This program situated within a Research institution where students advance research, engage communities and cultivate a professional arts practice. Graduate students are provided individual spaces at Grant Street Studios located in downtown Phoenix. This facility includes studios, labs, workshops and galleries enabling learning, production and critical thinking. Students also benefit from funding opportunities, including teaching assistantships and awards that support research and tuition. The curriculum draws connections between traditional methods and emerging art practices. The coursework is designed to advance interdisciplinary discourses and promote collaboration. Students work with faculty members to refine their ability to think and communicate effectively through their art across studio disciplines and within art education, art history and museum studies. Furthermore, students are encouraged to engage the humanities and sciences, sustainability and engineering. The MFA program culminates with a solo thesis exhibition in one of the School of Art galleries.
The program is also enriched by arts and culture organizations, which provide students the opportunity to build their professional network through fellowships, internships and residencies. The program is augmented by public events supported by the ASU Art Museum, Ceramics Research Center and Archive, Pyracantha Press and School of Art Galleries, including the Northlight Gallery that houses a significant photography collection, which serves as a laboratory for student research. The program is enriched by regional cultural institutions, including the Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Heard Museum and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Students who want to engage in the school's creative community, should subscribe to the School of Art newsletters and follow the school on social media