Art
Immerse yourself in art, USD's environment is designed specifically for personal and creative discovery.
The value of an MFA
It's not just about having amazing access to all the new technologies, studio spaces and facilities in the College of Fine Arts. Earning your master's in art involves adding discipline and form to the creativity you've always enjoyed -- preparing you for a life as a creative leader and professional artist. Whether you're interested in teaching or in creating art, an MFA is two years of intensive focus and growth that fully immerses you in the exploration of making art. Our faculty are distinguished and professionally active artists and art historians who will inspire and challenge you. Our small class sizes allow faculty to be invested in you and provide close, personal attention, it is one of the keys to our program's success. You'll have opportunities to exhibit and share your work and become part of a community of art-minded peers to grow a network of lifelong friendships.
Whether you are passionate about graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from USD provides a dynamic interdisciplinary environment you need to grow as an artist and go places with your career.
Degrees & Offerings
Art (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
The MFA in art is a professional, practice-oriented terminal degree program representing the highest level of achievement in the visual arts studio discipline. In this program you are required to select a specialization in one of the following areas: Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture.
Art: Graphic Design (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
Art: Painting (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
Art: Photography (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
Art: Printmaking (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
Art: Sculpture (MFA)
Master's
Vermillion Main Campus
Program Details
Graduate
College
Department
Contact
Graduate Admissions
Known for Excellence
With qualities like small class sizes, specialized programs and incredible student opportunities, USD is not your typical university. What makes us unique is what makes your education exceptional.
99% of our program graduates find jobs after graduation!
An all-expenses paid trip to New York City's studios is an experience no other program offers! You gain up close and personal invites inside famous NYC artist's studios to review current work and ask questions.
24/7 access to our always-open art studios so you can hone your craft to your heart's content.
Student Opportunities
As a graduate student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.
Gain real-world teaching experience while enjoying paid employment and discounted tuition rates as a graduate student at USD. The affordability you gain through graduate assistantships will equip you with professional-level skills that will set you apart after graduation.
Teaching and research assistantships are awarded by individual departments. If you do not receive an assistantship within your department, you are eligible for an assistantship outside of your academic program or within support offices (non-academic units) at USD. Further inquiries should be directed to the graduate chair of the department.
Your Adventure Awaits
Earn your art history credits over spring break! Our students have participated in exhibitions and faculty-led programs around the world, and our USD alumni help make those experiences affordable.
New York City
Consider a trip to New York City to experience art on display as it was meant to be experienced. Immerse yourself in the culture, broadway shows, cuisine and popular architectural masterpieces and museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum of Art, The Morgan Library & Museum, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Christie's Auction House, Trinity Church, St. Paul's Chapel & Graveyard, Harlem Museum, The Frick Collection, Cathedral of St. John the Devine, VOLTA New York, Brooklyn Museum and more.
Italy
Discover the art and architecture of Italy over spring break while earning your art history credits. Study abroad tours are an experience of a lifetime, giving you a chance to enhance your coursework through cultural immersion. Explore sites in Rome such as the Colosseum, Vatican Museum, St. Pater's Basilica and Sistine Chapel. Additional stops historically have included Assisi, Florence, Ravenna and don't forget Venice for your gondola ride!
USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including several that are housed in the Department of Art. You may be interested in joining the Student Art Alliance (SAA), Midwest Press, American Institute of Graphic Art Student Chapter (AIGA), Sculpture Culture or the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) to develop new skills and explore your interests.
Student Art Alliance (SAA)
Open to students in any major, the SAA promotes the visual arts within the community. Weekly meetings bring members together to collaborate on art projects that improve the understanding of art and opportunities for local involvement.
Midwest Press
Midwest Press members attend meetings, create exhibition opportunities and review national conferences with the goal of bringing printmaking to the USD community.
American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Chapter (AIGA)
Graphic design majors can get involved in the local design community, create a community of their own and build leadership skills that will be invaluable as they move into the professional world. Members attend weekly meetings and collaborate on design projects for local businesses.
