The University of Wisconsin-Superior offers a graduate program in the visual arts which leads to the Master of Arts degree. The faculty contact for this degree program is Mr. Tim Cleary, Associate Professor of Visual Arts, HFAC 3102, (715) 394-8391.

The Master of Arts program in Visual Arts is offered for students seeking a professional degree program in Art Education, Art History, Studio Art, and Art Therapy. The requirements for the degree have been designed to allow for flexibility to suit the needs and goals of individual candidates. 

Prerequisites for Admission: M.A.: Art Education Concentration

Student applicants may be admitted to the program upon completion of the following minimum prerequisites:

1. The candidate for admission must satisfy the general admission requirements for Graduate Studies, including graduation from an accredited college or university.
   
2. The candidate must have an undergraduate major in Art or must have completed the equivalent of the Art Foundation courses as specified in the Bachelor of Science degree requirements for Visual Arts in this catalog.  
   
3. Two letters of recommendation from college faculty who are familiar with the applicant's work and potential. 
   
4. Art  Education candidates must submit a slide portfolio or compact disk showing basic proficiency in drawing, painting, and three-dimensional media. Other media, i.e. photography, ceramics, etc., may be included. Fifteen to 20 images of individual pieces suggested. The quality of the portfolio will be assessed by UW-Superior Visual Arts faculty as a measure of the candidate's likelihood of success in the program.
   
5. Deadline for application for Fall semester enrollment is the previous April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as vacancies allow. 
   
6. Interview required.
   

Prerequisites for Admission: M.A.: Art History Concentration

Student applicants may be admitted to the program upon completion of the following minimum prerequisites: 

1. Bachelor's degree in Studio Art, Art History, Art Education, Art Therapy, with a minimum of 60 quarter hours or 40 semester hour credits in art. 
   
2. At least nine credit units of the Bachelor's degree work should be in art history courses.
   
3. Art or art history related writing sample or research paper (any length you choose, but not more than 20 pages)  
   
4. Two letters of recommendation from college art faculty who are familiar with the applicant's work and potential. 
   
5. Statement of reason/purpose (one page maximum). 
   
6. Deadline for application for Fall semester enrollment is the previous April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as vacancies allow.
   

Prerequisites for Admission: M.A.: Studio Art Concentration

Student applicants may be admitted to the program upon completion of the following minimum prerequisites:

1. A bachelor's degree in Art from an accredited institution with a minimum of 60 quarter hours or 40 semester hour credits in Art. At least 20 semester credits of the bachelor's degree work should be in studio courses.   
   
2. Completion of a minimum of six semester credits in Art History. 
   
3. Presentation of a portfolio of representative studio work with emphasis in the applicant's area of specialization. The quality of the portfolio will be assessed by UW-Superior Visual Arts faculty as a measure of the candidate's likelihood of success in the program. The portfolio should contain either  20 color slides in transparent plastic holders or a compact disk with 20 images of work. Each image must represent an individual art work, with the exception of three-dimensional work, which may be represented with two images.      
   
4. Two letters of recommendation from college art faculty who are familiar with the applicant's work and potential.
   
5. Deadline for application for Fall semester enrollment is the previous April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as vacancies allow.
   

Prerequisites for Admission: M.A.: Art Therapy Concentration

Student applicants may be admitted to the program upon completion of the following minimum prerequisites:

1. The candidate for admission must satisfy the general admission requirements for Graduate Studies, including graduation from an accredited college or university.
   
2. Art Therapy candidates must have 18 semester credits of Studio Art and 12 semester credits in Abnormal and Development Psychology. (Some deficiencies may be taken at UW-Superior before or during first 12 months of attendance.    
   
3. Two letters of recommendation from college faculty who are familiar with the applicant's work and potential.
   
4. Art Therapy candidates must submit a slide or compact disk portfolio showing basic proficiency in drawing, painting and three-dimensional media. Other media, i.e., photography, ceramics, etc., may be included. Fifteen to 20 images of individual pieces suggested. The quality of the portfolio will be assessed by UW-Superior Visual Arts faculty as a measure of the candidate's likelihood of success in the program.
   
5. Deadline for application for Fall semester enrollment is the previous April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be considered as vacancies allow.
   
6. Be advised that criminal background checks must be passed by many practicum sites and future employers.
   

Degree Requirements: M.A.: Art Education Concentration

In consultation with the major advisor, candidates will form a graduate committee of two. This advisory committee must meet at least once each semester. Graduation is subject to the final approval of the graduate committee. The minimum requirements for the degree include a total of 30 semester credits of approved coursework to include the following:

1. Nine credits in Art education from among the following courses:
   
   ART 735         Research in Art Education - Arranged
   
   ART 781         Art for Special Education
   
   ART 784         Development of Creative Functioning
   
   ART 782         Art for the Gifted and Talented - Arranged 
   
2. Two credits of ART 790 Graduate Art Seminar  
   
3. Three credits Graduate Art History 
   
4. Nine credits graduate-level Studio Art
   
5. Six credits of Cognate Courses from related areas such as Art Therapy, Art History, Psychology, Counseling, Communicating Arts, or Teacher Education.
   
