Joint Degree in Studio Art and Africana Studies, MFA/MA
A unique dual-discipline master’s program, Crossroads Cohort: Africana Studies at the Intersection of Art History and Practice allows students to pursue an MFA in any studio discipline alongside graduate work in Africana Studies—earning an MA in Africana Studies at the same time as their Studio Art MFA. In addition to being part of the general cohort of MFA students in Studio Art, Crossroads students comprise their own subfield cohort consisting of practicing artists and art historians, taking dedicated courses together and collaborating to develop—with support of departmental funding—a capstone project such as a small exhibition, symposium, or public engagement program in their final year. Alongside their academic training, Crossroads Cohorts students will acquire professional skills and experience and expand their academic and professional networks through paid summer internships and meaningful activities such as cohort trips to see exhibitions or visit other universities and attending conferences. All Crossroads Cohort students will receive an annual tuition waiver, living stipend, and access to research and travel funding. One to two Studio Artists (pursuing either an MA in Africana Studies or a concentration in Africana Studies) will be admitted every other year.
In addition to all regular MFA coursework (for which the elective seminar must be AFRS/ARHS), students must complete:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARHS 7960 | Crossroads Cohort: Black Studies Bootcamp | 3 |
| Internship | 3 | |
| Capstone 1 | 3 | |
| Capstone 2 | 3 | |
| One (1) course that counts toward Africana Studies | 3 | |
| Three (3) courses at the 6000-level or above: | 9 | |
Two (2) seminars which are co-ops between AFRS and ARHS | ||
Sample courses: | ||
| Race and the Art of Empire | ||
| Race and National Mythologies in American Art and Visual Culture | ||
| Interracial Themes in Western Art and Visual Culture | ||
| Contested Vision Civil War I | ||
| Contested Vision Civil War II | ||
One (1) additional Africana Studies course outside of art history | ||
Sample courses: | ||
| Black Feminism and Social Movement in the United States | ||
| Black Diasporic Culture | ||
| Two (2) independent studies attached to Studio coursework supervised by AFRS faculty | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Model Schedule
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ARST 7010 | Graduate Art Studio | 3 |
| ARST 7020 | Graduate Art Studio | 3-6 |
| ARHS 7800 | Canon in Crisis: Challenging the Tenets of Art Theory | 3 |
| ARST 7810 | Studio Art MFA Critique Class | 3 |
| AFRS Independent Study attached to Studio | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| AFRS/ARHS Seminar | 3 | |
| ARST 7030 | Graduate Art Studio | 3 |
| ARST 7040 | Graduate Art Studio | 3-6 |
| ARST 7810 | Studio Art MFA Critique Class | 3 |
| ARST 7800 | MFA Seminar rotating theme | 3 |
| AFRS Independent Study attached to Studio | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18-21 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| ARHS 7960 | Crossroads Cohort: Black Studies Bootcamp | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARST 7400 | Special Problems I | 6 |
| ARST 7410 | Special Problems II | 6 |
| ARST 7810 | Studio Art MFA Critique Class | 3 |
| ARST 7800 | MFA Seminar rotating theme | 3 |
| AFRS Independent Study attached to Studio | 3 | |
| AFRS/ARHS Capstone | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 24 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARST 7420 | Special Problems II | 3 |
| ARST 7450 | Thesis Project | 3-6 |
| ARST 7810 | Studio Art MFA Critique Class | 3 |
| ARST 7800 | MFA Seminar | 3 |
| AFRS Independent Study attached to Studio | 3 | |
| AFRS/ARHS Capstone | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18-21 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| ARFS/ARHS Internship | 3 | |
| AFRS Independent Study | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 84-93 | |