The MFA Thesis Year
Important Deadlines
The last day to submit a thesis should be 10 business days prior to the last day of final exams. The thesis uploaded to Vireo must be the final version approved by your thesis/dissertation student advisory committee. These are the Thesis Submission Deadlines:
Summer 2023: July 14, 2023
Fall 2023: November 21, 2023
Spring 2024: April 12, 2024
The Graduate School’s Guide for Theses and Dissertations
Overview
MFA Thesis Exhibition
The MFA thesis exhibition is a demonstration of your professional competency in visual arts and design. It serves as proof of artistic or design mastery through the creation of a body of work that builds on, contributes to, or extends knowledge in your concentration area. During your thesis exhibition, you will present your body of work through a final defense with your committee to demonstrate your mastery of art and design knowledge.
MFA Thesis Document
The MFA degree requires the completion of a written thesis in support of your thesis exhibition. The written thesis must comply with SoAD and Graduate School requirements. The Manual of Basic Requirements for Theses and Dissertations is available on the Graduate School’s Web site to guide your work. The written thesis supports, and cannot supplant, the thesis exhibition.
The thesis is a written document that logically presents your thesis exhibition and artwork, frames your work within historical and contemporary contexts, cites relevant historical and contemporary influences on your work, and explains how your thesis exhibition work adds to or improves knowledge in your discipline. Your writing will discuss appropriate aspects of your work such as stylistic, conceptual, technical, ideological, etc.
Your written thesis must document the history (conceptual, technical, ideological, etc.) of your concentration area relevant to your thesis topic and/or work. You must thoroughly document the background and context of your topic, including specific historical and contemporary examples of artists or designers and specific pieces that relate to or inform your work.
Your writing must discuss the contextual relevance of your thesis exhibition and how it builds on the standards, philosophies, techniques, professional practices, and knowledge of your discipline. You will explore this within a historical framework related to your work.
In addition to sources cited throughout your thesis document, your bibliography should include references to historical and contemporary sources related to your work. These sources should provide a thorough resource for anyone interested in understanding and investigating your topic.
Consult with your Thesis Director to determine an appropriate writing style should. MLA is the most common style used for the MFA thesis but is not required.
Thesis Forms
There are three forms to be completed via DocuSign PowerForms for the Thesis process. Click on the buttons below to initiate the PowerForm process.
- Master’s Pre-Thesis Research Approval Form Instructions
Required signatures: Initiator (student), Thesis Committee Chairperson, Members, Graduate Programs Coordinator (Seo Eo) - Thesis Signature Page Instructions
Required signatures: Initiator (student), Thesis Committee Chairperson, Members, and Unit/Dept Chair (SoAD Director Kate Bukoski)
Intent to Exhibit Form
You must complete the Intent to Exhibit form two semesters before your exhibition. Click on the below button appropriate for your venue to initiate the PowerForm process.
- Wellington B. Gray Gallery – adheres to the SoAD schedule for MFA per ECU Graduate Thesis calendar
Required signatures: Initiator (student), Area Coordinator, Thesis Committee Chairperson, SoAD Director (Kate Bukoski), Gallery Representative (Maria Modlin, Curatorial Technician), Graduate Programs Coordinator (Seo Eo) - Burroughs Wellcome Senior Gallery – adheres to the ECU Graduate Thesis calendar
Required signatures: Initiator (student), Area Coordinator, Thesis Committee Chairperson, SoAD Director (Kate Bukoski), Gallery Representative (Mary Elliott, Administrative Support Specialist), Graduate Programs Coordinator (Seo Eo) - Non-SoAD Venue – adheres to the ECU Graduate Thesis calendar
Required signatures: Initiator (student), Area Coordinator, Thesis Committee Chairperson, SoAD Director (Kate Bukoski), Venue Representative, Graduate Programs Coordinator (Seo Eo)
MFA Thesis Procedures
STEP ONE
To progress toward your thesis, you must pass your Second Year Review and receive approval from your area faculty.
STEP TWO
Select Your Thesis Director
Once approved, you will select your Thesis Committee Chairperson (Thesis Director) who will direct your thesis process. Your thesis topic must be within your Director’s area of expertise. Your Thesis Director must have graduate faculty status and be in your concentration area.
To change your Thesis Director, you must discuss this with the Graduate Programs Director, who will discuss the issue with you and your current Thesis Director. If not resolved then, the matter will be brought before the School of Art and Design Graduate Committee.
STEP THREE
Select Your Thesis Committee
You will select a thesis committee in consultation with your Thesis Director. The thesis committee is composed of your Thesis Director (from your concentration area), two other graduate faculty from the School of Art and Design, and one faculty member who may be from outside the School. All committee members, except members outside the School, must hold either Graduate or Associate Graduate faculty status. Any changes in your thesis committee must be approved by you and your Thesis Director.
