Master of Fine Arts degree running at full capacity

The Art Department has developed a program that blends rigorous creative practice with professional development for artists seeking to advance their careers. And in only the second year of offering a Master of Fine Arts degree Utah Tech has reached full capacity.

The program is expected to continue at max capacity until more studio space is found for students to work in. Fortunately, the space should come in 2027 when the Art Department moves into a new art building.

Associate Professor of Art, McGarren Flack shared that “This program is unlike any other where we help our grad students become professionals, not only in their craft, but also in teaching and managing their own business.”

This residential MFA emphasizes representational art and offers students the opportunity to focus on one of four specializations: Ceramics, Drawing & Painting, Photography, or Sculpture. With a small, selective cohort admitted each year, students benefit from close mentorship and an intimate studio environment where they can hone their craft and expand their artistic vision. The program blends rigorous creative practice with professional development for artists seeking to advance their careers.

MFA student specializing in oil painting, Brandon Raabe shared, “The mentorship that is fostered in this program is the best I've had in my life. This program has changed my life an helped me to become a more effective individual in regard to my education, professional, and personal life.”

The MFA spans 60 credit hours over two to three years, combining 39 credits of studio practice with 21 credits of professional courses in entrepreneurship, pedagogy, and art theory. Each student is provided with an individual studio space, ensuring the freedom to create and grow in a supportive setting.

Affordability is another strength of the program. Tuition for Utah residents totals under $25,000 for the full degree, while non-residents complete the program for under $51,000. When compared with MFA programs nationwide, Utah Tech’s program offers both quality and value.

Professor Flack explains that “students are expected to engage actively in the professional art world during their time in the program. Requirements include producing 20 cohesive, exhibit-ready works per year and applying for or participating in at least four exhibitions annually. This commitment ensures that graduates leave with both a substantial body of work and meaningful exhibition experience.”

Admission to the program is competitive, with approximately four to eight students admitted per year. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, or BFA), maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits, have taken 12 credits of art history, and submit a strong portfolio of work along with an artist statement and letters of recommendation.

The MFA is a terminal degree, regarded on par with a doctorate in the arts, making graduates eligible for university-level teaching positions as well as professional careers in the creative industries. Many alumni go on to teach, run their own studios, or exhibit their work nationally and internationally.

As the program continues to grow, it reflects Utah Tech’s mission to provide hands-on, engaged learning opportunities. The MFA in Studio Art gives students the tools to thrive creatively and professionally, empowering them to make lasting contributions to the art world.

For more information about the MFA in Studio Art, visit art.utahtech.edu/master-of-fine-arts-studio.