The UICB offers three credentials:
- Master of Fine Arts in the Book Arts
- Graduate Certificate in the book arts, studies, and technologies
- Joint School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) Master of Arts and UICB Graduate Certificate
In addition, MA, MFA, and PhD degrees with an emphasis in book studies or book arts may be earned from units including but not limited to: the School of Art & Art History, the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, The School of Library & Information Science, the English Department and the History Department (each in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), the Writer's Workshop, or as a student in the Graduate College Interdisciplinary Program.
Those interested in exploring one or more book arts and book studies courses without pursuing the Certificate may take any UICB course that is offered by being accepted to the Graduate College as a non-degree student and taking up to 2 regular university courses.
MFA
The Master of Fine Arts in the Book Arts requires a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit and includes a thesis project. The required 60 semester hours include at least 30 hours in core courses, in scholarly inquiry and material analysis courses, and in workshops and outside credits. 30 hours are Studio Practice Electives, open-ended electives, and thesis hours. Thesis credits may total 6 hours.
Studio Practice Areas:
Artist Bookwork Bookbinding Digital Bookwork Lettering Arts Letterpress Printing Papermaking
A list of UICB courses can be found here at the UI course catalog.
Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in book arts and book studies is an 18 semester hour, 6-course program. At least 3 hours are required in the Studio Practice area and 3 in the Scholarly Inquiry area. The remaining hours are elected from any UICB course offerings.
A stand-alone Certificate can be finished in one year.
Joint MA in Library and Information Science and Graduate Certificate in Book Studies
The joint MA/Certificate prepares students for careers in Special Collections librarianship while training them in the production and legacy of the book as a physical artifact. The program requires admission to both the School of Library and Information Science and the Center for the Book certificate program. Application procedure for SLIS can be found here and the certificate procedure here.
The double credential BLIS program requires 51 semester hours of coursework. Students must take at least 27 hours of SLIS courses and 15 hours of book arts, studies, and technologies courses. The remaining 9 hours may be taken in either SLIS or the UICB, or from another unit (provided these remaining credit hours meet the approval of SLIS or UICB advisors).
The 15 hours within the Center are to be divided as follows: one course (three credits) within our studio-based classes, one course (three credits) within scholarly inquiry offerings and our material analysis area. The final courses (nine credits) are electives within the UICB area of the student’s choosing.
A list of UICB courses can be found here and a list of SLIS courses can be found here.
SAAH Studio Art MFA + UICB Graduate Certificate
Students may wish to earn the School of Art and Art History MFA in a studio art area (printmaking, drawing and painting, design, etc.) in combination with the 18 s.h. graduate certificate in book arts/book studies offered by the UI Center for the Book.
Students must apply to both programs. If accepted they will be advised and will matriculate through both programs independently, however, many if not all of the 18 s.h. of elective credits required for the SAAH MFA may be earned as coursework required for the UICB certificate. Thus it is possible to earn both credentials in the same amount of time required for the SAAH MFA alone by pursuing this option. Admissions advisors in both units will help interested students discern whether the UICB MFA or the SAAH MFA + Certificate double credential package is most appropriate to their background and career goals. In large part this will be determined by the degree to which books and book arts are central to the applicant’s chosen path.
MFA in the UICB with Library and Information Science M.A. in LIS
We also offer a joint Master of Fine Arts in the Center for the Book with the School of Library and Information Science M.A. in LIS. This joint program allows students with strong interests in the the book arts, book history, and material book studies to also gain expertise in library and information science. The tandem degrees provide book artists and librarians with credentials reflecting a depth of skills and knowledge that have been used to secure positions in special collections libraries and archives. The combined degree requires a total of 81 s.h. of credit across the two programs. Students interested in a librarianship career with a more general interest in the physical book should consider the BLIS program.
This double credential program requires 81 semester hours of coursework. Students must take at least 24 hours of SLIS courses and 51 hours of book arts, studies, and technologies courses. The remaining 6 hours may be taken in either SLIS or the UICB.
A list of UICB courses can be found here and a list of SLIS courses can be found here.
