Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA)
Tailor Your MFA in Studio Arts Degree to Best Meet Your Needs
Pursue the highest degree possible in fine arts with Liberty’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art! Our program was designed with you in mind. From choosing your own projects to creating a unique Degree Completion Plan that fits your goals, we want your artistic potential to be untethered.
Interested in 3D design? Choose the 3D area of study and take classes that advance your expertise in that particular field. Looking to work with jewelry, wood sculpture, or ceramics? Pick courses that correlate to those specific art forms.
By obtaining your MFA from Liberty, you are not only receiving a prestigious degree, but you are also bolstering your professional résumé. Train under faculty with degrees and years of industry experience. We are a teaching university, which means your professors are in the classroom with you every week, providing vital input as you complete your various projects.
Partner with Liberty to join our community of award-winning art students and alumni. Get hands-on experience with state of the art equipment and technology. We provide our studio art students with Adobe Creative Cloud so you can get as much experience with industry software as possible! Go further with a school that invests in your skills and champions your success.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights
Highlights of Our MFA in Studio Art Degree
Learn from Artists Who Practice What They Teach
Your professors aren’t just academics – they’re seasoned professionals with years of real-world experience and advanced degrees in their fields. You can gain insights from artists who understand today’s creative landscape because they actively work in it.
Show Your Skills in a Competitive Field
As an MFA student, you’ll be part of a program that has consistently outshined regional competition. Liberty’s studio arts students have earned more graphic design awards from the American Advertising Federation than all other schools in Virginia and North Carolina combined.
Build a Portfolio That Gets Attention
Your coursework includes hands-on practicum and internship experiences designed to grow your professional portfolio. These real-world projects can help showcase your creative talent in a way that is often compelling to future employers and clients.
Get Connected with High-Profile Internship Opportunities
Students in the MFA program have interned with top names like ESPN and Disney – organizations that demand strong creative thinking and professionalism. These types of experiences can help you build industry knowledge and grow your network.
Join a Network of Accomplished Alumni
Liberty’s studio art graduates have gone on to work for organizations like the Motion Picture Association of America, Hallmark, Lord & Taylor, and Capital One. While outcomes vary, you’ll be part of a community with a strong track record in creative industries.
Grow in an Environment Designed for Artistic Excellence
Liberty’s MFA in Studio Art is built for students who want to refine their craft in a space that prioritizes both skill development and conceptual exploration. You’ll have access to spacious studios, professional equipment, and the support of a community that values artistic innovation.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with This Studio Art MFA?
Liberty University’s MFA in Studio Art can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Art Director
- Exhibition Designer
- Gallery Owner or Director
- Illustrator
- Museum Services Specialist
- Professor
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Studio Art MFA Program?
As a student in our MFA in Studio Art program, you can learn how to analyze visual imagery in an advanced and precise manner. Courses focus on equipping you with the ability to articulate underlying meanings behind pieces, as well as demonstrate a mastery of advanced concepts in visualization, ideation, and creation of visual imagery, using both traditional and digital practices.
At this level of scholarship, we allow you more flexibility in choosing courses and projects. Your courses can be as unique as you are! Within the core courses of this degree, you have the choice of ten courses in either a 2D or 3D area of study. You also have options to take specific art history classes that interest you, from medieval art studies to the arts of East Asia.
Choose which field experiences you want to pursue! From a teaching art course to practicum and internship classes, we want to give you more choices to help you create a more specialized degree that can match your skillset and career goals.
Featured Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art Courses
ARTS 511 – Graduate Drawing Topics
ARTS 531 – Advanced Sculpture Topics
ARTS 566 – Mixed Media
ARTS 598 – Practicum
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Communication & the Arts
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art Degree?
Create in a Space That Encourages Exploration
You deserve an environment where your ideas are taken seriously and your creativity is nurtured. At Liberty, the MFA in Studio Art surrounds you with inspiring mentors, collaborative peers, and facilities tailored for artistic growth. You’ll engage in exhibits, seminars, and studio-based learning experiences that align with your personal artistic direction. From day one, you’re encouraged to dive deep into your chosen medium and let your creativity lead the way.
Earn a Degree That as Unique as You
The MFA is not just another graduate degree – it’s the highest credential available in the field of studio art. Pursuing this terminal degree can help you strengthen your credibility as a professional artist, teacher, or creative leader. Whether you aim to refine your craft, expand your influence, or seek new opportunities in the art world, this program offers the advanced training to support your vision. It’s a powerful academic and creative milestone.
Tailor Your Studies to Match Your Artistic Vision
At Liberty, your artistic journey is as unique as your creative voice. You’ll have the flexibility to select courses that align with your interests and long-term goals – whether that’s illustration, painting, sculpture, or another medium. Your projects are guided by your vision, with faculty support that helps you stretch your technique and refine your ideas. This level of customization gives you room to experiment, grow, and define your path.
Experience Hands-On Learning
Liberty’s MFA program goes beyond theory with immersive experiences that mirror the professional art world. You can engage in internships, build your portfolio through practicum hours, and showcase your work in exhibitions. These opportunities are designed to help you understand what it takes to thrive in creative industries. By learning through doing, you gain practical insight that connects your education to real artistic and professional goals.
Admissions
How Do You Become a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- Artist Statement (typed) – must include your artistic background, area(s) of specialty, and the intended direction of your work provides context for your art and design. Must be submitted through SlideRoom in conjuncture with the portfolio
- Personal Portfolio must include:
- No fewer than 20 images that best depict your abilities and interests in either Graphic Design or Studio Art
- Submitted images must be professionally photographed/composed and “client” ready
- Neat and professional presentation, layout, and image quality
- Submitted work samples must clearly demonstrate your strong technical skills, aesthetic style, fundamental knowledge, and potential for success in the program
- All submitted images must be original creative artifacts designed by you
- Credit must be given when collaborative works are included
- A portfolio must be submitted via SlideRoom, which has a $10 non-refundable fee
- Provide 20 items
- Images (up to 5MB each)
- Video (up to 250MB each)
- PDFs (up to 10MB each)
- Models (Sketchfab)
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.