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Main Office
Art Building, Room 316

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-369-7671

E-mail: studio@unt.edu
Web site: www.art.unt.edu

Jerry Austin, Chair

Faculty 

Mission

The mission of the Department of Studio Art is to promote excellence in the visual arts through a comprehensive educational program in its nine disciplines: ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metalsmithing and jewelry, new media art, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor. The studio faculty transmit artistic heritage, lay a solid foundation of basic skills and concepts, foster critical thinking, and inspire creativity so that each student may find his/her own aesthetic voice.

Goals

The goals of the Department of Studio Art are to continue to provide exceptional art instruction through both traditional and innovative philosophies and strategies; to prepare students to visually interpret the world with both practical and conceptual skills; and to continue to research and develop collaborative programs that engage state, national, and international audiences.

The Department of Studio Art offers bachelor and master of fine arts degree programs that lead to sustainable studio practices in nine studio disciplines: ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metalsmithing and jewelry, new media art, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor. Through their individual artistic endeavors, the studio art faculty consistently achieve high levels of distinction at regional, national and international venues, and are dedicated to quality teaching, service and outstanding professional achievement. Through a comprehensive approach that is both critical and technical, students learn to develop their own individual aesthetic voices. There is an extensive visiting artist program, an active gallery program, dynamic faculty and a challenging environment for visual and intellectual research. The studio curriculum embraces a wide range of teaching methodologies and offers a focused path toward professional achievement.

Research

The faculty in the Department of Studio Art are actively engaged in a wide range of visual research in a wide array of media. They consistently distinguish themselves through their work at prestigious venues nationally and internationally.

Degree Programs

The department offers the following degree:

• Master of Fine Arts with a major in studio art 

Concentrations are available in ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metalsmithing and jewelry, new media art, photography, printmaking, sculpture or watercolor.

Admission Requirements

1. The applicant must apply for and be granted admission to the Toulouse Graduate School and also apply separately to and be accepted by the faculty in the appropriate concentration.
2. The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
3. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose (500–750 words) indicating the reasons for attending graduate school or pursuing advanced studies.
4. Applicants must submit a portfolio of artwork: 20 images as slides or as images on a disc.
5. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic record.
6. Applicants must submit a resume.

Funding

Each term/semester the department is able to provide a limited number of teaching assistant/teaching fellow positions for graduate students. If interested, the student should complete an application and submit it to the department by the deadline for each term/semester: February 1 for fall and October 1 for spring.

New graduate students have the opportunity to apply for a limited number of $1,000 scholarships when they apply to the MFA program. See the college web site for additional information about these opportunities.

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