Department of Design

Main Office
Art Building, Room 237

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-3621

E-mail: design@unt.edu
Web site: www.art.unt.edu

Cynthia Mohr, Chair

The MFA in design with concentrations in fashion design, design research and interior design seeks to effectively prepare individuals with professional experience to become specialists, managers and educators. The curriculum is divided into two separate, but related, sequences: pedagogy and studio/research. Through pedagogy course work and observation, MFA candidates learn basic educational practices such as the development of outcome objectives, grading criteria, and university practices. The studio/research sequence is designed to help candidates identify and develop a research agenda necessary for success both professionally and within the university environment.

Applicants for the Master of Fine Arts in the design department must hold an earned bachelor’s degree in a related field of study and have professional experience in the proposed area of concentration.

Research

Pursuing research in the Department of Design at the master’s level of study in the College of Visual Arts and Design challenges students to critically examine, analyze and derive knowledge from a variety of design processes and methodologies as a means to positively catalyze a wide variety of social, technological, environmental and political initiatives. Design research undertaken and conducted within the master’s programs in the Department of Design will not only facilitate knowledge creation and thought leadership that can be applied in both professional practice and academe.

MFA application requirements

Prospective applicants for graduate degree programs must obtain admission forms from the UNT Toulouse Graduate School (at gradschool.unt.edu) and information from the College of Visual Arts and Design (at www.art.unt.edu). Admission deadlines are as follows:

Fall term/semester: January 5
Spring term/semester: October 1

MFA application requirements are two-fold.

Applicants must apply for and be granted admission to the Toulouse Graduate School.
1. Applicants must supply official GRE scores.
2. Applicants must supply official transcripts.
3. Applicants for the MFA programs in design with concentrations in fashion design, interior design or innovation studies must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent degree at an international university in the specific area of design or in a closely related field.
Applicants must also apply separately to and be accepted by the Department of Design into the concentration of fashion design, interior design or innovation studies.
1. Applicants for the MFA programs in design with concentrations in fashion design, interior design or innovation studies must have a minimum of two or three years of professional experience in their area of study.
2. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose (500–750 words).
3. Applicants must supply a professional resume that should list all relevant work experience, affiliations, etc.
4. Applicants must submit at least three reference letters from persons familiar with their academic or professional work.
5. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work relevant to their concentration area that includes representative professional work that exhibits their design knowledge and skills. Applicants should identify their responsibility for any submitted work completed as part of a team.

MA application requirements

Fall term/semester: January 5
Spring term/semester: October 1

MA application requirements are two-fold.

Applicants must apply for and be granted admission to the Toulouse Graduate School.
1. Applicants must supply official GRE scores.
2. Applicants must supply official transcripts.
3. Applicants for the MA programs in design with a concentration in design research must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent degree at an international university.
Applicants must also apply separately to and be accepted into the design research concentration.
1. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose (500–750 words).
2. Applicants must supply a minimum of one writing sample; however, two samples of the applicant’s writing is preferable.
3. Applicants must submit at least three reference letters from persons familiar with their academic and/or professional work if applicable.
4. Applicants may submit a portfolio of work relevant to their discipline or concentration. Applicants should identify their responsibility for any submitted work completed as part of a team.

Funding

Each term/semester the department is able to provide a limited number of teaching assistant/teaching fellow positions for graduate students. If interested, the student should complete an application and submit it to the department by the deadline for each term/semester: January 5 for fall and October 1 for spring.

New graduate students have the opportunity to apply for a limited number of scholarships when they apply to their program. See the college web site for additional information about these opportunities.

Additional funding opportunities may be available through the Toulouse Graduate School.

Programs

Master’s Degree

Courses

Design

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