The Penn State School of Visual Arts offers the degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Art, a 60-credit graduate program supporting artistic work, academic inquiry, and creative investigation in the areas of ceramics, drawing & painting, graphic design, new media, photography, and sculpture. While students situate themselves within one of these areas of concentration, the structure of the program encourages interplay between media and disciplines in support of each individual's graduate work.
Headed by a dedicated faculty of internationally acclaimed artists, the M.F.A. program is recognized for emphasizing excellence in the study of visual art and fostering artistic production that engages critically with contemporary culture. By creating a rigorous yet supportive environment in the context of a major public research university, the program encourages expansive growth and innovative collaboration in studio practice. The regular interaction between studio and classroom creates a close-knit intellectual community that furthers critical thinking and creative connectedness. As the transformative power of art in today's society continues to evolve, the Penn State School of Visual Arts encourages artists to address contemporary social and cultural issues through creative production.