This two-semester sequence is the academic component of the 2nd year MFA Core curriculum, complementing the individualized studio visits and group critiques. This course is designed for graduate students, to apply the critical understanding of the integration of theory and practice within their own studio practice. The content of the class is essentially driven by the student work and research. To that end readings and content are reliant on, and responsive to, the students field of research. Research skills are employed to deepen student's individual studio practice and find an appropriate language in writing and speech to critically engage their practice as artists in the studio and exhibition context. Each student's Thesis Project (text component) begins with a written proposal that delineates the student's artistic practice and outlines a research plan and what each student aims to accomplish for the Visual Thesis and within their thesis writing. Students will then work on subjective and objective writing developing short statements which will become the basis for their thesis. Students will work in small collaborative discussion groups to support each other in expanding and deepening their research through a series of presentations taking place throughout the semester, providing opportunities for critical feedback as they expand their short statements into a longer paper. The class is committed to the individual nature of each proposal and fosters a collective working environment in the group in which learning from and through different approaches in thinking and writing is central. The class will furthermore provide support in creative writing methods and the building of relevant bibliographies. This course encourages the use of writing as an arena for the development of thought through a process of clarification of ideas.