MassArt’s Interdisciplinary Fine Arts program is a 60-credit terminal degree, earned in two academic years and three on-campus summer residencies. 

During intensive seven-week summer residencies, MFA students work in studios on our Boston campus in the city’s arts district, employing a wide range of media and an array of technical and conceptual strategies. Diverse visiting artists and critics meet with students one-on-one and encourage them to think about their work in the context of contemporary practice. 

Students work closely with faculty in studio and research courses, as well as in intensive two-week workshops designed to offer fresh inspiration and new technical and professional skills. 

In the Fall and Spring semesters, students work one-on-one with local mentors who advise their studio practice. Online courses in research, writing, history and theory guide students in placing their work in the context of historical and contemporary practice. A range of electives are offered in collaboration with other MassArt programs, including education courses in pedagogy, and studio electives in a range of media.

Each January, students meet remotely for a winter colloquium, a thematic exploration in the form of presentations and workshops, followed by studio reviews. The colloquium builds community, expands students’ creative network, and introduces a fresh lens through which students are asked to view their practice.

Students conclude their degree with a third summer residency, focused on the refinement and presentation of thesis work. After final reviews, MFA candidates mount a curated thesis exhibition and offer formal artist talks for members of the MassArt community and the public.