
Tyler School of Art Graduate Studies
One of the primary reasons for Tyler's preeminent reputation among institutions of higher education is the collective record of achievement produced by its graduates. Tyler graduate programs are intended for students whose work has achieved strong definition and who seek continued growth and education in their discipline. Admission to the programs is highly selective.
Tyler's internationally recognized graduate faculty brings a reputation for excellence in academic research, studio practice, and teaching with a broad range of attitudes and philosophic positions. The educational atmosphere at Tyler is characterized by a system of mentorship that encourages diversity, respect for individual direction, and a rigorous exchange of ideas and creative challenges. Tyler graduate students work closely with the faculty and contribute significantly to the life and
strength of the School.
Tyler's Exhibitions and Public Programs department provides another important educational tool. It operates the Temple Gallery for professional and MFA thesis exhibitions and the Stella Elkins Tyler Gallery devoted to student work.
Collectively, Tyler School of Art, the Boyer College of Music and Dance, and the School of Communications and Theater combine to offer one of the most comprehensive sets of arts programs and perspectives of any university in the country.
Tyler's location in the northeast corridor is invaluable. Not only are the extensive art collections and institutions of Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. easily accessible, but the opportunities to complement Tyler's faculty with an extensive program of visiting artists, critics, and scholars drawn from these cultural centers are unlimited.
Click on a degree program for an general overview and program information.
Master of Architecture
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Course Descriptions
In Fall 2010, the Architecture Department will begin to offer a two year Master of Architecture (M. Arch). The M. Arch will replace the B. Arch as Temple University's professionally accredited architecture program. When earned sequentially, the four year pre-professional B. S Arch and the two year professional M. Arch comprise a National Architecture Accreditation Board (NAAB, www.naab.org) accredited professional education. Holders of the M. Arch may be admitted, upon completion of postgraduate internship, to the architectural licensing examination offered in each state, through which they may become registered architects. It is practice for students to take a year or two out between their undergraduate and graduate studies, increasing the maturity they bring to a graduate program.
The proposed graduate program includes four design studios (or three design studios and a thesis), three research seminars, courses in structures, environmental control systems and professional practice and four elective courses. Study abroad opportunities at Temple Rome and Temple Japan are offered in the spring semester, and a summer studio is offered as an alternative to a regular semester studio.
The new program assembles the ingredients - students, faculty, issues, ideas and tools - to engage with the urgent urban, environmental, spatial, cultural, political and technological issues of our times. It asks participants to consider reflexively how architects impact on the world and ways in which we can do better. It recognizes the complexity and interconnectivity of the contemporary universe, requiring architects with cunning and agility to absorb and respond to the issues it presents.
Master of Arts in Art History
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Course Descriptions
The objective of the master's degree is to prepare you thoroughly for further graduate work, or, for those for whom it is a terminal degree, for specialized training as the foundation of a career. The master's degree requires 30 graduate credits, a reading examination in two foreign languages (German and either French or Italian), a thesis, and a final comprehensive examination.
An option combining art history courses with those given in the School of Business and Management is available if you are interested in the administration of art collections and related cultural institutions. Requirements include 36 graduate credits (15-18 in art history, 12-15 in business administration), a semester- long internship (six credits, 20 hours per week), both language examinations, and a comprehensive examination as listed above.
PHD in Art History
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Course Descriptions
The doctoral program is intended to prepare you for college teaching or for other research-oriented positions requiring advanced specialized study. The degree requires 60 credits of graduate-level (500 level or above) credits in art history beyond the BA with a minimum grade point average of 3.50. Up to nine credits may be taken in graduate-level courses outside the Department (but at Temple) which are relevant to your field. Candidacy is granted upon passing a qualifying examination and approval of a dissertation proposal (after the completion of all course work). Up to six credits are needed for writing the dissertation.
Master of Education with a Major in Art
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Course Descriptions
The Tyler School of Art offers graduate studies in art education, studio art, art history, and education, leading to the Master of Education with a Major in Art degree. This program is designed for the practicing art teacher or supervisor of elementary or secondary art, as well as the individual with an undergraduate art background seeking professional preparation to teach art. This program encourages you to develop as a creative artist/teacher with a breadth of study through and about art, along with specialized research demonstrating awareness of significant issues in art education. The MED with a Major in Art is granted upon successful completion of 33 credits distributed as follows:
Art Education Component
Four courses (12 credits) are required in art education or education study, including three required courses: Art Education Research, Contemporary Issues in Art Education, and History of Art Education. One course (3 credits) may be taken in any of the art education, education, or liberal arts studies offered by the University, provided it complements a particular research interest and receives prior adviser approval.
Art History Component
Two courses (6 credits) are required in art history, chosen from a range of graduate offerings.
Studio Component
Five courses (15 credits) chosen from Tyler's extensive studio course listings are required in studio course electives at the graduate level. In-depth studies are encouraged and students may take as many as three courses (9 credits) in one studio program.
