Art 699

ART 699: Thesis and Exhibition

Prerequisite: Prior to enrollment, student must submit and receive approval from committee members and Dean of the Graduate College
on their thesis proposal.

Credit Hours: (1-6)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hours and credits to be arranged with the approval of the chair of the student’s supervisory Graduate Committee and the dean of the Graduate College.

This course allow students to work on their written thesis and exhibition. Hours and credits to be arranged with the approval of the chair of the student's thesis committee and the Dean of the Graduate College.  

Detailed Description of Course Content

Art 699 Research and Thesis requires that the student successfully complete the following:

1. Typed Thesis (book)
2. Oral Examination
3. Exhibition of a body of work on campus

The Thesis Proposal - The thesis outline must be approved by each member of the committee, starting with the chairperson. "Intent" of proposal must be clearly stated. Significant research and analysis, summation, technical information, slide, etc., pertaining to the thesis topic will be added to the Thesis Book.

The Exhibition will consist of work executed by the student during his/her tenure at the university. It is expected that the student will be working with all of the committee members on a regular basis throughout the duration of the project. The work made during this period will permit the student to show his/her serious involvement in the art making process and reflect a high level of maturity and professional competence in quality and quantity.

Oral examination will be a general examination (not necessarily limited to the Thesis topic) and will cover the work of the student in preparing for the Masters of Fine Arts degree.

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

1. The student will be required to complete a Thesis book which should contain:

  • Title page
  • Approval page
  • Table of contents
  • Introduction, process and conclusion (summation)
  • Technical information

The MFA candidate may choose from either method of documentation listed below.

  • Black and white photos, color photos or reproduction of drawings, illustration, diagrams, etc.
  • Color slides of each work in the exhibition in the prescribed 9 x 12 plastic viewing sheet. All slides must be numbered and labeled.
  • Video cassette documentation

For typing format for Thesis, footnotes, etc., the student will refer to:

  • A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian, University of Chicago

The Thesis should be written in third person where applicable. In a general way restate the proposed project (the intent as stated in thesis proposal), discuss the content and methodology of the work, and make a critical evaluation.

Provide the Art Department with a copy of the approved thesis in a black, 9 x 12 stiff-cover, three ring binder.

2. The student will be required to select committee members and committee chairperson after completing the first 45 hours of credit. It is expected that the student will be working with all of the committee members on a regular basis throughout the duration of the project. The committee chairperson will normally assume the primary teaching role on a day to day basis. The approval of the thesis proposal, project, exhibition thesis book, and finally the oral examination rests with the Thesis Committee.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

At the conclusion of the course, the student will achieve a high degree of studio and academic professionalism and proficiency. The student will be prepared to make significant and relevant contributions in their area of study.

Assessment Measures

Assessment of the significance, relevance and quality of the exhibition and Thesis Book will be determined by the Thesis committee. The oral examination, which will be held after completion of the thesis and during or after the exhibition/presentation, will be conducted by the Thesis committee. The final grade for the course will be determined by the committee chair person in collaboration with the Thesis committee.

Review and Approval

March 1999 Revision Arthur Jones, Chair

May 7, 2014; June 2023