Undergraduate, Graduate

Undergraduate

How does Miami's Department of Art differ from other competitor programs/departments?

• Oxford is a university-oriented community, and the hub of the town's culture and activity is the university itself. This is certainly different from larger, urban-oriented universities that are located in metropolitan centers. However, for urban-oriented activities and events, Cincinnati and Dayton are about one hour away by auto from Oxford.
• Our four Department of Art programs are quality programs couched within a liberal education environment. While the most of our program requirements focus on art and design studio, history, and teaching method courses (for art education majors), our students are also required to take a substantial number of courses in departments outside of Art. We strongly believe that this broad, liberal education informs a student's art and broadens the student's view of the art world. We feel that this diversity extends our students' understanding of the world itself and the various roles individuals play within our complex society.
• Miami is a mid-size university. We have about 16,000 students on our Oxford campus. We feel that this size is optimal for providing a substantial range of programs; yet attention to individual student needs is very important to us. Our size allows us to provide options and enriched opportunities for learning; yet at the same time we value the individuality of each student we teach.
• Miami focuses on undergraduate education while providing a range of select, quality graduate programs. Undergraduate programs are the keystone of our operation and mission.
• Miami provides numerous opportunities for study abroad. Students in all four of our undergraduate programs experience a range of educational experiences in other countries. While the vast majority of these overseas learning opportunities occur in Europe, we have had students do course work and workshops in Korea, Mexico, Australia, South America and Africa to note just a few places. Miami maintains a center in Luxembourg, where several of our students complete one of our liberal education requirements while traveling and "soaking up" the European culture.
• Interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary opportunities are supported within the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities. The department has strong ties to Marketing, Communications, Engineering, Architecture and Interior Design, and the Interactive Media Studies program. Multidisciplinary projects that bring artists and designers together with students of various, diverse disciplines are integrated into our programs. These team-based opportunities reflect the students' future career environments.
• The Department of Art at Miami provides a rich slate of programming which is intended to enhance in-class learning. We have an Art Museum on our campus that maintains a full schedule of exhibitions, lectures, etc. We have three galleries in our department that support a complete slate of student, faculty, and visiting artist shows. We maintain special programming opportunities such as our Young Painters Competition and Young Sculptors Competition. These two programs are national competitions that bring quality art work to our campus, thus exposing our students to the work of future leaders in their field.

Do I need a portfolio to be admitted to a Department of Art program?

Yes, in most cases. If you apply to our Studio Art, Graphic Design, or Art Education programs, you must submit a portfolio of your artwork to the department for review.

More information about the portfolio requirement and the criteria upon which a portfolio is judged is available under the Admissions link or may be obtained by contacting the Department of Art office.

Students applying to the Art and Architectural History program are not required to submit a portfolio.

May I change my major to Art after coming to Miami?

While it is recommended that a student come into Miami as a Department of Art major, that is not always the case, and a student can apply for admission after arriving at Miami with another major or an "undecided" major. If you want to change your major to Art, then you must meet several established prerequisites and submit a portfolio of college artwork, along with other materials. Particulars about this process, deadlines, prerequisites, etc. are available under the Admissions link or may be obtained by contacting the Department of Art office.

Can Department of Art students have more than one major?

While the majority of our students in the Department of Art have just one major, there are a number that have more than one. Some have more than one major within the department itself, for example: Studio Art and Art Education. Several of our students major in a Department of Art program and have a major in another department, for example: graphic design and marketing. We also have several students who "concentrate" in more than one studio area, for example: painting and printmaking. (We also have several students who have a Department of Art major paired with a minor in another field.)

May I minor in Art?

Yes. We offer minors in Art and Architectural History, Arts Management, 2D Media Studies (Painting, Printing and Photography) and 3D Media Studies (Ceramics, Art Metals, Sculpture). We also have several Thematic Sequences available to Miami students who have majors outside the Department of Art. A Thematic Sequence is like a mini minor and usually involves taking three or four courses to complete.

To enroll in a Thematic Sequence offered by the Department of Art, you must have a major in another department. (The intent here is to extend your learning outside your major interest and focus.) To find out more information about Department of Art Thematic Sequences, you may contact the Department of Art office, or you may read the information in the academic catalog that is given to every entering student at Miami.

May I schedule a visit?

Please do! When you visit, we will try to match you with a faculty member from the part of the department that interests you most. This person will go over the departmental requirements and general information with you, answer any questions you might have about us, and give you a tour of our buildings, facilities, a studios. We can even arrange for you to attend a class or two if you want. However, if you want to visit, please call in advance to make an appointment. This will allow us to serve you best. We do take "drop in" visitors, but this situation is "catch as catch can," and we cannot always guarantee satisfaction. All-university tours are also available through the Miami Admissions office.

Graduate

What separates Miami's Department of Art graduate programs from other competitive programs?

• If you select Miami for your graduate study, you will be involved with a select program that has a limited number of students enrolled. This allows for a great deal of attention from your professors. In our MFA in Studio Art program, we try to balance the importance of individual attention from professors with the importance of having a substantial number of peers to interact with while developing your artistic abilities.
• Studios are available to all full-time MFA students.
• Independent study opportunities are readily available for course work that bridges the gap between theory and your practical situation. Any of our graduate students (i.e., MFA and MA) may also take advantage of CraftSummer, our program of several one-week workshops in specialized art media. This program is offered each summer from about mid June to the latter part of July.
• There are numerous opportunities for study abroad through short-term workshops and longer exchange programs.

Are Graduate Assistantships available?

Yes. We have graduate assistantships available to full-time students in both of our graduate programs. Each graduate assistant is asked to provide 18 hours of service per week for the Department of Art. In return, tuition is waived and a stipend is provided. Some of our graduate assistants teach, but this is done after preparation and with supervision.

May I visit?

Sure! If you want to meet with a Graduate Coordinator, talk to a faculty member who is in a certain field in the department, and/or see our facilities and studios, please contact the Department of Art office to arrange an appointment.