Jodi Stevens: Collective, 2014

Fibers
MFA

Offered as: 
On-campus
Graduate

The MFA in Artisanry is an intensive two-to-three-year course of study that emphasizes exploration and mastery within contemporary art making. This program pursues process and material intelligence in a supportive inter-genre studio environment and a curriculum that supports risk and clarity with rigor.

Fibers

The Fibers program is an intensive two- to three- year course of study with a focus on technical and conceptual exploration. Graduate students will engage with a creative community that fosters an interdisciplinary approach to fiber as art and design. Students will pursue individual areas of interest, which may take the form of two or three dimensional structures, or functional and non-functional work.

Through a deep exploration of technical processes combined with a conceptual basis, you will develop personal analytical and critical skills, confidence, and the self-discipline required for accomplished artistic work. Close relationships with your advisor, student peers, and committee members support research, experimentation, and ongoing inquiry, directed toward the development of a strong sense of your own artistic vision and a sensitivity to the role of art within your culture.

The fibers studio is a vigorous and demanding environment where faculty and students critique, and discuss studio work; individual meetings take place on a weekly basis and critiques as needed. Your studio work is enriched by elective courses that best compliment your artistic direction.

The required studio and academic course work to earn a master's degree in fibers includes seminars in professional practices, aesthetic issues, art history, philosophy of art, and support studios. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.

Fibers student work

Allison - MFA Candidate - Fibers
Zara - MFA Candidate - Fibers
Arghavan - MFA Candidate - Fibers
Denise Sokolsky - MFA - Fibers
Jodi Stevens - MFA - Fibers
Kristina Goransson - MFA - Fibers
Jodi Stevens - MFA - Fibers
Myukai Akai - MFA - Fibers
Maureen Patrick - MFA - Fibers
Maureen Patrick - MFA - Fibers
Maureen Patrick - MFA - Fibers
Maureen Patrick

Student success

Sung Ji Li, MFA student at UMass Dartmouth's College of Visual and Performing Arts
Sung Ji Lee '21: Finding a home away from home

Inspired to reignite her career after moving to the US from South Korea, Sung finds the ideal balance between managing family life, pursuing an MFA, & promoting her career as a textile artist.

UMassD advantages

Pursue your MFA at UMassD

  • Assistantships: provide stipends, tuition waivers and fee reductions
  • Exhibition opportunities: local, regional, and on campus
  • Facilities: labs, equipment, and tools for artistic exploration and production
  • Faculty: involved in scholarly, creative, and professional projects
  • Individualized attention extended to every student
  • Interdisciplinary projects and committees are encouraged
  • Location: an hour from Providence, Boston, and Cape Cod
  • New Bedford: an active downtown arts community
  • University education: access to faculty in other fields
  • Visiting artists: enrich your artistic and professional development
  • Visual Resources Center: more than 150,000 archived images
  • Workspaces: assigned to each graduate student

A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.

Learn more about assistantships at UMass Dartmouth

University requirements for graduate admissions

  • Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
  • Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
  • Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts. 
  • Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
  • International students: official TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details. We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical, and Public Policy. 
  • All official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

  • Portfolio of 20 images representing your artwork, process of thinking, implementation of concepts, and studio production. The portfolio is the equivalent of the entrance examinations which other academic areas often require. Submit your portfolio to: SlideRoom.
  • 2 letters of recommendation. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.

Program deadlines

Fibers faculty

Paula Becker
Paula Becker