If you’re an aspiring poet, novelist, artist, actor or playwright looking at graduate schools, you’re among a select group of gifted individuals passionate about your craft. Earning a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is an excellent way to hone your skills. If you already have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), you may thrive in an environment that allows you to explore your full potential under the tutelage of accomplished instructors in your field.
Finding the best MFA or MA program for you starts with identifying your interests, goals and priorities. What’s right for one person is not a good fit for the next. Despite overlapping courses, there are many distinct differences between a Master of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts. Once you understand your options, you are in a better position to commit time and money to graduate studies.
Contrasting Residency Requirements
If flexibility is your top priority, an online MA may be the way to go. According to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), most MFA programs include a mandatory residency requirement, which incurs more time and money. Online master’s degrees with asynchronous classes allow students to access course materials 24/7. This is an advantage for working adults, particularly teachers who spend their days in the classroom and work after hours grading papers, planning lessons and supervising curricular activities.
Schools geared toward working adults offer more options for both undergraduate and graduate students. Online students at SNHU, for example, can enroll in a 36-credit Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing or a 48-credit Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program that is accessible at the student’s convenience. Aspiring MFA students have the traditional option of studying on campus and teaching undergraduate classes as a teaching assistant. They can also select an online track that includes weeklong residencies in January and June.
Differing Length of Programs
The MFA can take longer to complete than the MA, which is understandable since the MFA is considered a terminal degree for disciplines like the visual arts. Although a Ph.D. is typically required to teach at colleges and university, an MFA is needed to land a job as a visual arts professor, according to the Kent State School of Art. An MA in Studio Arts at Kent State entails 32 credits in interdisciplinary studies related to art, while the MFA requires 60 credits, including 27 credits with a specific emphasis, such as ceramics or painting.
Moreover, Kent State indicates that some students complete an MA as a steppingstone to gain admission to more selective MFA programs. Seeking an MA, in addition to an MFA, can add another year or more of study. Students pursuing an MA can use that time to develop an impressive portfolio of their studio artwork to impress prospective employers or MFA graduate admission committees.
Although MFA programs are longer, they are not necessarily more expensive because MFA graduate students often receive scholarships and stipends, or work as teaching assistants. If finances are a concern, you may wish to research schools that offer generous fellowships to attract talented MFA students.
Broad vs. Narrow Focus
The New York Film Academy (NYFA) explains that the MFA degree stands for prestige in the theatrical world. Although directors and talent agents also recognize the value of an MA in Theater, the MFA reflects in-depth immersion in the acting craft. Students in NYFA’s MFA Acting program, for example, enroll in a five-semester course of study that requires them to be available during the day, evenings and weekends to rehearse and perform in front of a camera. They start acting their first week in the program.
The MA degree is broader in scope and spans multiple areas of theater, not just acting or directing. Students have more flexibility to select electives that align with their unique interests and career goals. High school teachers, playwrights, acting coaches and directors of community theater companies, for example, may find it helpful to study acting, directing, set design and choreography.
Some MA programs delve into the history and theory of the profession. For example, students enrolled in the 18-month online Master of Arts in Theater program at Regent’s University take classes in theater history, research and aesthetics in the theater, as well as text analysis. Students take proficiency exams at the beginning of their studies, and they must pass comprehensive exams before graduation.
Unequal Amounts of Recognition
Earning an advanced degree is a special accomplishment that few people achieve. Graduates of MA and MFA programs earn recognition in their field for commitment and dedication to their craft. Of the two degrees, the MFA is held in higher regard. MFA programs are known for rigor, and admission is more selective, which sets MFA recipients apart from MA graduates.
Completing an MFA confers special recognition in the artistic community that may even offer a career advantage. For example, your critiques might carry more weight if you graduated from a prestigious MFA program. Your artwork could also receive greater acclaim and recognition because of your credentials. U.S. News & World Report suggests that visual artists with an MFA have a better chance of having their artwork shown in Los Angeles art galleries, for example.
Contrasting Career Paths
As compared to the MA degree, the MFA curriculum is heavier on performance than research or pedagogy. The singularity of the MFA program allows a student to develop fully as an artist, writer or performer and to compete successfully for acting roles or jobs upon graduation. Recipients of an MFA degree may also pursue college teaching jobs where they teach, advise, mentor and direct BFA and MFA students. They are well connected to professionals in their industry and follow emerging trends.
The MA curriculum has a strong academic focus. Students may work closely with a professor who supervises their work and nurtures their talent. They enroll in seminars and take intensive writing classes. They may conduct original research as part of a thesis project. Supportive professor recommendations can help MA recipients earn a spot in a Ph.D. program. Admission to Ph.D. programs is competitive, and students must show promise as researchers and scholars. Completing a Ph.D. can lead to university teaching jobs and leadership roles at top art museums and conservatories.
Dual MA and MFA Programs
If you can’t make up your mind and you believe that both degrees could complement your career goals, consider a dual MA and MFA program that you can work on simultaneously. Although that route may seem untenable at first, there are decided benefits. For example, if you’re passionate about dance, you can earn an MFA that focuses on choreography and performance, along with an MA that is research intensive. Earning both degrees could be advantageous when seeking teaching positions, for example.
New York University is an example of a school that offers a dual-degree dance program. It enables full-time students to earn an MFA along with an MA in two years and two summers. The 76-credit program is comprised of 29 credits of MA instruction and 47 credits of MFA instruction. Dancers learn dance technique at a famous dance conservatory, while completing student teaching in NYC schools to qualify for pre-K to grade 12 teaching credentials and college teaching opportunities.
