MFA Art, Visual at University of California, Riverside

Programme overview

The MFA in Visual Art is a Plan I (thesis) program that is non-media-specific, combining theory with studio production in traditional and interdisciplinary media. Students receive studio spaces of 350+ sq ft and 24-hour access to photography, video, digital and sculpture facilities, and the visiting artist series hosts eighteen artists, curators and critics each year.

What you will study

72 units including three ART 285 Graduate Critique courses, ART 230 Contemporary Critical Issues, ART 240 Critical Theory, ART 299 Research for Thesis, an Art History graduate seminar, 20 units of ART 293 Directed Individual Studio Production and 24 units of electives (including at least two courses outside the art department). ART 400 Art Practice Seminar is taken at least twice. The thesis exhibition is held at UCR ARTS with a written component and oral committee review.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate Division (university-wide): bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or recognized international equivalent; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (some programs set a higher standard); transcripts, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation; English proficiency (TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic 7 with no component below 6) unless the prior degree was taught in English; GRE/GMAT only where the program requires it (many no longer do). Source: graduate.ucr.edu/admission-requirements.

UC Riverside operates a quarter system. Summer begins mid-June, Fall late September, Winter early January and Spring late March/early April. Most graduate programmes admit and begin in the Fall quarter only.

New domestic applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter November 1, Spring February 1, Summer May 1. New international applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter September 1, Spring December 1, Summer March 1. A few programmes have deadlines after June 1 and some have earlier programme deadlines. The Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 applications are open for select programmes only; the Summer/Fall 2027 application opened September 1, 2026, with rolling review for most programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.ucr.edu/apply/

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