The PhD qualifies the graduate to work as a professional artist in numerous arenas depending upon the graduate’s area(s) of expertise. Professional opportunities include, but are not limited to: Fine Arts, Graphic Arts, Illustration, Fashion, Interior Design, Advertising, Art Criticism and Teaching at the college and university levels.

PhD recipients are also qualified to work in a variety of upper-level employment capacities in Arts Administration, Program Development, and Education. PhD graduates may also hold upper-level positions in museums, galleries, and a host of arts organizations. This program is also a must for artists who wish to produce innovative art forms, curricula, research, and methodologies intended to contribute new knowledge and approaches to the Fine Arts discipline.

PhD students will be required to complete a minimum of 160 ECTS credits, which include an independent PhD Dissertation, Project(s) and/or Exhibition. Compulsory and elective modules must be numbered at the 700 level or above.

Individuals holding an MFA degree are eligible to apply to this program. Individuals holding an MA degree in a related field are also welcome to apply, if their experience as a working artist can be verified. Applicants not holding an MFA degree will most likely need to complete some additional, lower-level modules to be fully-prepared for the program.

Prerequisites: MFA or MA degree in a related discipline
14 modules (112 credits)
Exhibit and/or Project* (16 credits)
* The final project and written component will be developed by the student with oversight and guidance by the Mentor.
Written Component (32 credits)
Upon approval, students might also complete this exercise in a video and/or audio format.

Compulsory Modules (8 credits each, 48 credits in total)

1. ART 801 Critical Terminology for Doctoral Students
2. ART 802 Advanced Topics in Critical Analysis for Doctoral Students
3. ART 803 Advanced Topics in Emerging Art Forms
4. ART 804 Advanced Topics in Fine Arts Theories and Practice
5. ART 805 Advanced Topics in Fine Arts Presentation
6. ART 806 Advanced Topics in Fine Arts Criticism  OR  ART 807 Curricula Design and Development for Fine Arts  OR  ART 808 Studies in Art-Based Methodologies for Fine Arts  OR  ART 809 Advanced Topics in Criteria Evaluation for Fine Arts

Elective Modules (8 credits each, 64 credits in total)

A Choice of 8 modules directly related to the major area of fine arts emphasis. Note that each of these modules may be repeated using a different mentor artist or work as inspiration. "Mentor Artist" or "mentor work" refers to any acknowledged artist or artwork in the history of art that inspires the student.

-->  See all PhD in Fine Art MODULES here.

Upon satisfaction of all requirements and submissions required, students will be awarded a Warnborough Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree Fine Arts, in either Studio Arts or Photography.

This program is completely online. Doctoral candidates will therefore be expected to complete a substantial and significant body of work outside of the virtual learning environment.

Students in the program may work independently or in the group studio setting. Independent work will be expected of all graduate students.
On-site and virtual modules will be taught in atelier style. All graduates will be required to submit a professional portfolio and written works, as per standards established by the art department and Warnborough College, and to complete program projects. In addition, students will be required to participate in a graduate exhibit.

Learners can work with their mentors to combine courses into customized programs, suited to their interests and capabilities. Read the complete module descriptions for information as well as ideas! Think of them as a set of guidelines, rather than a set of rules. The descriptions will give you a sense of areas in which to proceed, at the graduate level, and professionally.

Learners may be exempt from certain modules and their equivalents, based on prior courses taken, prior professional experience, ongoing program performance, art portfolios, and/or publication and presentation resume. Modules taken at any time during the learner’s career may be counted, if they fulfill appropriate requirements. By the time of graduation, a learner must have achieved a minimum grade-point-average consistent with the policies of Warnborough College Ireland.

Elective courses are selected from a wide range of options. Learners may be exempt from elective module pre-requisites, based upon their portfolio, previous course work and experience, and/or demonstrated proficiency in the program.

Because of the enormous flexibility of the WCI program, learners may work with their mentors to structure their programs in the context of their individual interests, talents, and professional goals.

We encourage all our students to participate and present at our annual sponsored Kent Arts Conference.

Dr. Jill Kiefer is a teaching artist and arts historian. She has an extensive background in film and video production and distribution, having worked in that industry for many years.

Jill has developed and implemented comprehensive academic and lifelong learning programs at prestigious institutions in the USA and abroad. She was a member of the graduate faculty of the Humanities Dept. of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, and also taught for Pasadena City College, Glendale College, Westwood College, the Palos Verdes Art Center and the University of New Mexico. She has received a number of “Best Faculty” awards.

Jill was a Federal Title V Grant Recipient four times for her work in Hybrid Learning, and she is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the oldest and most selective academic honor society in the USA, dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all fields of higher education.

Jill is the Director of Warnborough’s Master’s and Doctoral programs in Fine Arts, Cultural Art History, Humanities, and Film, Radio, TV and Media Studies. A published writer and artist, Jill has an impressive and extensive resume. To learn more about her, please visit www.whataboutart.org You may also contact Jill about the Warnborough programs she leads at jkiefer@warnborough.edu