MFA and BFA expand program
School of Communication & Creative Arts offers new, prestigious degrees
Inspiration — Art students viewed exclusive equipment for the Master of Fine Arts program, including an arts studio designed for their use. Photo credit: Courtney Russo
A new breed of excellence is coming to the halls of Liberty, and it includes the use of a paintbrush, camera and no small order of creativity. These students are at the forefront of design and photography, and now they have the chance to increase their learning through a new program at Liberty.
This is the first semester the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) are now obtainable by undergraduate and graduate students. The School of Communication & Creative Arts is offering these new degrees.
The BFA is designed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to develop their craft. According to a Liberty news release concerning the program, the degree requires 127 credit hours. Students can choose to focus on graphic design, 2D art or 3D art. A minor in photography is also available for those looking to gain training in that area.
“The Bachelor of Fine Arts allows you to get a broad range of skills and still focus on your craft,” Todd Smith, chair of the department of Studio and Digital Arts (SADA), said.
Currently, there are 20 students enrolled in the BFA program, according to Smith. The maximum amount is 50 students. Since this is a highly competitive program, students must submit a portfolio of their work in order to be accepted into the curriculum, Smith said.
The MFA is for graduate students desiring to advance their careers or sharpen their skills. It is a terminal degree made up of 60 credit hours. Graphic design, 2D art and 3D art specializations are the subsets offered to the graduate students. Both online and residential courses are offered. However, only those wishing
to complete the graphic design degree may take classes online.
According to the School of Communication & Creative Arts website, the MFA has two main goals. The first is to prepare students to go into academia to teach. Secondly, students will be able to create more masterfully in their industry.
A special requirement for the MFA is gaining field experience. Students will learn by having to create in their own mediums. Considering the nature of the profession, hands-on experience is a great way to learn and hone their skills.
This semester, there are 10 graduate students enrolled in the MFA program. In the future, Liberty hopes to accept 25 students a year. This program is designed to compete with other larger universities.
“We are strategically located, making the program appeal to many people,” Smith said.
Through the MFA program, there will be six graduate student assistant (GSA) positions offered. These positions will include a tuition waver and stipend. GSAs will be responsible for helping class flow and the Studio and Digital Arts faculty.
Each of these degree programs has been in the making since the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. All SADA faculty members also helped shape the BFA and the MFA.
During the first meeting between students and faculty, the audience was able to explore the new assets brought to the program, including the newly restored art workspace, provided exclusively for the new MFA program.
Whether it be a paintbrush, camera or keyboard, creativity is at the forefront of the program, encouraging students to broaden their horizons and inspire
audiences.
Frost is a news reporter.