Thesis Information and Requirements

Overview

A Thesis exhibition is the formal presentation of the student’s artwork in which the student demonstrates advanced professional competence. The student selects the work in the final exhibition under the direction of faculty in their area of concentration. A written document supporting the student’s artwork and following the guidelines of the East Carolina University Graduate School is also required. The final exhibition and the written documentation are the concluding requirements of an MFA as a terminal degree in Art.

The written thesis follows the format and procedures for thesis requirements, as defined by the East Carolina University Graduate School. The written thesis for the MFA degree is a support document to the thesis itself, which is the thesis exhibition of artwork.

Applications for all graduate thesis exhibitions must be made by submitting a completed and signed Intent to Exhibit Form MFA Forms to the Graduate Programs Coordinator two semesters before the anticipated exhibition. Failure to do so will not guarantee the option to exhibit. The Intent to Exhibit Form must be signed by the student, the thesis chairperson, the Graduate Program Director, and the representative of the exhibition venue.

The Wellington B. Gray Gallery hosts an MFA Thesis Exhibition. Thesis students intending to exhibit at the Gray Gallery must comply with the procedures and regulations established by the School of Art and Design Galleries. The School of Art and Design must approve all promotional material for group exhibitions in the Gray Gallery. If it is an exhibition outside of Gray Gallery, the thesis chairperson must approve all promotional material.
 

MFA Thesis Exhibition

The culminating experience for the School of Art and Design’s Master of Fine Arts in Art candidates is the thesis exhibition. After three years of focused work, this exhibition represents the development of the candidate’s artistic voice and skills through a cohesive body of work through a conceptual, technical, and ideological discourse of the candidate’s concentration area. It demonstrates the highest level of professional competency in the visual arts and design.
 

MFA Written Thesis

The MFA degree also requires the completion of a written thesis in support of the visual thesis. The written thesis must comply with the regulations of the concentration area and the general requirements of the Graduate School, as outlined in the Manual of Basic Requirements for Theses and Dissertations. The written thesis may not serve as the final body of work and is in support of the thesis exhibition.

The written thesis must demonstrate the candidate’s understanding of the history (conceptual, technical, and ideological) of the media relevant to the thesis topic and work, as well as how the candidate’s art/design work builds on the knowledge of the field.

This document must provide a thorough background and context for the topic. There should be specific historical and contemporary examples of artists or designers and specific artworks or design works that have some relationship, impact, or influence on the topic. If relevant, this background should include the same broad discussion regarding technique, ideology, etc. Appropriate bibliographic citation of historical and contemporary references related to the topic and work is required.

Agreements, Embargo, Copyright: ECU Non-Exclusive Distribution License needs to be completed and uploaded at the time of Vireo submission.
 

Elements of Written Thesis

• Abstract
• Blank Page
• Title Page (first page counted but not printed in footer; lower-case Roman numeral i)
• Copyright Page (second page counted but not printed in footer; lower-case Roman numeral ii)
• Signature Page (third page counted but not printed in footer; lower-case Roman numeral iii)
• Table of Contents (next sequential lower-case Roman numeral, but not listed in ToC)
• List of Tables/Figures (as appropriate; next sequential lower-case Roman numeral; listed in ToC)
• List of Plates (as appropriate; next sequential lower-case Roman numeral; listed in ToC)
• List of Symbols/Abbreviations (as appropriate; next sequential lower-case Roman numeral; listed in ToC)
• Preface (optional page with the next sequential lower-case Roman numeral; listed in ToC)
• Body of Thesis (Arabic number; first page of each section is counted but no footer; listed in ToC)
• References (Arabic number; listed in ToC)
• Plates (as appropriate; Arabic number; listed in ToC)
• Appendices (as appropriate; Arabic number; listed in ToC)
• Blank Ending Page

Archive of SoAD Thesis Documents

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