6. One credit ART 799 Terminal Project. Requires approval of major advisor. Choice of thesis or exhibition with supporting paper. Final oral comprehensive related to the thesis or exhibition. If the thesis is chosen, an appropriately bound copy of the thesis is to be submitted to the Visual Arts Department office.  
   
7. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained throughout the course of the program. Satisfactory academic progress includes maintaining a grade point average of 3.0, or better and satisfying the portfolio or performance expectations of the graduate committee.

Graduate candidates for teacher certification must fulfill all undergraduate requirements for certification. Deficiencies must be corrected along with the completion of Program graduate requirements.

Degree Requirements: M.A. Art History Concentration

In consultation with the major advisor, candidates will form a graduate committee of two.  This advisory committee must meet at least once each semester. Graduation is subject to the final approval of the graduate committee. The minimum requirements for the degree include a total of 30 semester credits of approved coursework to include the following:

1. Twelve graduate credits in Art History including three Graduate credits of Issues in Visual Arts.
   
2.  Six credits studio art.
   
3. Six credits related courses approved by the major advisor.
   
4. Two credits Graduate Art Seminar.
   
5. Four credits Graduate Terminal Project. Scholarly project carried over two semesters, two credits each semester.
   
6. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained throughout the course of the program.  Satisfactory academic progress includes maintaining a grade point average of 3.0, or better and satisfying the portfolio or performance expectations of the graduate committee. 
   

Degree Requirements: M.A.:  Studio Art (ceramics, fibers, expressive ecopsychology, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture)

In consultation with the major advisor, candidates will form a graduate committee of two. This advisory committee will meet at least once each semester. Graduation is subject to the final approval of the graduate committee. The minimum requirements for the degree include a total of 30 semester credits of approved course work to include the following:  

1. Nine credits of Graduate Art History.
   
2. Two credits of Graduate Art Seminar.
   
3. Three credits of related courses from: Art Education, Art History and/or courses outside of Art approved by the advisor.
   
4. Twelve Graduate credits within a Studio Art concentration.
   
5. Three credits of Graduate Art electives.
   
6. One credit ART 799 Terminal Project in the form of an exhibition, with a supporting paper.
   
7. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained throughout the course of the program.  Satisfactory academic progress includes maintaining a grade point average of 3.0, or better and satisfying the portfolio or performance expectations of the graduate committee. 
   

Degree Requirements: M.A. Art Therapy Concentration (Limited Enrollment)

Entering students must complete a Program Planning Graduate committee of two required. The minimum requirements for the degree include a total of 48 semester credits of approved coursework to include:

1. Twenty-four credits of Art Therapy:
   
   ART 702                     Art Therapy Seminar
   
   ART 719                     Multi-Modal Art Therapy
   
   ART 735                     Research in Art Therapy
   
   ART 745                     Expressive Arts for Change
   
   ART 750                     Psychology of Art   
     
   ART 783                     Art Therapy Fundamentals
   
   ART 784                     The Development of Creative Functioning
   
   ART 785                     Art Therapy Techniques
   
2. ART 698: One credit of Art Therapy Practicum. 100 hours of supervised art therapy practicum  involving observation and practice in the preparation for practicum. (By permission of the instructor only.)
   
3.  ART 798: Six credits of Art Therapy Practicum. 600 hours, supervised art therapy practicum over at least two academic terms with a minimum of two placements. (By permission of instructor only.)
   
4. Art electives: Six credits from Ecopsychology, Expressive Arts, and Studio. (In consultation with advisor only, determined as part of the Program Planning Guide).
   
5. Related electives: Six from Counseling or Ecopsychology.  (On advisement only during program planning)
   
6. ART 799: Three credits. Culminating project and compressive portfolio, including a master's paper and/or approved art-based research.  Committee of two required.     
   
7. Two credits Graduate Art Seminar.
   
8. Art Therapy Registration (ATR) and Board Certification (BC) are granted by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) a national professional organization. Master's programs fulfill many of the educational and Practical experiences for registration and board certification.  Both registration and board certification require training post-masters level education, wherever your degree is from. UW-Superior graduates are eligible, with post-graduation requirements to become ATR and Board Certified.  Please consult the ATCB (http://www.atcb.org) for further information.      
   
   The 48-semester-credit program at UW-Superior follows national standards and is accredited by the North Central Associate of Colleges and Schools, but is not an AATA Approved program at this time. Please consult the American Art Therapy Association http://wwwarttherapy.org ) for further information. The MA in Art Therapy does not lead to certification or licensing in counseling, clinical psychology or psychotherapy.
   
9. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained throughout the course of the program.  Satisfactory academic progress includes maintaining a grade point average of 3.0, or better and satisfying the portfolio or performance expectations of the graduate committee. 

Course Offerings:  Consult the Visual Arts course descriptions section of this catalog.