The mission of the Art Department at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is to educate students in studio art and design to form lasting contributions to knowledge and culture. Our mission mirrors the guiding principles of the University, whose outreach efforts influence lives within the classroom, the state of Wisconsin, and beyond. Seated within the School of Education, the MFA curriculum allows students to join their academic and studio disciplines to source the potential of the University. Research offerings at the University of Wisconsin rank among the highest in the world, including our libraries, museums, laboratories, collections, faculty, staff, and visiting scholars. Student learning and curriculum are also supported on campus by the Chazen Museum of Art, Tandem Press, and the Division of the Arts. Our prominent and diverse faculty work across creative disciplines to teach hands-on skills, critical thinking, observation, and innovation. Graduate students engage with interdisciplinarity, professional practices, and standards for scholarship to develop meaningful research and social engagement in the visual arts. The Art Department values the diverse contributions, backgrounds, and experiences of each student who serves as a catalyst for the extraordinary within the contemporary practice of art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the world. Students can study with any of our distinguished faculty, drawing from a wide breadth of instruction or focusing on a particular discipline. Students partner with faculty to develop a thesis body of artistic work. A strength of the graduate program lies in the diversity of its faculty and its strong commitment to student mentorship. The program places artists in the upper tier within any visual arts specialization. Our department is well-equipped to support student studio ambitions. Students benefit from having access to the studio facilities, state-of-the-art shops, and equipment. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and their research through the program's unique interdisciplinary approach to studio practice.
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website. Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Requirements | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fall Deadline | January 6 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
For up-to-date application instructions, see Graduate Application on the Art Department website. Admitted applicants must meet the minimum Graduate School requirements. Submit an online application through the UW–Madison Graduate School and pay the application fee.
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Students entering the UW – Madison MFA in studio art program are offered tuition remission, generous monthly stipends, access to UW – Madison health benefits, and other annual funding opportunities. Students are assigned Teaching Assistantships within their first year of study. Second- and third-year students are appointed Lecturing Student Assistantships; in addition, they may be selected by faculty for Project Assistantships or be awarded Fellowships based on their eligibility. MFA funding packages reflect our commitment to students and require students to perform both academically and professionally at the highest level while studying on campus. Funding support is contingent on the student’s performance as a TA, LSA, or PA; academic performance; and satisfactory progress toward the completion of the MFA program. Students on assistantship are expected to provide 20 hours of service through their appointment each week during the 9-month academic year. Teaching Assistantship (TA): Incoming MFA students are assigned teaching assistantships. Students assist a faculty member who administers weekly lectures in Art 100, Art 107, and Art 108/208. Teaching Assistants are responsible for knowing the course content and leading three undergraduate discussion sections per semester. Lecturing Student Assistantship (LSA): Rising second and third-year graduate students are assigned LSA appointments. LSA-assigned courses are taught with support from a supervising faculty member. The graduate student is responsible for the content and delivery of the course curriculum and assessment of student coursework through group critique. LSAs are assigned two sections of undergraduate foundations or beginning level studio courses per semester. Department courses taught by LSAs are Art 102, Art 104, Art 112, Art 212, and Art 176. Additional beginning level undergraduate courses may be assigned at the discretion of the department. Project Assistantship (PA): Rising second- and third-year graduate students may be appointed a project assistantship. Faculty hand-select students to assist with their studio research. Fellowships: Fellowships support graduate student research without the expectation of weekly work requirements. Fellowships are awarded to rising third-year graduate students through the department’s annual application process.
Financial Aid information for graduate student grants, employment appeals, and general loans is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note that student financial aid awards are not connected with the Art Department.
Work-study is awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Work-study positions are listed in the work-study office. Many professors in the Art Department hire work-study students to assist them in lab courses.
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