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Master of Fine Arts Degree

MFA Degree Requirements

MFA Time Limit for Completion of Degree Requirements

MFA Committee
on Studies

Application / Transfer Credits

Foreign Language or Alternative Requirement

MFA Comprehensive Examination

Advancement to Candidacy for the MFA Degree

The MFA Dissertation

MFA Dissertation Committee

Composition of the MFA Dissertation Committee

MFA Dissertation Hours

Notification of Intent to Graduate

Final Examination for the MFA (Defense of Dissertation)

Member Attendance at Dissertation Defense

Proxy Signature

Master of Fine Arts Degree

The M.F.A. is the terminal degree in the studio and performing arts. As such, its primary emphasis is on the creative aspects of an individual’s work. The M.F.A. usually requires at least three years of intensive study and research beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Although the number of formal requirements for the M.F.A. is in some respects comparable to doctoral degrees in other fields, the scope and objectives of the M.F.A. degree are uniquely different. The M.F.A. degree represents strong creative achievement in the arts, an assured grasp of an area of study, a sound knowledge of critical and historical thought about the arts, and a demonstrated expertise in conceiving and executing a significant body of creative work. Thus, as with the doctoral degree, its achievement is no mere matter of meeting requirements.

1. A minimum of 48 hours of graduate credit course work (programs may require more hours).
2. At least 24 hours of graduate credit course work must be completed at the University of New Mexico.
3. At least 18 hours of graduate credit course work must be completed at the University of New Mexico after admission to the M.F.A. program.
4. A minimum of 18 hours of graduate credit course work must be earned in the University of New Mexico courses numbered 500 or above.
5. No more than 6 credit hours of course work in which a grade of C (2.0), C+ (2.33) or CR (grading option selected by student) was earned may be credited toward a graduate degree. Courses offered only on a CR/NC basis and required by the graduate program are excluded from this limitation.
6. No more than 50% of the required course credits at the University of New Mexico may be taken with a single faculty member.
7. A minimum of 6 hours of dissertation credits (699) is required for the M.F.A.
8. M.F.A. candidates must be enrolled the semester in which they complete degree requirements, including the summer session.

M.F.A. candidates have five (5) calendar years from the semester in which they pass their M.F.A. comprehensive examination to complete the degree requirements. The final requirement is generally the acceptance of the student’s dissertation by the Dean of Graduate Studies, or completion of the final project, whichever is appropriate to the student’s program.

The following regulations apply to the application or transfer of credits toward a M.F.A. degree:

1. Course must have carried graduate credit.
2. Course work must be from an accredited institution.
3. Student must have obtained a grade of “B” or better. A maximum of 6 hours of thesis from a completed master’s degree or other course work graded Pass or Credit (CR) is transferable.
4. Course must be approved by the M.F.A. Committee on Studies and the graduate unit.
5. Course must be listed on Application for Candidacy form.
6. All courses must have final approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies

There is no University-wide foreign language requirement. Graduate units may require a demonstration of competence in one or more foreign languages, or in some area of skill related to scholarship or research in the particular discipline. Students should consult the graduate unit itself or its particular section in this catalog regarding the details of this requirement.

An M.F.A. student must pass a comprehensive examination in the major field of study. This examination, which may be written, oral or both, is not limited to the areas of the student’s course work, but tests the student’s grasp of the field as a whole. It is strongly recommended that the Application for Candidacy be completed and approved by the graduate unit before the student takes the comprehensive examination. The administration of this exam is governed by the following guidelines:

1. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time of the examination.
2. At least two weeks prior to the date of the examination, the major graduate unit must request approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies to hold the exam. It may not be conducted until the appropriate examination announcement is approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and returned to the unit.
3. The M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee (usually the student’s Committee on Studies) consists of a minimum of three members approved for committee service. Two members must be in Category 1 or 3; the chair of the committee must be in Category 1, or 3 if within the student’s major; one member must be from Category 1; and no more than one voting member can be in Category 4 (see Faculty Approval section for details).
4. In order to qualify to sit for the M.F.A. comprehensive exam during the intersession, the student must be registered for the following semester.
5. Barring extraordinary circumstances, the graduate unit will notify the student and OGS of the results of the examination no later than two weeks after the date on which it was administered. Should such circumstances arise, the graduate unit will notify the student in writing of the reason for the delay, and let him/her know when notification can be expected. The results of the examination must be reported to the Dean of Graduate Studies on the “Report of Examination” form within the appropriate timeframe.
6. If a student fails the examination, the comprehensive examination committee may recommend a second examination, which must be administered within one calendar year from the date of the first examination. The M.F.A. comprehensive examination may be taken only twice. A second failure will result in the student’s termination from the program.

Having evaluated the materials required for the examination, if the Committee feels that, although the student has demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the field, it is not quite sufficient to justify a grade of “pass”, the committee may assign the grade of “Conditional Pass” and require that the student meet additional conditions before a grade of pass will be awarded. The student must meet the conditions noted on the Conditional Pass by the end of the subsequent term. However, students who plan to graduate in a specific term must resolve a Conditional Pass by the posted deadline for submission of examination results. The committee will note the conditions that need to be met by the student on the examination form.

A key requirement that must be satisfied in order to earn the M.F.A. degree is Advancement to Candidacy. The process is begun by completion of the “Application for Candidacy,” which formally summarizes a student’s M.F.A. program of studies. Approval of that program of studies by the student’s M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee is indicated by their signatures on the form, along with that of the graduate unit chairperson.

The completed “Application for Candidacy” is usually forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies during the semester in which the student has passed his/her M.F.A. comprehensive examination and no later than the semester before she/he wishes to graduate. It should be accompanied by the “Report of Examination” and, if the program has a language or a skill requirement that the student has met, completion of this requirement should be noted on the application form where indicated. If the language/skill requirement is not noted on the Application for Candidacy a “Certification of Language or Research Skill Requirement” form must be submitted before the student is advanced to candidacy.

After determining that all requirements except for outstanding course work and the dissertation or final project have been fulfilled, the Dean of Graduate Studies will advance the student to candidacy.

Each M.F.A. candidate must prepare a dissertation or final project. The dissertation for the degree of Master of Fine Arts must demonstrate ability to do independent creative work as well as competence in research and knowledge of the field. Each dissertation will be composed of two parts: a public display of work completed specifically as a final project for dissertation and a written work whose format and exact relation to the finished creative work will be determined by the graduate unit. A final, oral examination of the candidate will also be conducted by an approved dissertation committee.

If a graduate unit requires submission of a manuscript to the OGS, the manuscript must adhere to the dissertation format, fees, and accompanying forms outlined under the doctoral section of this catalog.

The dissertation committee (whose members often include those on the Committee on Studies) is charged with the supervision of an M.F.A. candidate’s dissertation activities, including the review and approval of the student’s dissertation proposal. M.F.A. candidates initiate the process of selecting the dissertation committee by first arranging for a qualified faculty member to serve as the director of their dissertation/committee chairperson. The faculty director and the candidate jointly select the remainder of the committee. The “Appointment of Dissertation Committee” form must be signed by the candidate, the dissertation director, and the chairperson or graduate advisor of the graduate unit, and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. This form should be submitted no later than the first semester of 699 enrollment. If the committee changes, a revised “Appointment of Dissertation Committee” form must be submitted to the OGS along with a written rationale for the change. OGS may request additional documentation as appropriate.

The committee will consist of at least four members, all of whom are approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies (see Faculty Approval section for details).

1. Two members must be Category 1
2. The chair must be Category 1, or 3 if within student’s major
3. One member must be Category 1 AND outside the student’s major, or in Category 2
4. One member must be Category 1, or 3 within the student’s major
5. One member may be in Category 4 if the above requirements are met.

(No more than one voting member may be in Category 4.)

