Lead the future of craft, technology, design. The MFA in Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM (MJCC) at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture is a pioneering, research-driven program that integrates traditional metalsmithing with cutting-edge digital fabrication. Recognized with a STEM designation, this program is for artists and designers eager to explore the intersection of craft, technology and innovation.
Tyler's Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM program offers a rigorous curriculum that balances hands-on studio practice with critical theory and research. You will be encouraged to push the boundaries of the field by experimenting with materials, processes and concepts through personal mentorship that fosters individual artistic growth and professional development.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture features its own admissions team, who can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your educational and career goals.
The Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM program at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, recognized with a STEM designation, is a two-year, 60-credit program leading to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. Known as an innovator in the field, the program offers students access to the latest technology, extensive tools, and personal mentorship. These resources enable students to develop an excellent portfolio and emerge as well-prepared professionals in the field.
At the heart of the Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM MFA program is a commitment to thoughtful making. You will be challenged to develop a personal voice through research, writing and critique—questioning not only how objects are made, but why. Through seminars, studio work, and individualized mentorship, students critically engage with material culture, design ethics, and the role of jewelry and metals in contemporary life.
Our curriculum integrates time-honored techniques with advanced technologies. From hand-fabrication, casting and forming to computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM), you will gain fluency in a broad spectrum of processes. This cross-training cultivates a versatile skillset that prepares you to work fluidly between the bench and the digital lab.
The program is a national leader in the creative application of CAD-CAM in metals and jewelry. Our STEM-designated curriculum supports experimental and data-driven design, including 3D modeling, CNC milling, 3D printing and laser technologies. Students are encouraged to explore generative design, wearable tech and emerging digital workflows that are reshaping the field of craft and design.
You will graduate with a refined body of work and the tools to sustain a lifelong creative practice. The program emphasizes professionalization through teaching opportunities, exhibitions, grant writing and public speaking. Alumni go on to successful careers as independent artists, educators, designers and innovators, well-equipped for both academic and entrepreneurial paths.
Accomplished faculty mentors bring extensive experience in both traditional and digital practices. Faculty members are active professionals dedicated to guiding students through their artistic and professional development.
Innovation begins in the studio. Tyler’s Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM program offers one of the most technologically advanced academic studio environments in the country, where CAD-CAM is not an add-on, but a core of the program’s creative and technical vision.
Students work in a 5,500-square-foot facility that supports the full spectrum of making, from ancient techniques to future-forward practices. Key facilities include:
Tools and processes are optimized to allow students to move seamlessly between handwork and digital output, fostering the integration of material exploration, 3D design, and fabrication innovation.
Meet alumni of Tyler’s MFA in Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM who are innovators, educators, designers and leaders who blend tradition and innovation to push boundaries in jewelry, design and education.
MFA ‘12 | Jeweler | Educator | Digital Innovator
Emily Cobb is a leading figure in contemporary jewelry, recognized for her imaginative, emotionally resonant designs and innovative use of digital fabrication. A 2012 graduate of the MFA in Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM program at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Emily’s work seamlessly blends narrative, technology and ornamentation into intimate, thought-provoking objects.
At Tyler, Emily was among the early pioneers of integrating CAD-CAM into studio jewelry. She used 3D modeling and printing to develop fantastical forms that challenge traditional ideas about wearability and beauty. Her thesis work marked a shift in how digital tools could be used not just for precision—but for storytelling.
Emily’s work has been exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Museum of Arts and Design (New York), Galerie Marzee (Netherlands), and the Society of Arts and Crafts (Boston). Her jewelry has been featured in Metalsmith, American Craft, and 3D Printing Industry, and her pieces reside in several museum and private collections.
Today, Emily serves as an Assistant Professor of Jewelry and Metals at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she teaches across analog and digital practices. She is also a board member of the Art Jewelry Forum and a frequent lecturer and contributor to conversations on the future of craft, digital aesthetics, and the evolving role of the maker in the 21st century.
"Tyler’s Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM program was the spark that ignited my career. It provided me with the support and education needed to successfully fuse digital innovation with traditional craft, offering the foundation to grow into my role as a jeweler, designer, and now associate professor. Tyler helped me forge my path to a lifelong career in the field. Everything started there."
MFA ’24 | Engineer | Designer
Theophilus Annor, MFA ’24, is a Ghanaian-born artist and an instructor and assistant dental digital technician at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry. The study of advanced technologies at Tyler has shaped Theophilus’s artistic practice and career in dentistry.
"The Metals / Jewelry / CAD-CAM program was where craftsmanship met innovation for me. It gave me the tools to translate artistic vision into wearable art, and the digital skills to shape a future in design and technology. I'm proud to have grown in a space that values both tradition and transformation.”
