student artist painting

Incoming Freshman

Incoming freshmen will need to complete the University’s online application, which includes a supplemental application for the School of Art. Any incoming student wanting to pursue a BFA in one of the art program areas will need to submit an art portfolio.

Step 1: Review admission criteria.

Before you begin working on your application and materials, take a few minutes to review Ball State’s admission standards and steps to apply. The School of Art will also review your academic records after your transcripts are submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

View University Requirements

Step 2: Apply.

You will apply to Ball State using the University’s online form. As part of this application, you will complete a supplemental application for the School of Art.

Apply

Step 3: Prepare your portfolio.

Students interested in one of our bachelor of fine arts degrees will need to submit a portfolio of original works of art.

This applies to students planning to study: animation, ceramics, drawing, glass, metals, painting, photography and intermedia, printmaking, sculpture, or visual communications.

If you are interested in one of our BA or BS degrees in Art Education, Art History, Graphic Arts Management, and Studio Art you are NOT required to submit a portfolio.

View Portfolio Requirements Submit Materials

Key Dates for First-Time Freshmen

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Feb. 8 – Portfolio Review Day: Bring artwork for School of Art faculty to review. You need to register by Feb 5.

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March 1 – Priority Deadline for Admission and Freshman Scholarship: Materials must be submitted in order to receive full consideration.

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April 1 – Deadline for Regular Admission: After this date, we will only consider portfolios based on available space in the program.

Alternative Credit

If you have completed studio art or art history alternative credit including but not exclusive to Advanced Placement (AP), IB Credit, and Transfer credit you must undergo a separate evaluation of coursework to determine art program credit. You will need to submit a portfolio of artwork and course syllabi to determine course-to-course alternative credit equivalencies. Contact the Associate Director of the School of Art Andy Beane for evaluation.

Didn't Get Into a BFA Option?

Applicants not admitted to one of our BFA degrees may still enroll at Ball State, declare a BA degree with a concentration in studio art. With the successful completion of the first-year art foundation courses, may change their major to a BFA degree. Learn more.

If you’re already at Ball State—or even already in our studio art option—and plan to change your major to one of our bachelor of fine arts options, you will need to be admitted into the program.

This applies to students planning to study: animation, ceramics, drawing, glass, metals, painting, photography and intermedia, printmaking, sculpture, or visual communications.

Step 1: Enroll in our studio art option.

You will need to declare a major in art/art studies with a concentration in studio art. To do so, you will need to notify your academic advisor and complete a “Change of Major” form. If you already enrolled in our studio art option when you arrived at Ball State, you may skip this step.

Learn How to Change Your Major

Step 2: Successfully complete our foundation courses.

You will need to complete our first-year foundation courses with a grade of C or higher.

The foundation courses are:

  • ADS 101 – Foundations: 2D Studio
  • ADS 102 – Foundations: 3D Studio
  • ADS 103 – Foundations: 4D Studio
  • AFA 101 – Drawing Studio

After completing these courses, you may change to one of our BFA options.

If you are interested in the Animation or Visual Communications areas, you will need to submit a portfolio based on your work in the first-year foundation courses. For more information click here.

If you plan to transfer to Ball State from another institution, you will need to be admitted into the program through one of two ways.

Step 1: Review admission criteria.

Before you begin working on your application and materials, take a few minutes to review Ball State’s admission standards and steps to apply.

The School of Art will also review your academic records after your transcripts are submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. We give greater consideration to your college records than high school records or SAT/ACT scores.

View University Requirements

Step 2: Apply

You will apply to Ball State using the University’s online form. As part of this application, you will complete a supplemental application for the School of Art.

Apply Now

Step 3: Prepare your portfolio.

Students interested in one of our bachelor of fine arts degrees will need to submit a portfolio of original works of art.

This applies to students planning to study: animation, ceramics, drawing, glass, metals, painting, photography and intermedia, printmaking, sculpture, or visual communications.

Learn More  Submit Materials

You may get into one of our BFA options by first declaring a major in art/art studies with a concentration in studio art, then changing your major after completing our foundation courses.

Step 1: Review admission criteria.

Before you begin working on your application and materials, take a few minutes to review Ball State’s admission standards and steps to apply.

The School of Art will also review your academic records after your transcripts are submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. We give greater consideration to your college records than high school records or SAT/ACT scores.

View University Requirements

Step 2: Apply.

You will apply to Ball State using the University’s online form.

As part of this application, you will complete a supplemental application for the School of Art. Make sure to declare your intended major as art/art studies with a concentration in studio art.

Apply Now

Step 2: Successfully complete our foundation courses.

You will need to complete our first-year foundation courses with a grade of C or higher.

Foundation courses are:

  • ADS 101 – Foundations: 2D Studio
  • ADS 102 – Foundations: 3D Studio
  • AFA 101 – Drawing Studio
  • AFA 202 – Drawing: Introduction to the Figure

After completing these courses, you may change to one of our BFA options.

Course Evaluations

Transfer students who have studio art or art history credits must undergo a separate evaluation of coursework to determine art program credit. In addition to submitting the School of Art application, you also need to submit a portfolio of artwork and course syllabi to determine course-to-course transfer equivalencies.

We recommend you:

  • Keep your course syllabi, project descriptions, and sketchbooks.
  • Preserve artwork or projects (actual work or digital images) from each course.
  • Bring all of your materials for any review process.
  • Follow through with any part of the process that was note completed in the first meeting.
  • Contact Heidi Jensen, the Interim Associate Director of the School of Art for more information.

Students interested in pursuing BFA areas of Animation or Visual Communications/Graphic Design must first be admitted as a BFA degree-seeking student.  

SECONDARY PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Students interested in pursuing BFA areas of Animation or Visual Communications/Graphic Design must also submit a portfolio that consists of artwork created in the School of Arts first year courses. Students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:

ANIMATION
  • ADS 101 2D Foundations
  • ADS 102 3D Foundations
  • ADS 103 4D Foundations
  • AFA 101 Drawing Studio
  • AFA 202 Figure Drawing
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS/GRAPHIC DESIGN
  • ADS 101 2D Foundations
  • ADS 102 3D Foundations
  • ADS 103 4D Foundations
  • AFA 101 Drawing Studio
  • ADS 200 Design: Computer for Visual Communication/Graphic Design
Portfolio reviews for 2020 are May 1, and July 19. Complete details are updated, posted, and made available annually in the School of Art advising area on the fourth floor of the Art and Journalism Building and at these links.

If you have received AP, IB or Transfer credit in any of the above courses, you may use that artwork in your portfolio.

Animation 
Visual Communications/Graphic Design 

Didn't Get Into a BFA Option?

Applicants not admitted to one of our BFA degrees may still enroll at Ball State, declare a BA degree with a concentration in studio art. With the successful completion of the first-year art foundation courses, may change their major to a BFA degree. Learn more.

Questions?

If you have questions about our admissions requirements or process, please call or email us.

Contact Us