School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
230 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA) has been educating artists since 1876. No matter what the program, SMFA’s curriculum is designed to embrace the evolving nature of an artist’s interests by incorporating new media, concepts, and theories.
SMFA is accepting applications for the fall 2015 term. Apply online or contact us at
T +1 800 643 6078 or [email protected] for more information about our programs.
Prepare to teach at the college level—or launch your career as a working artist in the Master of Fine Arts program. The rigorous MFA curriculum integrates practical and critical skills across diverse media and disciplines. It emphasizes intense individual studio practice, creative collaborations, informal mentorships, professional development, and in-depth academic discourse. Students participate in a contemporary art seminar (CAP), graduate group critiques, and receive privileged access to faculty and facilities at the Museum of Fine Arts as well as teaching opportunities and the ability to apply for outside exhibitions and grants. MFA students are enrolled at both SMFA and Tufts University, and graduate in two years with an MFA degree from Tufts.
The Studio Diploma program at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA) is an immersive, innovative learning experience focused on building a successful studio art practice. Drawing from the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts studio curricula, the program provides broad course offerings across 14 visual arts and media practices. The Diploma can be completed in two calendar years, with a flexible schedule including day and evening coursework; part-time enrollment is also available for those desiring a slower pace.
The Post-baccalaureate Certificate program at SMFA is an intensive, comprehensive year of studio art study and practice for recent college grads, professionals coming from another area of focus, or practicing artists wishing to expand their ongoing studio work. SMFA’s program offers a diverse international community of students, combined with personalized coursework, extensive faculty mentorship, and a collaborative environment of artists from a variety of disciplines. Our Post-bac graduates leave with a critical awareness of contemporary art and practice, and a deeper understanding of their educational and professional goals.
The SMFA Bachelor of Fine Arts program provides the opportunity to combine an in-depth, rigorous liberal arts education at Tufts University with intensive studio arts training at SMFA. Students are considered to be fully enrolled at both schools, and graduate with a BFA degree from Tufts University. A wide array of art history courses are offered on the SMFA campus, allowing you to begin your academic studies while enrolled in a concentrated studio program. The studio curriculum in the BFA program is entirely elective; you are free to select the courses, faculty members, and community resources deemed most important to your artistic development.
About the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
Founded in 1876 and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA), is one of only two art schools in the country affiliated with a major museum—the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Our mission is to provide an education in the fine arts—for undergraduate and graduate artists—that is interdisciplinary and self-directed. For more information about our programs and partnerships, visit www.smfa.edu.