Teaching Certification
MED candidates may pursue Teaching Certification concurrently with their graduate studies. An additional 14-17 credits (depending on academic background) in the professional sequence includes courses in educational psychology, education, art education methods, an internship, and student teaching in art. The MED with Teaching Certification Program of 44-47 credits, along with successful completion of the NTE and Art Education Examination, provides all of the requirements for Pennsylvania State Certification in Art, kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Pennsylvania Teaching Certification is awarded to United States citizens only.
Terminal Requirements
At the end of your final semester's residence, you are required to pass a graduate review of your artwork conducted by a committee of studio and art education faculty. In addition, a scholarly master's paper is a terminal requirement for the MED degree. Developed through your research under the guidance of an adviser, the paper stands in lieu of a comprehensive examination.
Ceramics
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
The MFA in Ceramics is a small, very selective program of singular students who work closely with their Tyler peers in Glass and Fibers.
"The definition of all three of these crafts has changed so much over the past three decades," explains Chair of the Crafts Department Nicholas Kripal. "It's very interdisciplinary now, with students creating work that comes from within the tradition but redefines it. We have students doing large-scale unfired clay installations, site-specific pieces, and video projects. We look for really innovative work, and we get it, from students who come to us because they've heard about Tyler as "˜the
stretching school."
Fibers
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Course Descriptions
"Tyler's MFA in Fibers program has a strong fine art emphasis and an unusually interdisciplinary approach. Fibers MFAs study with professors in ceramics, glass, printmaking, art history, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography"”they are welcome everywhere," says program Head
Rebecca Medel.
They are often grouped with MFAs in ceramics and glass for joint critiques, and they work closely with faculty in all three programs. This kind of cross-pollination really strengthens student work at
the graduate level, and it's a distinctive element of the program. A balanced faculty of both emerging artists and professors with a long history in the field teaches the MFA students. The focus of the program is conceptual rather than technical. Students explore the capabilities of state-of-the-art tools while simultaneously stretching the boundaries of historical weaving and dyeing processes.
The program boasts a long list of successful alumni, who have gone on to teach at colleges nationwide, opened their own private studios across the country, and achieved national and international renown for their work.
Glass
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
"Our MFA program is highly selective" says program Head Sharyn O'Mara. "We are looking for students who work with glass as a conceptual medium and are redefining this material in a contemporary context. We encourage our students to explore the vast potential of this medium. As a result, the work is highly experimental, taking the form of objects, installations, performance, and video."
MFA students in Glass study in an intensive studio setting with a diverse and highly accomplished faculty. The curriculum is comprised of studio, research, and seminars, and students participate in peer reviews with other disciplines.
"This cross-over with other disciplines enriches the critical dialogue" says O'Mara.
O'Mara also emphasizes the building of a strong glass community, both within the shop and among peers and professionals throughout the East Coast art scene. Visiting artists regularly share their work and critique student pieces. Interaction among MFAs and undergraduates broadens and strengthens the teaching experience of graduate students, and has led to the program's strong track record of placing alumni in faculty positions across the country. Tyler Glass alumni are
widely known as leaders in the field of contemporary art.
Graphic and Interactive Design
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
Tyler's MFA program in Graphic and Interactive Design is an intensive two-year immersion in the practice of design. The program is highly selective, seeking students whose work demonstrates conceptual depth and experimentation, strong visual skills, and an exceptional degree of self-motivation.
The program emphasizes the role of designer as author, with students defining the content and form of large-scale, semester-long projects in a wide variety of forms. Extensive research, writing, image-making and editing, as well as exploration of form and technique, are integral to the process.
Graduate faculty, who are internationally recognized practitioners in the field, work closely with the MFA students in a program fueled by collaborative exploration.
The work of Tyler's MFA students is highly visible in national and international design publications and competitions, and graduates are actively recruited in the field. Some alumni choose to become educators and are employed by universities and art schools across the country, while others go on to successful careers at top studios and agencies, or open their own design businesses. The quality and rigor of Tyler's MFA in Graphic and Interactive Design provide an exceptional level of preparation for designers who aspire to excellence in any aspect of the discipline.
Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
The MFA in Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM draws artists from all over the United States and abroad. What they share is a deep commitment to extending their education in art, a passionate curiosity about the unique characteristics of materials, and the desire to work in the forefront of the Metals field, pioneering new attitudes, technologies, materials and processes that will lead the field in new directions. The graduate curriculum is firmly grounded in the craft traditions, and committed to adopting emerging technologies, and new ideas, to advance the discipline. The state-of-the-art facility, combined with a rigorous curriculum, has positioned the M/J/C-C program to have an international presence.