Sculpture Culture
Attend meetings, national conferences and exhibitions through Sculpture Club. Members work to fund projects and strive to bring sculpture to USD and Vermillion, while creating a community of their own.
Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA)
Join your fellow graduate and professional students at USD. We aim to build a sense of community between graduate and professional students. Build your resume, network with others and gain experience and the unique opportunity to represent the interests of graduate students to the greater campus and community.
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As a fine art student at USD, you will have a variety of opportunities to share your work with others both on campus and within the community to build a robust professional portfolio of your work.
Portfolio Reviews
Annual student reviews are part of our ongoing process of evaluation and testing of the MFA program. This method of periodic assessment is strongly supported by the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design, the school’s accreditation agency to provide the entire faculty and students the opportunity to review, critique and assess student work during their years of study.
These reviews support the art department in its own self-evaluation by gauging strengths and weaknesses in its curricula, teaching methods and program objectives. Additionally, the reviews foster student self-evaluation through comparison with the work of fellow students, providing a basis for increasing critical insight and analysis among students and between students and faculty. Most importantly, these reviews serve as a checkpoint work test of each student’s ability and potential to successfully continue in a degree program.
Gallery Attractions
The University Art Galleries consists of three galleries, located throughout the University of South Dakota's campus. The galleries educate the university and community through rotating contemporary and historical art exhibitions, artist lectures, research programs and campus events.
- John A. Day Gallery
- Oscar Howe Gallery
- Gallery 110
- Permanent Collection
Student Opportunities
- Northern Plains Indian Art Residency
- Oscar Howe Curatorial Fellowship
At USD, you can pursue unique research, creative scholarship opportunities and many exhibitions to share your work with others both on campus and within the community. You will work closely with a professor to supervise your thesis research project. Depending on your specialization, the MFA degree may require a written thesis in support of your final thesis exhibition. Providing a research document in support of your thesis exhibition and artwork, it frames your work within historical and modern contexts, cites relevant historical and recent influences on your work and explains how your artwork and final exhibition contributes to the expertise in your discipline.
Departments & Facilities
Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education in the only College of Fine Art in the state.
Art
The Department of Art will provide you with unique and applicable real-world experience and connections that enable you to immerse yourself in an environment built for personal and creative discovery.
faculty and staff
Get to know the faculty and staff in the Department of Art. Our faculty are experts in their field, contributing research and scholarship in art education, the history of art, photography, sculpture and much more.
Art Immersion in NYC
USD art majors have the opportunity to visit the New York City studios of today’s top visual artists on a once in a lifetime, all-expenses-paid trip. This incomparable educational experience is provided through the expertise and generosity of USD alumna art collector John Thomson and other generous donors, including Tom and Nancy Gallagher. During a long weekend, students visit up to 15 studios plus the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum, tour Thomson’s personal collection, and experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of New York City.
This world-class program affords students unparalleled access to and conversations with contemporary visual artists. They learn about the artists’ individual practices, see a variety of studio spaces, and view works in progress before they are seen by the outside world. The trip inspires students step out of their daily lives and into the world.
Network with Visiting Artists
As an art student, you'll have access to nationally and internationally recognized artists, designers and lecturers through USD's visiting artist program. Artists travel to campus to present their work, conduct workshops, critique student works and facilitate classes. The artists share expertise and provide professional connections for students to access as they begin their careers.
Previous guest speakers include Eric Conrad, Yoonmi Nam, Dennis McNett, Pat Boyd, Tracy Otten, Ellie Honl and more.
Our Artists in action
Surprisingly Affordable
Whether you’ve recently completed your undergraduate degree, or you want to kick your career up a notch, graduate school is the next logical step. The good news is there is funding for both online and on-campus students to get you through your program.Graduate Tuition & Costs
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs Detailed page for program specific costs and fees.
Financial Aid
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
Graduate Assistantships
USD offers opportunities for grad students to earn a reduced tuition rate in exchange for their teaching, research and service efforts to the university.
