Transfer Student FAQs
Welcome! Please keep the following in mind if you are considering transferring to the K-State Art Department. It is highly advised to speak to the Art Department Student Advisor to discuss your plans and previous or planned coursework.
What is the difference between the BA and BFA degrees?
Do I need a portfolio to enter the Art Department as a transfer student?
What will I need to go through the Portfolio Review as a transfer student?
How will my Art or Art History courses transfer to K-State?
How long will it take to complete my degree?
What is the difference between the BA and the BFA degrees?
The primary difference between the BA and BFA degree options is the number of Art courses the students are required to take for graduation. The BFA allows for more credit hours in Art courses, whereas the BA degree requires study of foreign language(s) and more credit hours in the Humanities and Sciences (outside of the Art department). The BFA is a professional degree offering skillsets that apply to a variety of creative industry and entrepreneurial careers. It is also the preferred degree for those interested in further study in an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program. The BA degree is ideal for those who want a more interdisciplinary education; pairing Art with another minor or major (i.e. psychology, business, journalism).
Initial portfolio review and a formal exhibition of work at the end of the program is required for the BFA degree. The BA degree does not have these requirements.
Still not sure? Email our Art Advisor for more information.
Do I need a portfolio to enter the Art Department as a transfer student?
Students who are accepted to K-State are automatically accepted as general Art students within the Art Department without a portfolio. However, to be accepted in one of the BFA concentrations (Studio Art/Visual Communication Design) and to continue advanced coursework (courses at 400+ level) students must go through the Portfolio Review.
Students pursuing a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Studio Art or Art History, or an Art Minor are exempt from the Portfolio Review.
What is the Portfolio Review?
Offered every Spring semester, this is a review of examples of student work from the foundational courses (ART 174, ART 180, ART 194, ART 200). The review is conducted by faculty members in the Art Department. The goal of this review is to evaluate student readiness for successfully continuing coursework within BFA Studio Art or Visual Communication Design concentrations.
Transfer students are eligible to go through the portfolio review using work from equivalent courses taken at the previous institution, in addition to work from courses taken in the Art Department. The Art Department prioritizes portfolio review for the transfer students so that they can efficiently complete their degree programs.
When is the Portfolio Review?
The Portfolio Review only takes place in the Spring Semester. Transfer students who have partially completed the A&D Foundation requirements should communicate with the Art Advisor to chart out the fastest pathway to the Portfolio Review.
As a transfer student, can I go through the portfolio review before completing the foundation requirements?
The goal of the portfolio review is to evaluate student readiness for successfully continuing coursework within BFA Studio Art or Visual Communication Design concentrations. Transfer students are advised to present evidence of their abilities using work from equivalent foundational courses taken at the previous institution, in addition to work from courses taken in the Art Department.
On case-by-case basis the Art Department prioritizes portfolio review for the transfer students, so that they can efficiently complete their degree programs. Students should communicate with the Art Advisor to chart out the fastest pathway to the Portfolio Review.
What will I need to go through the Portfolio Review as a transfer student?
Items needed for the Portfolio Review include a single PDF portfolio of all work from each foundational course taken at the Art Department and/or equivalent courses taken at another institution. Transfer students should retain all the coursework completed in the equivalent courses taken at the previous institution. Please contact the Art Department Student Advisor for further information and deadlines.
How will my Art or Art History courses transfer to K-State?
Please check the automatic transfer equivalency website. Transfer courses that do not appear there will need to be assessed by the Department of Art faculty to determine if they can be substituted for one of the required courses in the major.
For any unlisted course to be evaluated, the student should submit a “Transfer Course Evaluation Request Form” with all the relevant information (i.e. syllabus, project descriptions).
How long will it take me to complete my degree?
This depends on the degree and concentration you choose and the amount of equivalent coursework that transfers. Students transferring from another institution or from another department at K-State should communicate with the Art Advisor to review their transcripts and assess the different degree options, their different timelines, and the most efficient pathways to completion.
Unlike BFA Studio Art, Visual Communication Design concentration is a 3-year sequential curriculum after the Portfolio Review, hence early communication with the Art Advisor is especially necessary for those who intend to pursue the BFA degree with Visual Communication Design concentration.