For the past forty-five years, the graduate program in Metals and Jewelry has maintained a leadership role in the field. Widely known for its emphasis on CAD-CAM as a new medium, and its peerless technical facilities, Tyler's Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM MFA program targets four areas artistic development, preparation for college teaching, designing for industry, and developing entrepreneurial skills. Students interested in pursuing teaching receive preparation ranging from closely mentored teaching assistantships to training in relevant technologies such as web page design and digital photography. All students share their singular creativity with the art community at Tyler and beyond through the Graduate thesis show, which is the final requirement for the MFA degree.
Painting & Drawing
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
As one of the top six programs in the country, Tyler's MFA in Painting and Drawing is widely known for its superb quality, rigor, and the success of its alumni and faculty. What may not be as familiar is the fact that at this distinguished program's core is an extremely supportive community of artists.
"It's a very tight group," comments program Head Margo Margolis. "These artists are like med students working 24 hours a day, intensely involved in what they're doing."
They share this intensity with a dedicated faculty of practicing artists who encourage students to use the discipline's rich history as a springboard to new work that is distinctly individual.
"We're not interested in having "a look," explains Margolis. "Our applicant pool is from all over the world- India, Japan, Great Britain- a few straight from undergrad programs, some with working experience, all with clear personal vision. We always aim to build a class with true diversity of background, in order to fuel a dynamic program that encompasses many different approaches to studio practice."
The program's emphasis is on creating professional artists, and graduates of the program have made significant contributions to the discipline as artists, curators and gallerists.
The program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the broad cultural and historical context in which art is made and experienced. Perhaps best is the real sense of artistic community enjoyed by the students.
MFA painters at Tyler have received some of the most distinguished awards in the field including the Jacob Javits Fellowship, the Dedalus Foundation Grant, Jack Kent Cook Fellowship, Joan Mitchell MFA Grant, and Skowhegan Fellowship.
Photography
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
Tyler's MFA in Photography is an exceptionally diverse program, enlivened by students who come to it from many different directions. "We receive applications from all over the United States and abroad," says program Head Martha Madigan.
"Some students have been in other fields and are changing gears. Some come to us with a less extensive art background, but a wealth of other skills, and a great variety of image-making interests that enrich our program."
Tyler's MFA in photography stresses a balance between knowledge of historical processes and exploration of the newest techniques in digital photography, presented in a critical, yet intimate working environment.
MFA students expand the technical and conceptual approaches to their work through studio and seminar classes, and become actively involved in the broader art community by curating an ongoing series of exhibitions by established and emerging artists. Close associations with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Print Center, and with faculty at other schools keep graduate students connected to their peers and their craft, and present constant opportunities to extend their learning through internships, exhibitions and more.
Printmaking
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
"Asking questions about your work and being willing to examine those questions intensely is the basis of our program. Over the course of two years this process will yield challenges as well as exciting developments in your work," says Professor Hester Stinnett. "In Printmaking we support this effort by keeping our classes small and focusing on each individual artist in our program."
One element of the program that often influences shifts in direction is the emphasis on interdisciplinary work. Printmaking MFAs are encouraged to study photography or sculpture for example, and to blend the skills and aesthetics of those programs with their own.
To that end, Tyler's graduate printmakers explore a broad range of approaches to the field including the traditional printmaking disciplines, photo processes, digital print media, large-scale printmaking, and 3D installation. MFA students have a separate fully equipped print studio with 24-hour access, as well as access to the three large undergraduate studios equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Additionally, graduate students have semi-private studios. Students also have the option of spending up to two semesters working abroad in the print studios at Temple University Rome.
Faculty members, who are all practicing artists themselves, work closely and collegially with graduate students, and also invest significant time in their students' career progress, from interview coaching and career development workshops to guidance assembling professional portfolios.
Sculpture
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Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
Ranked as one of the top eight programs in the country, Tyler's MFA in Sculpture is respected nationally and internationally for its excellence and intensity. Graduate applicants come from a variety of backgrounds and experience.
"We look for graduate students with clear direction, but who also know how not to be fixed," says program Head Jude Tallichet. "We want them to be open to how a project evolves, to welcome the impact of the great variety of work around them with thoughtfulness and creative resilience."
The Sculpture program is known for its hybrid approach to the discipline. It shares close associations with the Painting and Drawing program and other programs on campus, and encourages the fusion of various media and practices that integrate performance, sound, and video as well as more object-oriented work. All of the faculty are actively exhibiting artists with differing aesthetics and conceptual approaches to their work, creating a supportive and open environment for exploration, criticism, and making.
MFA students have year-round, 24-hour access to both their own individual studios and to all of the technical shops of the sculpture program including the wood shop, metal shop, casting area, digital media lab (in collaboration with Painting and Drawing), and sound editing stations.
Influential artists, critics, and curators are brought to campus through the Critical Dialogue Lecture Series, which exposes students to a stimulating variety of artistic perspectives, and creates singular opportunities for MFA candidates to have private studio critiques with selected artists, critics, and curators. Throughout their time at Tyler, students are part of a very active and supportive community of artists, led by committed professional faculty.