Master of Fine Arts
Alternate uses: see MFA (disambiguation)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree in an area of applied or performing arts typically requiring two to three years of study beyond the Bachelor's level. Coursework is primarily of an applied or performing nature (versus research and academic inquiry) with the program often culminating in a major work or performance.
Common fields of study include Theater, Creative Writing, Filmmaking and Studio Art. The MFA is considered a terminal degree, as there is generally no doctoral degree in applied arts.
Programs generally require a bachelor's degree prior to admission but many do not require that the undergraduate major be the same as the MFA field of study. This most important admnissions requirement is often a sample portfolio or a performing audition.
The MFA differs from the MA in that the former is more concerned with practical application in the field while the latter is interested in the academic study of the field.