STEP FOUR
Write Your Thesis Prospectus
After you select a thesis topic and it has been approved by your Director, you will write a thesis prospectus. The prospectus contains at least three parts:
- A statement of the purpose of your work, the methods you intend to use, and the scope of your topic
- An outline showing the organization of your written thesis
- A preliminary bibliography about your topic
You submit the thesis prospectus to your committee and then schedule a meeting to discuss your thesis topic and your prospectus. Ensure that you allow your committee adequate time to read your prospectus before your meeting.
- If your thesis prospectus involves research with human participants must submit, you must include a description how the manner in which human participants will be engaged in the research. Depending on the scope of your thesis research, you may need to submit your research to ECU’s University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board (UMCIRB) for approval. Learn more about the UMCIRB.
STEP FIVE
Finalize Your Thesis Title
After completing your prospectus, you will work with your committee to determine a thesis title. Your Thesis Director will approve your final title.
STEP SIX
Submit your Thesis Research Approval Form
The student will submit a Thesis Research Approval Form (Word) signed by your thesis committee members to the Graduate Programs Director, Seo Eo. The Graduate Programs Director will then create a section of ART 7000 Thesis for you.
STEP SEVEN
Schedule Committee Meetings
It is your responsibility to schedule thesis committee meetings in consultation with your Thesis Director. Only your Thesis Director can endorse a thesis committee meeting. Remember that faculty have busy schedules, and you should plan your meetings early to facilitate the scheduling process. You must prepare and deliver writing at least one week prior to the meeting to allow your committee adequate time to read, review, and provide feedback on your writing.
We recommend that you work on your thesis exhibition and thesis document in tandem, developing the two works side-by-side. This alleviates the pressure to write intensively after you have installed your thesis exhibition.
STEP EIGHT
Plan your Thesis Exhibition & Schedule the Oral Defense of your Thesis Exhibition
In collaboration with your Thesis Director and Committee, you will plan your thesis exhibition. The Wellington B. Gray Gallery is available for MFA thesis exhibitions during both the fall and spring semesters. You will receive instructions and information regarding scheduling installations, the limitations of the space, the reception date, PR materials, and more from the Graduate Programs Director.
As you plan your exhibition, you will consult with your Thesis Director and Committee to schedule the oral defense of your Thesis Exhibition. When scheduling the defense, keep in mind that faculty schedules are busy. After your date is scheduled, you must notify the Director of the Graduate Programs of the date, time, and location for your thesis exhibition oral defense.
STEP NINE
Install Your Thesis Exhibition
After you complete your thesis document, you must schedule an oral defense date in consultation with your Thesis Director and Committee. When scheduling the defense, keep in mind that faculty schedules are busy, and if you are completing your thesis during the summer many faculty travels or are out of town. After your date is scheduled, you must notify the Director of the Graduate Programs of the date, time, and location for your oral defense.
STEP TEN
Defend Your Thesis Exhibition
During your thesis exhibition defense, your Director and Committee will evaluate your thesis body of work, understanding of your discipline, and your thesis exhibition. The defense is intended to provide you with feedback about your work as well as assess your knowledge.
STEP ELEVEN
Finalize Your Thesis Document
Working with your Director and Committee, you will finish writing and finalize your written document. Remember that the Writing Center provides excellent support for writing and can help you with the writing style (e.g. bibliography and citations), editing, and more.
STEP TWELVE
Schedule and Complete the Oral Defense of Your Thesis Document
After you complete your thesis document, you must schedule an oral defense date in consultation with your Thesis Director and Committee. When scheduling the defense, keep in mind that faculty schedules are busy, and if you are completing your thesis during the summer many faculty travels or are out of town. After your date is scheduled, you must notify the Director of the Graduate Programs of the date, time, and location for your oral defense.
After you successfully defend your written thesis, your Thesis Director notifies the Director of Graduate Programs that you have passed this milestone and completes the Oral Defense Form.
STEP THIRTEEN
Submit Your Finished Thesis Document to the Director
The Director of the School of Art and Design must sign your thesis form. Please give the Director a minimum of one week to read and review your document before signing.
Review ECU’s Guidelines for Preparing Thesis Documents and Electronic Documents
STEP FOURTEEN
Get Signatures for Your Written Thesis
Your Director, Committee Members, and the Director of the School of Art and Design must all sign your thesis form. Ensure that you have enough time to get all signatures before the deadline.
STEP FIFTEEN
Upload Your Final Thesis
Your final step is to upload your final thesis document, including the signature page, to ECU’s VIREO.
Finally, graduate!
Get all the details on graduation.