The MFA in Design
View application procedures | View degree plan
Designers are innovative problem solvers who process information and user needs to improve communication and environments. The variety and complexity of design issues is expanding. Developments in technology, information processing, and materials have affected design practice and education - new challenges confront the designer and the design educator. There is today a greater need for balance between human beings and their sociocultural, natural, and built environment.

Department Mission Statement
The MFA Design Program is a pre-professional career preparation program that helps students excel in:
• Developing unique, innovative, and effective solutions to design problems.
• Clearly communicating concepts and solutions.
• Understanding philosophies, theories, and terminology of design.
• Rendering, executing, and producing design.
• Presenting concepts and solutions orally and in writing.
• Developing high standards of professional practice.

Philosophies
The MFA in Design is a student-centered and a learning-centered environment which enables students to experiment and develop their potential beyond rigidly structured academic programs. Design graduate projects and research can help:

• Expand the student's body of work in design
• Increase the production of design knowledge in order to enhance design performance
• Prepare students for change
• Foster innovative thinkers
• Allow/encourage independent and interdisciplinary projects
• Network with the design community: local, national, and global
• Add significantly to the ‘body of knowledge’
• Make positive contributions to society
• Provide professional career preparation

Professional preparation areas of study
The MFA in Design provides opportunities for students who are interested in:
• Design education Teaching and classroom instruction methodology
• Design research Advanced research and study in design
• Design proficiency Additional skills in creative problem solving

Thesis for the MFA in Design

To meet the goal of helping the MFA student prepare a significant body of work, the culminating thesis can be a major project in design or a theoretical research project.  All thesis projects require a detailed proposal with topic of study, project objectives, methodology, and presentation formats.

Project and Thesis Committees
The MFA candidate’s committee for project presentations, thesis proposal, and thesis/project presentation is comprised of full-time faculty in the Department of Design and at least one additional graduate faculty member from outside the department.

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Application Procedures
Admission requirements for the MFA in Design
Students seeking an MFA in Design must fulfill the following requirements before being formally admitted to the program. See the current UCO Graduate Catalog.

A. Apply for admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research
Program admission standards: 2.5 overall GPA or 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours attempted.

B. MFA Design Application Packet
Submit to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research:
   1. An essay that includes the following:
       a. Why you wish to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design at UCO.
       b. Your professional career plan and objectives.
       c. Your proposed area of interest, topic, or focus of graduate study.
   2. Official transcript of undergraduate courses with degree posted.
       If transferring from another graduate program, also submit transcript showing
       graduate courses. Acceptance of a transfer class for credit depends on the class
       content, the method of evaluation, and the demonstration of skills that are
       expected in the equivalent course offered at UCO.
   3. A current resume.
   4. Three letters of recommendation with at least one of these from a
       design professional.  Letters from UCO faculty are not acceptable.

   5. A design portfolio that includes the following:

       a. 10-15 examples of your work submitted, preferably as slides.

       b. A sheet identifying the project titles, dates, descriptions and other relevant

          information.

       c. A self addressed stamped envelope to return the portfolio.
C. Application deadlines
The MFA Design Application Packet must be submitted by:
         Semester                Application deadline
         Fall                         April 1
         Spring                 October 1
         Summer              March 1

D. Portfolio Review and Interview
The Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research and the Design Graduate Advisor will review your Application Packet. If acceptable, you will be contacted for an interview to be conducted with the Faculty of the Department of Design. This interview will include a review of your design work, explanations of your work, design philosophies, topic/focus of graduate study, and your reasons for pursuing graduate studies.

E. Prerequisites
If you do not have an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design or Interior Design, you will need to take up to 45 hours of undergraduate courses and/or conduct a portfolio review with the Design Graduate Advisor before beginning the MFA-Design program.


F. Acceptance into the MFA-Design program
The Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research and the Faculty of the Department of Design will determine the acceptance status of each candidate.

Advisement
A. Upon acceptance into the MFA - Design program, the Design Graduate Advisor will prepare, in consultation with the student, the Plan of Study with required, recommended, and elective courses necessary to earn the MFA - Design degree.

B. Meet with the Graduate Advisor, who will complete a ‘Recommendation for Admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research’ form for qualified students. Upon receipt of the completed recommendation form, the Jackson College of Graduate Studies & Research will admit the student for graduate studies.

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