In keeping with MICA's emphasis on interdisciplinary exploration balanced by solid training in traditional skills, the GFA major lets you shape a unique major from the full range of courses offered by the College's fine arts departments. Students who choose to major in GFA tend to be independent, enjoy incorporating various mediums into their work and are highly motivated to become versatile, resourceful artists. As a GFA major, you select courses to create a program of study that is interdisciplinary, theme-centered, or of some other cross-media or multimedia construction.
Because the prescribed degree plan is very open, students are expected to plan their courses very carefully so that they fulfill a personal direction. Because the department supports the idea of personal vision and personal direction, no predetermined concentrations exist.
The requirements for the general fine arts major include core courses at the sophomore, junior, and senior levels, and open electives grouped into two categories. The first category includes seven courses (21 credits) taken in fine arts. The second category of electives is more open, permitting four electives (12 credits) from any studio department.
In the GFA major, students collaborate between disciplines such as drawing and painting, or the combination of video, performance, and text. However, underlying these interdisciplinary opportunities is solid training in traditional skills.
September 2025
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 West Mount Royal Avenue,
BALTIMORE,
Maryland,
21217, United States
Applicants must provide the equivalent of a high school qualification. English language proficiency: MICA requires a minimum TOEFL score of 75 (MyBest scores are accepted), an IELTS score of 6.0, or a PTE score of 58. Application deadlines: For Spring - Nov 1 and for fall – Feb 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.