During the second semester of the first year, students may choose to submit an exhibition proposal to MODA Curates: a competitive program that provides advanced students the opportunity to organize an exhibition in the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery at the Lenfest Center for the Arts , in coordination with the Gallery Chief Curator/Director and Wallach staff. Exact guidelines for MODA Curates are distributed when the competition is announced, but students are provided with a professional opportunity to mount an exhibition, including all steps involved (developing a relevant exhibition topic and proposal, locating artworks, securing loans, writing a catalogue essay, etc.). Students whose proposals are accepted and who curate an exhibition have the option of submitting their exhibition, with all its attendant components, and an expanded catalogue essay as their MA thesis, following the guidelines in the MODA Student Handbook.