Anyone familiar with the The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston?

<p>There is an art school in Boston that is the The School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SFMA) that is associated with Tufts. In fact, you get a Tufts diploma. Anyone know about it or know about the quality of its offerings?</p>

<p>Yes in fact my D was recruited by that school. It does have a good reputation, however knowing your D interest in computer/media design I do not know if it would be the school for her. Though the programs they have are good,particularlyl for fine art and museum studies they do not offer has many specific programs as other art schools. Also are you sure you automatically get a Tufts diploma? We were told that as a Tufts student you can take classes there but I do not think you get a Tufts diploma if you are enrolled specifically at The Museum of Fine Arts School.</p>

<p>Thank you for reminding me of this school <a href="http://www.smfa.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.smfa.edu/&lt;/a> Having been out of the loop for a long time, I'd forgotten about it. It's an impressive looking program. I see that they have summer programs for pre college types and a Post BA program, as well.</p>

<p>Re the Tufts degree, I've copied this from SMFA's website:</p>

<p>Whether you choose the BFA,*the BFA in Art Education, or the Combined-Degree program, you’ll be fully enrolled at both the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. You’ll immerse yourself in studio practice at the SMFA, get an in-depth liberal arts education from Tufts, and graduate with a highly respected degree from Tufts.</p>

<p>Actually it does look like you get a Tufts diploma. Definitely worth looking into Taxguy. Perhaps another visit for you to add to your list.</p>

<p>Cama</p>

<p>I may visit them; however, I just found out that, unless you are admitted into their 5 year BFA/BA with Tufts, you can't live in the Tufts dorms. Moreover the SMFA has no dorms either. Thus, you get the Tufts degree without the Tufts experience.</p>

<p>Moreover, you have to take 18 liberal arts courses outside of the studio requirements. It has an even heavier liberal arts requirement than most LACS!</p>

<p>One good ( or bad depending on your point of view) is that there are no foundation requirements. In fact, you don't have a major per se. You can take courses from any art discipline and design your own BFA, which is interesting. I asked them about the lack of foundation requirement, and they felt that it was rediculous to require courses like figure drawing for architects or designers. Thus, you can take these courses,but it is up to the student and advisor to build them into the curriculum. However, with the broad mandate given to students, a student can design a very broad interdisciplary program if they want,unless that of a tradional art school,which is much more structured. </p>

<p>I guess this school would be classified as an "alternative" school to that of most stand alone art schools.</p>

<p>I noted in the last sentence of the second from the last paragraph of my prior post,"unless that of a tradional art school,which is much more structured"</p>

<p>It should have said, "unlike that of a traditional art school, whiich is much more structured."</p>

<p>I wish we had more time to edit posts...</p>

<p>I totally disagree with their philosphy about Foundation Year. Yes, an architecture major might have a different foundation year then an art and design major but to make you a well rounded artist I think
somesort of structured foundation year is imperative. Drawing is the foundation of almost any art field. The analogy would be what I tell my 10 yr. old who takes singing lessons that doesn't want to learn the Italian classics. Once you learn the basics and and have those techniques mastered you can carry them over to sing on Broadway (which is of course her desire). Also As I haved shared with you if it was not for the foundation year my D would not know that she wanted to major in something else then she originally thought. Figure drawing is much more then just learning to draw figures, it is learning about lines, dimensions,foreground and figureground etc.,well you get my point. Also what about Art History.. that is usually part of the foundation year and is equally as important.</p>

<p>Cama</p>

<p>Cama, I am not debating you or even disagreeing with you. I am simply telling you what was told me about why they have no required foundation year.</p>

<p>Yes I realize that ,I am just questioning the reasoning of the school being discussed. I think the language pragmatics are sometimes lost when not speaking face to face.</p>

<p>Cama</p>