California State University, Sacramento
DEPARTMENT OF ART

MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE HANDBOOK

Step 2: Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy with the University indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as:

1. The classified graduate student has removed any deficiencies in admission requirements
2. Completed at least 12 units of 200-level courses in the graduate program with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Explanation: though it is possible to be reviewed for recommendation for advancement during the second semester in the program, recommendation reviews typically take place in the third semester.
3. The Writing Proficiency requirement must be satisfied according to the University policy or secured approval for a WPE waiver
4. The student has secured approval from the studio faculty based on a formal presentation (“Review for Recommendation”) of the student’s work.
   Explanation: the Graduate Coordinator/s will notify the student of the scheduled advancement date and the exhibition room location. The advancement procedure is similar to that of final reviews. The student will present a body of work to the full studio faculty for review. The student should be prepared to discuss all issues that were important in making the artwork, i.e., personal influences, intent, content, technique, etc. The student should consult with her/his advisor regarding the amount of work and manner of presentation. A student may only attempt advancement twice. Failure to pass the second advancement will result in loss of classified graduate status.

Advancements are held on the same day as final reviews. In most academic years, the fall semester the date will be the week before Thanksgiving; the Spring semester date will be two weeks after Easter break.

It is highly recommended that the student meet with her/his advisor to determine and discuss whether s/he is ready to go up for advancement. It is not recommended for a student to go up for advancement if s/he has not been advised to do so, or has not met with her/his advisor to discuss her/his preparedness.

A student may attempt “Review for Recommendation” only twice. Failure to pass the second review will result in loss of classified graduate status. Exceptions to the policy will be handled on an individual basis by the Graduate Coordinator/s. Note: assigned studio space generally will not be granted beyond the two-year limit.

The advancement of individual graduate students is recommended by the Art Department to the University. When the appropriate number of units have been completed and the departmental faculty have indicated approval, the student fills out the Advancement to Candidacy form outlining her/his degree program in consultation with her/his Art Department advisor and the Graduate Coordinator/s. The completed form is submitted (by the student) to the Office of Graduate Studies. The Advancement to Candidacy form is available in the Office Graduate Studies: http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/forms.htm#Candidacy

Notes for completion of the Application to Advancement to Candidacy form (item numbers refer to the form)
Item 9. CORE courses: List the four required courses for a total of 12 units.
Item 10. Courses for Concentration and/or Electives: List only upper division and graduate level art courses from approved list (see CSUS catalog) - 15 units minimum.
Item 11. Culminating Experience. Circle “Bound Project” and list Art 500 (Culminating Experience) with name of project supervisor, semester/year and number of units (3)

Items 9,10,11 should add up to a minimum of 30 units. List ONLY the art classes used for the MA degree in Studio Art

MA DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Units required for the MA: 30* with a minimum 3.0 GPA
A. 12 units: Required Core Courses

The following core courses (12 units) are required of all students in the program:

• ART 206 Art Theory and Criticism (3 units)
• **ART 212 Contemporary Art (ART 001B or ART 109, or equivalent, or instructor permission) (3 units)
• ART 222 Studio Critique Seminar (6 units) Note: ART 222 is a 3 unit course which must be taken each semester until final reviews are passed. Only 6 units of credit count toward graduation.

B. 15 units: Elective Courses

6 units: must be in 200-level art courses, excluding Art 206, 212, 222, and 299. Explanation: 18 of the 30 units in any MA degree must be 200-level courses. Since 12 of these 18 units in the Art MA will be the courses listed above, a minimum of 6 additional 200-level units are required. Art 299 can be used towards the 9-unit electives only (below).

9 units: must be graduate or undergraduate (upper-division) level art courses from approved list. Note: only 6 units of each independent studio or special problems course (229, 249, 259, 269. 279, 289, 299) can be applied to the degree.

Select 15 units from the following, at least 6 units must be 200-level (ART 299 does not count towards the 6-unit requirement):

ART 120 Advanced Drawing (ART 020B or equivalent)
ART 122A Intermediate Painting (ART 022 or equivalent)
ART 122B Advanced Painting (ART 122A or equivalent)
ART 123 Figure Drawing (ART 020A or equivalent)
ART 124 Advanced Watercolor (ART 024 or equivalent)
ART 125 Life Studio (ART 020A or equivalent)
ART 126 Life Painting (ART 020A or equivalent)
ART 127 Collage and Assemblage
ART 141 Advanced Silkscreen (ART 040E or equivalent)
ART 142 3D Computer Modeling
ART 144 Raster and Vector Imaging
ART 145 Advanced Printmaking
ART 147 Video Art
ART 150 Advanced Ceramics (ART 050 or equivalent, or IP)
ART 153 Hand-Built Ceramic Techniques (ART 053 or IP)
ART 160 Photography in the Arts (One semester of basic photography or IP)
ART 161 Photography in the Field (PHOT 040 or equivalent)
ART 162 Alternative Photographic Processes (PHOT 040 or other basic photography)
ART 163 Pinhole Photography (PHOT 040 or equivalent)
ART 180 Figure Sculpture (ART 020A or equivalent)
ART 183 Advanced Sculpture (ART 088 or equivalent)
ART 197 Intermediate Electronic Art (ART 97 or equivalent experience, such as PHOT100, Introduction to Digital Imaging)
ART 198 Advanced Electronic Art (ART 197 or equivalent experience, evidenced in portfolio)
ART 220 Advanced Problems in Painting and Drawing (ART 122B, graduate art student status, or IP)
ART 229* Painting/Drawing Studio (IPDCP)
ART 249* Graphics/Printmaking Studio (IPDCP)
ART 259* Ceramics Studio (IPDCP)
ART 269* Photography Studio (IPDCP)
ART 279* Crafts/Art Metal Studio (IPDCP)
ART 289* Sculpture Studio (IPDCP)
ART 299 Special Problems (students may take only two special problem courses in the program)

*Only 6 units of each studio course may be applied towards the degree.

IP= Instructor Permission
IPDCP= Instructor permission and Department Chair via signed petition form

C. Culminating Requirement (3 units)
Note: ART 500 is a final requirement, taken no earlier than the semester of the student’s final review. The student may not be enrolled in ART 500 until an approved Advancement to Candidacy is on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Notes:
*6 graduate units earned in unclassified status prior to entry into the graduate program may be applied towards satisfaction of the total 30 units, provided these units were not used for fulfillment of another degree (minimum grade of B required). Also, at least 21 of the 30 units must be taken at CSUS (Academic Residence Requirement).

**ART 212 replaced ART 205 (Art since 1945) in Fall 2003. Students who took ART 112 prior to entry into the graduate program can satisfy the ART 212 core course requirement by enrolling in ART 299 (with ART 212 instructor) for one (1) unit, provided the final grade was a “B” or better. Students using the ART 112/299 combination instead of ART 212 must enroll in an additional 3-unit 200-level (not 299) in order to achieve the total of 18 graduate units required for the MA degree. A special note will be placed on the Application to Advancement to Candidacy form, indicating that the ART 112/299 combination fulfills the ART 212 requirement.

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