The graduate programs offered by the department of art provide students with the opportunity to work independently and to experience regularly scheduled critiques and informal discussions with faculty and peers. Seminars with faculty and guest lecturers are conducted throughout the year.
Teaching assistants receive stipends and tuition scholorships for ten months of service.
In addition, Millard Fillmore College, the University's evening division, offers two teaching assistant positions selected by the department. The Master of Fine Arts degree consists of 60 credit hours and generally requires a minimum of two years of full-time study in residence, but in some cases may require a fifth semester. A thesis project is also required. The major fields of study are computer art, communication design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Each graduate student is guided in his or her research by a committee of three faculty members, one of whom acts as principal advisor.