Master of Fine Arts in Intermedia and Digital Arts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
# Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) MFA Program at UMBC: A Path for Boundary-Pushing Creatives
The **Intermedia and Digital Arts (IMDA) Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Program** at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) offers a unique platform for interdisciplinary artists looking to redefine or expand their creative practice. This intensive program is tailored to innovative thinkers who wish to challenge traditional art-making methods and explore new mediums, combining emerging technologies with socially and ethically engaged artistic expression.
## Program Overview: A Hub for Innovation in the Arts
The IMDA program spans **three years** and encompasses **60 credit hours**, offering an immersive and flexible curriculum designed to accommodate artists from diverse creative backgrounds. Whether your focus is socially engaged practices, interactive media, community-based installations, or studio-based artworks, the MFA program supports a broad range of artistic approaches.
Set in the culturally rich and progressive city of **Baltimore**, IMDA offers students private studios and access to a network of professional exhibition venues. The environment is collaborative, dynamic, and open to experimental approaches, ensuring that students have the freedom to explore art in ways that can impact both the local community and audiences internationally.
### Academic Structure: An Emphasis on Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The structure of the program is rooted in personalized mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. **IMDA faculty are nationally and internationally acclaimed** artists, designers, filmmakers, and scholars with robust exhibition and publication portfolios. This means students are continually engaged with thought leaders in the creative field. The faculty provides intensive one-on-one feedback, nurturing the student’s artistic growth while also helping them navigate through the complexities of the contemporary art world.
Moreover, the program attracts **world-renowned visiting artists** who lead specialized workshops and critiques. To give a sense of the caliber, past visitors have included artists such as **Janine Antoni**, a conceptual artist known for her explorations of physicality and feminist discourse, **Paul Chan**, a multimedia artist blending political commentary and a unique visual language, and **Guillermo Gómez-Peña**, a performance artist and activist known for his work on border culture and immigration. This exposure to established voices in the art world broadens students’ perspectives and sets them up for success in an ever-expanding and changing artistic landscape.
### Resources and State-of-the-Art Facilities
UMBC boasts an **R1 Research University** designation, reflecting its status as a top-ranked institution with comprehensive research capabilities. IMDA students benefit from access to the university’s **interdisciplinary research centers**, providing a wide array of collaborative opportunities that cross the boundaries between the arts, sciences, and humanities.
On the technical side, students have access to **dedicated fabrication, media, and physical computing labs**, enabling them to realize complex, large-scale, or technologically intricate projects. These facilities allow artists to work with cutting-edge production tools, integrating media like video, sound, virtual environments, and physical computing into their artistic practice. Whether it’s 3D printing, digital animation, interactive installations, or classic techniques, the program strongly supports all kinds of innovative artistic methods.
## Financial Support and Career Opportunities
The IMDA MFA Program at UMBC is particularly attractive for its **Graduate Assistantships**, which provide substantial financial support. These assistantships offer:
– **Full tuition remission**
– **Stipends**
– **Health insurance**
– **Merit-based grants**
For those applying in **2025**, additional financial packages are available, including **full scholarships** and **summer fellowship opportunities**.
The program doesn’t just prepare students in terms of technical production or conceptual development—it also emphasizes **professional career readiness**. Students are encouraged and often take part in exhibitions at professional venues, and many gain valuable experience through **independent teaching opportunities**.
IMDA graduates transition into the global art community with competitive advantages. Alumni have gone on to present their artwork at prestigious galleries, museums, and art centers across the globe. They’ve also received high-profile awards, residencies, and teaching positions at internationally renowned art institutions.
## Notable Alumni Success Stories
The achievements of IMDA’s alumni provide inspiration and a roadmap for new students. Alumni maintain strong international presences, showcasing their work in major venues and earning top-tier grants and fellowships. Some also take on academic leadership roles at leading art schools and universities, effectively passing on the knowledge and skills they honed at UMBC to the next generation of artists.
## Notable Visiting Artists and Special Collaborations
As previously mentioned, the IMDA program regularly hosts prominent visiting artists for workshops, lectures, and residencies. Names such as **Barbara Hammer**, **Alison Knowles**, and **The Guerrilla Girls** have graced UMBC’s artist roster, lending gravitas and inspiration to students as they fine-tune their practices.
These respected figures in the art world not only provide expertise but also serve as important connections for the IMDA community. Critiques and discussions with these thought