Sixty core, or approved, credits are required for the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree. All M.F.A. in visual arts courses are 4 credits, and a normal semester load is 16 credits per semester. To maintain full-time status, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits each semester. Students may not exceed the maximum 20-credit limit for registration. Students may take one course each semester in other Mason Gross School of the Arts departments (Dance, Theater, Music, Art and Design Undergraduate Program) with the approval of the instructor. Students may take one class per year outside of Mason Gross for credit by notifying the graduate coordinator and getting approval from the graduate director. Classes outside of the department may not be 4 credits, so students need to make sure to maintain a normal semester load.
First-year students register for 500-level courses, and second-year students register for 600-level courses.
Graduate Program in Visual Arts 
