Art

Ellensburg
Randall Hall, Room 100

509-963-2665
Fax: 509-963-1918
www.cwu.edu/~art
See Web site for how this program could be used for educational and career purposes.

Faculty and Staff
Chair
Liahana Armstrong, PhD

Professors
Michael Chinn, MFA, wood design, design
Keith Lewis, MFA, jewelry and metalsmithing, design
Glen Bach, MFA, graphic design

Associate Professors
William Folkestad, PhD, art history, and criticism
Shari Stoddard, PhD, art education

Assistant Professors
Maya Chachava, MFA, painting, drawing
Alex Emmons, MFA, photography and digital imaging

Lecturers
Joan Cawley-Crane, MA
Sarah Haven, MA
Chris Hinrichs, BA
Heather Horn-Johnson, MA
Margo Selski, MFA

Staff
Susan Bentley, senior secretary

Department Information
The art department offers two graduate degree programs for students wishing to study visual art beyond the baccalaureate level. Each degree requires that candidates complete coursework in art concepts and criticism, art history, studio area of concentration, electives, and a creative thesis project.

The 45-credit master of arts (MA) program offers students advanced study in the various studio areas. The MA is intended for students who desire graduate-level training in art and helps prepare them for various arts-related careers and for further advanced studies in art.

The 90-credit master of fine arts (MFA) is a terminal degree program providing students with professional levels of competency and experience in studio art. The MFA program qualifies students for careers as teachers in higher education, as professional studio artists, and for other studio-arts-related vocations. The following studio art concentrations are offered at Central:
Ceramics
Computer Art
Drawing
Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Painting
Photography
Sculpture
Wood Design

Policies and Procedures
Departmental policies and procedures regarding graduate study are fully described in the departmental “Graduate Handbook.”
Application and Admission. In addition to the university regulations governing admission to graduate degree programs, the following specific regulations apply to both the MA and MFA Programs:

Acceptance is primarily based on the student’s potential as evidenced by a portfolio, previous coursework in art, goals consistent with departmental resources, and other experiences relevant to art making. Applicants may be asked to have a telephone interview with a faculty member in their area of studio concentration before being admitted to a program.
Applicants are required to submit examples of their work in the form of 35mm slides or other appropriate media. This documentation should represent the depth and breadth of the applicant’s work. Students are strongly urged to visit the campus and arrange a personal interview with faculty members in their major area of concentration and with the art department chair prior to submitting an application. Consistent with the above criteria, applicants with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than visual arts are encouraged to apply.

Transfer of Credits. The general provisions for the transfer of credits are set forth under the catalog heading, “General Master’s Degree Regulations.”

Residence Requirements. Students must be in residence three consecutive full-time quarters (excluding summers). All studio credits, except those approved under the transfer of credit provisions, must be taken in residence. For these purposes, residence may include credits taken in travel study, internship programs, or other study taken elsewhere but listed on the approved course of study.

Graduate Committee. A committee of at least three faculty members will be organized
by the student during the student’s first quarter of residency. The members of this committee will be chosen in consultation with the student’s committee chairperson. The chair of the committee, in consultation with the student, will schedule a meeting at least once each quarter. More frequent meetings may be scheduled. The purposes of these meetings are:

To determine that the student is making satisfactory progress in the degree program
To evaluate the student’s studio work
To identify problems and to offer solutions.

A first-year review will consist of an evaluation of the student’s work, completed or in progress, including review of non-studio coursework. MFA/MA candidacy is contingent on successful progress in the following areas: studio work, knowledge of art history, and understanding of contemporary theory and criticism. Additional coursework may be required at the graduate committee’s discretion.

Further details regarding the graduate committee process are provided in the graduate handbook.

Graduate Assistantships. Teaching or staff assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Assistants are granted by the dean of Graduate Studies and Research based upon the recommendation of the department chair.

Studio Space. Shared or individual studio workspace is provided to graduate students as available and will be allocated by the chair of the art department.

Studio Project. In order to successfully complete ART 700, Studio Project, the MFA/MA candidate must present a cohesive body of work completed in the last year of study as evidence of mastery in their area of concentration. This studio project is developed in consultation with the student’s graduate committee and presented as a public exhibition. The studio project also requires students to present a written document that supports their body of work.

The written document must meet thesis format standards as required by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

Final Oral Examination. Upon completion of the studio project, the student will discuss and defend the project and the accompanying written document in an oral examination conducted by the graduate committee. Upon successful completion of the oral examination, the graduate committee will confer and render a determination of the success of the student’s project.

Programs