Take your artistic talent to the next level and open up your professional opportunities with an M.A. in art.
Why Earn a Master's in Art?
In the competitive world of art, you need more than talent. You also need time and dedication to achieve your goals. A master's degree in art gives you the kind of advanced education that will help you reach that next step in your career.
Deepen your relationship to your chosen medium and improve the technical aspects of your craft. Sharpen your powers of observation and solve visual problems with finesse. Revitalize and expand your portfolio for prospective employers, artist residencies or M.F.A. applications.
Why Study Art at CSUN?
One-to-Two Year Degree
Complete a master's degree in as little as two semesters. Our curriculum is designed to help you achieve your artistic goals in an efficient and timely manner, without sacrificing quality or focus.
Learn from Other Artists
Our faculty is comprised of working artists, including visiting artists, writers, and critics from Los Angeles and the international art community. Together, they form a diverse, experienced and supportive group of mentors.
State-of-the-art Facilities
In addition to a sculpture shop, a printmaking lab and other professional-level labs, you will be eligible to apply for individual studio space. The CSUN Art Galleries also offer a number of rotating exhibits and the opportunity for students to display their own work.
Dynamic Center of Art
Studying in Los Angeles means having the art industry right at your fingertips. Check out a new exhibit at the Broad Museum, collaborate with other artists in city programs or start making connections with gallery owners.
What You'll Learn
As a student, you will cultivate a deeper understanding of art and develop your technical skills. You will study the history, philosophy, analysis and criticism of art as a theoretical foundation. In studio courses, you will explore the relationships between ideas and media.
In our visual arts-focused master's program, you will hone in on the aesthetic possibilities and tackle the challenges of a specific medium. You will devote studio hours to your chosen concentration and can choose from one of the following:
- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Illustration
- Painting
- Photography/Video
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
After successfully finishing your requirements, you will focus on a culminating experience. This consists of a group exhibition that includes your own work. You will also present photographic documentation and a written statement addressing the aesthetic, philosophical and technical aspects of the work. The graduate project will be included in an exhibition catalogue.
Careers & Outcomes
The Master's in art is an important stepping stone for those interested in pursuing a career in the visual arts. If you are interested in pursuing an M.F.A. degree in your discipline, you will graduate with a strong portfolio for applications to M.F.A. programs at other institutions. Students have also used the M.A. to further their careers in arts organizations, design industries, galleries and more.
Exhibition Catalogues
View the impressive body of work that our M.A. and M.F.A. students have produced during their time at CSUN.
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a master's student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Master of Art in Art, with an option in Visual Arts.
- Apply to both the university and the specific graduate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a master's program at CSUN.