A total of twelve graduate courses (10.0 credits) are required for the completion of this program. In addition to individually oriented studio courses, students are required to complete four MFA seminars, two teaching practicum courses, and two graduate art history, theory or criticism courses. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall weighted average grade of at least ‘B-' (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies). A maximum of two courses outside the School of Fine Art and Music may be substituted for the art history, theory and criticism courses with the approval of the school and the Assistant VP of Graduate Studies.

In addition to the prescribed studies, the student may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.