WHY AN MFA DEGREE? An MFA (Masters in Fine Arts) degree is for those who wish to expand their creative practice into more serious directions. Generally a two year post-bachelor program, The MFA is a terminal degree, meaning that it is the highest achievable degree in the Arts. This opens the door to a number of different opportunities and possibilities that individuals would not otherwise have access to. For example, to teach Art at the college level, one would usually need to have completed an MFA degree program. It is also true that Art institutions take note of where and with whom artists studied (in much the same way that academics do) such that receiving an MFA degree from a well known school can create opportunities that otherwise may not have been available.

In many cases it is not required that applicants hold degrees in the exact field they are pursuing an MFA. For example, at UC Berkeley, the Art Practice MFA program has welcomed and accepted individuals whose undergraduate study was in the social sciences (such as anthropology), creative writing fields (such as poetry), or even individuals with computer science backgrounds. What is required, however, is that applicants actively maintain a rigorous creative practice within their chosen mediums and disciplines.

MFA programs usually culminate in some type of final project, presentation or performance. The UC Berkeley Art Practice MFA is no exception; The end of the two year program culminates in a show at the internationally recognized Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). For more information about the specificities of our MFA program, please contact department administrator Dee Levister at dplev@berkeley.edu