MFA in Studio Art and MAT in Art Education

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, in the College of the Arts at Georgia State University, features an internationally-active faculty and a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for professional careers in art and design. The school’s NASAD-accredited programs include an MAT in Art Education and an MFA in Studio Art with concentrations in Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Textiles. These full-time degree programs encourage excellence through experimentation, cross-disciplinary pursuits, and critical analysis of existing ideas about art, pedagogy, and art history.

Tuition waivers & funding: We provide one of the most affordable art educations in the Southeast. We are proud to offer a range of funding opportunities to our MFA candidates, with the majority of students receiving scholarships or full funding. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community of artists, and we work diligently to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder the pursuit of creative excellence. Students may also apply for extra, internal grant funding for research, travel, and materials twice a year.

Location & gallery: The downtown Atlanta location of our school encourages connections with local art institutions such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Contemporary, MOCA GA, and a solid network of commercial galleries, alternative spaces, and grassroots organizations. Alumni, faculty, and students are integral to the expanding and ever-evolving art hub of the Southeast, having founded a number of artist-run organizations, nonprofits, and creative publications.

The Welch School Galleries support the curriculum by showcasing regional, national, and international art exhibitions throughout the year, while providing student access to professional artists and scholars. Each MFA experience culminates with a solo exhibition in these downtown Atlanta galleries. 

Welch Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series:  This year-round calendar of art lectures provides students with intellectual access to a diverse group of acclaimed artists, art historians, art educators, curators, and scholars. Our guests conduct on-campus talks about their art, research, and careers, adding to the pedagogical discourse of contemporary art in the classroom and studio. All VAS events are free and open to the public, providing important educational programs for the regional art scene. For a full list of upcoming and past visitors, visit our Welch VAS page.

Studios & resources: MFA students are given personal studio spaces and 24-hour access to discipline-specific studios, allowing for creative exploration and research across mediums. The school has its own woodshop, metalshop, iron furnace, and aluminum foundry; computer labs and audio/visual equipment rentals; exclusive access to the Skowhegan Lecture Archive; and a dedicated College of the Arts Librarian. In addition to a kiln yard, textiles studio, a newly-renovated printmaking lab, dark rooms, an interior design materials library, and 3D printers, grads have access to the Georgia State Maker Space and the Creative Media Industries Institute with VR capabilities, green screen rooms, and other digital technologies for interdisciplinary work.

Third year opportunities: As a signature professional experience, third year graduates are exposed to international art fairs and conferences; given the opportunity to travel and exhibit in major cities; and visit research-specific destinations. These unique opportunities yield career-building experiences, from curator and collector networking, to the development of professional practices, and offer experiences in focused art making and exposure to the greater international contemporary art scene.

For more information online and to apply, please visit our graduate page or contact the graduate art office at artgrad@gsu.edu.