NOTE: If the graduate unit approves, Emeriti/Emeritae faculty are allowed to continue to chair existing dissertation committees for up to one calendar year from the date of their retirement. They may not be appointed chair of any new dissertation committees once retired. If the student has not completed his/her dissertation within one year of the chair’s retirement, the retired faculty member may continue to serve on the dissertation committee as a co-chair or member of the committee.

Graduate students may supplement the minimum committee membership described above. All supplemental appointments must be identified on the “Appointment of Dissertation Committee” form, and must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

NOTE: All expenses incurred for member services on a Dissertation Committee are the responsibility of the student.

During the course of their dissertation work, M.F.A. candidates are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation (699) credit. Enrollment in 699 should not begin prior to the semester in which the student takes the M.F.A. comprehensive examination. Only those hours gained in the semester during which the comprehensive examination is passed and in succeeding semesters can be counted toward the 6 hours required. A student who fails the comprehensive exam cannot apply any 699 credits toward his/her program of studies until the semester in which the comprehensive examination is retaken and passed.

Enrollment for dissertation (699) may be for 3, 6, 9 or 12 hours per semester, with 9 hours the maximum in Summer session. Minimum enrollment in 699 for one semester is 3 hours. Graduate units may require a higher minimum enrollment in dissertation hours each semester.

Students who have enrolled in 699 and subsequently stopped enrollment for one or more semesters (not including summers) must follow the procedures listed under “Reinstatement Policy” previously given in this catalog. (Procedures for reinstatement are available on the OGS website)

Students must inform their graduate unit in writing of their intent to graduate. The graduate units must submit their proposed graduation list to OGS no later than 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the semester immediately preceding the semester of graduation.

The M.F.A. final oral examination is the last formal step before the degree is awarded, and is conducted with due respect to its importance as such. The focus of the final examination is the dissertation and its relationship to the candidate’s major field. Its purposes are:

1. to provide an opportunity for candidates to communicate the results of their research and creative work to a wider group of scholars;
2. to afford an opportunity for the members of the examination committee, as well as others (faculty, students, staff, etc.), to ask relevant questions;
3. to ensure that the research and creative work reflects the independence of the thought and accomplishment of the candidate rather than excessive dependence on the guidance of a faculty member; and finally,
4. to ensure that the candidate is thoroughly familiar not only with the particular focus of the dissertation, but also its setting and relevance to the discipline of which it is a part.

The student is responsible for providing each member of the dissertation committee with complete copies of all written materials and/or creative work in ample time for review prior to the examination.

At least two weeks before the final examination is held, and no later than November 1 for Fall graduation, April 1 for Spring or July 1 for summer, the major graduate unit must notify the OGS of its scheduled date by submitting the appropriate announcement form.

The presentation and examination phases of the exam are open to the University community, and are published in various sources; the deliberation phase is only open to the committee. At the conclusion of the examination, the dissertation committee members will confer and make a recommendation to accept or reject the candidate’s work. The committee will then submit the “Report of Examination” to the OGS communicating the examination results.

Note: In order to qualify to sit for an exam during the intersession, the student must be registered for the following semester.

All members of a student’s dissertation committee must be present at the manuscript defense. Although physical presence is strongly encouraged for all members, synchronous participation by telephone/video conference is allowed when necessary.

An original signature of each committee member is required for each examination and thesis or dissertation defense form. In the rare cases where an original signature cannot be provided, the committee member may request a proxy signature by submitting the Proxy Request Form at least two weeks prior to the student’s examination.

Having evaluated the materials required for the examination, if the Committee feels that, although the student has demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the field, it is not quite sufficient to justify a grade of “pass”, the committee may assign the grade of “Conditional Pass” and require that the student meet additional conditions before a grade of pass will be awarded. The student must meet the conditions noted on the Conditional Pass by the end of the subsequent term. However, students who plan to graduate in a specific term must resolve a Conditional Pass by the posted deadline for submission of examination results. The committee will note the conditions that need to be met by the student on the examination form.