Art and Design MA
- Master's Degree
- Hybrid
- Greeley Campus
- Online
21 Months
Fall Term (Aug.)
$668/Credit
A Mostly Online Art Master’s Degree
Do you:
- Have a background in art or art education?
- Want to expand your artistic practice?
- Need an alternative to the time and costs of an MFA program?
Our Art and Design Master of Arts (MA) degree is a great choice for art teachers and studio artists who want to improve their skills without putting life on hold.
What Does Mostly Online Mean?
This is a hybrid program, which means there is an in-person requirement.
- For most of the year you’ll take classes online and manage your own studio time.
- During the summer term, you’ll join us for a short, required session on our campus in Greeley, Colorado. See the Course of Study section below for details.
What This Program Offers
This master’s degree helps you become a better artist and teacher. You will:
- Learn from experts and get hands-on experience.
- Personalize the program to build on your talents and interests.
- Blend academic rigor and artistic excellence.
Enhance your Career and Your Artistic Practice
Benefits for Art Teachers
This program has many benefits for art educators:
- Get back into the studio and learn new ways to create art.
- Earn more money on teacher pay scales that reward a master’s degree.
- Qualify to teach college-level classes to high school students (known as dual or concurrent enrollment) or at a community college.
- Potential endorsement eligibility if you already have a teaching license. Check endorsement options and requirements in your state.
This degree does not lead to a K-12 teaching license, but it’s ideal for a teacher who already has one or who teaches in classrooms that do not require licensure.
Other Career Opportunities
- Practicing artist
- Museum educator
- Art agencies, art galleries, community art centers and other non-profit organizations.
- Design and emerging technologies
- Continue on to an MFA or PhD program
Course of Study
Online + 1 Summer Greeley Intensive
You can complete the Art & Design Master of Arts in less than two years (21 months / five academic terms).
This program starts each fall term and most students will take two courses per term.
Fall and Spring Terms
- Courses during the fall and spring terms can be completed via distance learning.
- You will complete online course activities, including occasional synchronous course sessions when students and instructor meet online at the same time.
- You will need access to appropriate studio equipment / facilities for your chosen fall and spring courses.
- If you are not near our campus, you will need access to these resources near you. This can often be equipment you already use at home or at work. The Program Coordinator can help you determine if you have the proper setup available.
- If you are near our campus, you can come to on-campus studios to complete activities. There is a required safety training for each studio that is delivered at the beginning of the term.
Summer Intensive
- Summer coursework consists of art studio courses taken on-campus in Greeley, Colorado. You will be here for approximately two weeks in June, and complete follow-up coursework online.
- During summer courses, you will use artistic research and studio practice to develop new skills, themes, and purposes for your artmaking. Build your skills while immersed in a community of artists.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 30-credit master’s degree program.
You can choose your art studio focus in this flexible program. Art studio elective options (see the options via the button below) are repeatable up to nine credits, or you can combine a personal mix of studio course options.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Graduate Certificate Option
Art Studio Graduate Certificate
If you already possess a master’s degree and want to become eligible to teach dual / concurrent enrollment or community college Art courses, you may be interested in the Studio Art Graduate Certificate.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Jori Moore
Enrollment Counselor
Lauren Eisen
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Scholarship Opportunity for Students Pursuing Dual/Concurrent Enrollment Teaching Eligibility
If you are a K-12 teacher in a rural Colorado school district, you might qualify for the Concurrent Enrollment Educator Qualification Scholarship for this program. The scholarship supports rural high school teachers who want to offer college-level classes to their students.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate degree in art, art education or the equivalent. If your degree is not in one of those topics, you may be required to complete specified coursework or demonstrate competency in specific areas of study before beginning the program.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
- Priority Application Deadline: Feb. 15. Admission is competitive and completed applications received by this date will be reviewed as a group.
- Standard Application Deadline: April 15. If the cohort is not filled with the initial review of priority applications, additional applications will be accepted until this date. Completed applications received by this date will be reviewed as a group. We will post notice here if no additional spots are available.
Students who are admitted by June 1 will be able to apply for full consideration for UNC scholarships. Those accepted after that date will still be able to apply for UNC scholarships but some scholarships may have already been awarded.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Art and Design (M.A.)
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status