MFA in Studio Art

Maximize your critical and artistic development through a rigorous, multidisciplinary studio practice. In a close-knit community of peers, faculty, and visiting artists, your practice will evolve in exciting new directions.

Mills offers a master of fine arts (MFA) degree in studio art led by a distinguished faculty of internationally known artists. The program focuses on painting, ceramics, sculpture (including installation), photography, intermedia, video, and electronic arts. Students are encouraged to work across media boundaries. The two-year graduate program is selective (limited to 12 new students each year), and is designed to meet the demanding standards of the profession.

The graduate program in studio art provides a combination of structure and freedom. Students receive individual attention that encourages personal and professional development. Each graduate student has a graduate committee consisting of three faculty members who are responsible for critiquing the student's independent work and progress. At the end of the first year of study, the work of each student is reviewed by all faculty members of the Art Department and, if passed successfully, the student is advanced to candidacy status in the second year. At the end of the second year, the program culminates in an MFA thesis exhibition held in the Mills College Art Museum, supplemented with a written thesis. All students must complete the graduate residency requirement of two years (four semesters) of full-time enrollment consecutively. View our degree requirements for further information.

Be Empowered to Make a Statement.

Mills is a place where your voice matters—a place where you can be yourself in a community that will support your educational and personal dreams. Here, you’ll be encouraged to stand out, emboldened to think big, and empowered to make a statement.

It starts with our commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse community that asks you to think for yourself and for the world. Our goal is to empower you with both the confidence and the tools that will help you make a difference.

Our students come from a range of backgrounds with varied interests, but they all find support to pursue their passions through the mentorship of our faculty. You’ll have life-changing opportunities to engage in student and faculty collaborations that will give you an edge in your future career.