Master of Arts in Art

The Department of Art and Design offers a Master of Arts in Art program that is successful in giving students time to mature in the development of their artwork, providing valuable work experience in the visual arts through graduate assistantships, and assisting in the development of portfolios.
Work closely with faculty mentors and create a mature body of artwork that will propel you into additional studies or professional practice.
Our graduates are routinely accepted to leading MFA programs around the country. The quality of our students' artwork rivals that of students completing terminal degree programs. For more information or if you have questions, please email the graduate coordinator, Katie Shaw.

 

Graduate Assistantship Information

If you have any questions about assistantships, please contact Katie Shaw, Graduate Coordinator or Chris Kahler, Department Chair, at cbkahler@eiu.edu.

If you are interested in obtaining an assistantship from the list below, please complete the relevant section in your Department of Art + Design application, indicating your preferences. All assistantships are typically awarded between February and April preceding the fall of attendance. All assistantships involve virtual interviews as well as review of your materials you submitted for admittance.

In the Department of Art + Design we have a variety of assistantships available that you can apply for. These come with a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend on a nine-month contract. Assistantships are subject to change year to year, but often include:

Five teaching assistantships: These involve teaching a section of the general education course Introduction to Art. This is a good fit for students with teaching experience, or those who might like to pursue a career in teaching.

Graphic design assistantships: Assistantships in design are typically awarded to students who have significant design experience and broad software knowledge. Our graduate advisory committee makes assistantships recommendations to other units around campus.

Two Tarble Center for the Arts assistantships: This assistantships are available at the Tarble Art Center and involves a variety of museum practices including preparatory and installation duties, curatorial assistance, building of display components, archiving, and design.

One Fashion Lab Graduate Assistantship, working 19 hours a week assisting undergraduate students in the Fashion lab, assisting in teaching the beginning Apparel Construction Course, and working with Fashion Merchandising faculty.

Click here for the Online MA in Art Education option.

Facilities

 

Each graduate student receives a spacious private studio in The Burl Ives Hall, a purpose designed building that includes an open critique gallery and faculty studios. In addition, students have access to the Doudna Fine Arts Center, a world-class performance and teaching complex for the departments of Art, Music and Theatre Arts. The Art Department wing includes state-of-the-art labs for printmaking, painting, drawing, digital art, design, metalsmithing, ceramics, and sculpture.

Tarble Arts Center, a major hub for cultural programming in East Central Illinois, seamlessly complements the Department. Every academic year, the Tarble Arts Center and Department of Art sponsors a series of visiting artists and curators. Besides public lectures, many of the visiting artists provide individual and group critiques especially for our graduate students.