INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICES & EMERGING FORMS

The MFA in Interdisciplinary Practices and Emerging Forms (IPEF) at the University of Houston is a cross-disciplinary program designed for artists and researchers ready to explore the boundaries of contemporary cultural production. The program emphasizes collaboration, social engagement, and critical inquiry, encouraging students to create meaningful, impactful work that responds to today’s most pressing issues.

Key features of the IPEF program include:

• Collaborative Research and Experimentation: Students work individually and in groups to explore topics like social practice, site-specificity, ecology, public space, urban and land activism, and more.
• Immersive and Interdisciplinary Contexts: The program connects students to Houston’s vibrant Third Ward, the Gulf Coast region, and global cultural networks, promoting hands-on fieldwork and site-based learning.
• Dynamic Curriculum: A three-year, 60-credit program that combines focused studio workshops, seminars, and collaborations with community partners, visiting artists, and scholars.
• Critical Engagement: Studio classes and seminars develop critical awareness, refine contextual understanding, and encourage students to embrace experimentation as a core practice.

IPEF welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, including those without formal training in emerging fields. Admission is based on portfolio review and a statement of purpose, seeking motivated, original thinkers eager to challenge conventions and explore new forms of cultural inquiry.

• Rick Lowe, Professor
• Abinadi Meza, Associate Professor, Program Coordinator
• John Reed, Professor
• Stephan Hillerbrand, Professor, Program Coordinator