excellence, and creative potential.
Through Scholarships4Kats—¸£Àû¼§’s centralized scholarship application—students are automatically matched to opportunities they qualify for, including those offered by the university, the College of Arts and Media, and individual departments.
Some departmental scholarships may require additional steps, such as an audition or portfolio submission. All applicants must complete the Scholarships4Kats application and should contact their department directly with questions about specific opportunities.
For details about tuition, payment options, or other forms of financial assistance, visit the ¸£Àû¼§ Financial Aid Office.
Graduate students are provided with individual studio spaces in the renovated Natural Science and Art Research Center and have access to facilities in the Dana G. Hoyt Fine Arts Building, including:
-
Public galleries and exhibition spaces
-
Design, animation, and computer studios
-
Photography darkrooms and labs
-
Sculpture, ceramics, painting, and drawing studios