PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS / GUIDELINES:

Enrollment requires a portfolio review for all students seeking admission to the art program. This includes B.A., B.F.A., B.S.E., M.Ed., and Post-Baccalaureate Certification students.

New undergraduate students freshman, transfers, graduate, and post-graduates who apply for admission to the art program will be reviewed by the undergraduate/graduate Office of Admission for general acceptance. If accepted, they will be admitted as Art/Undeclared pending a portfolio review. An admission letter will include an insert describing the portfolio requirement and procedures.

The art faculty will review all submitted portfolios and forward their recommendations to the Office of Admissions. The Office of Admissions will send notification to those students who have been accepted by the major.  The art department welcomes scheduled MU open house participants to bring artwork along for an informal review.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW DATES:
There will be four portfolio submission deadlines. To be considered, the portfolio must be delivered on or before the established deadlines. Candidates seeking early spring admission must submit materials before October 1. Candidates seeking spring admission must submit materials before November 1. Candidates seeking early fall admission must submit materials before January 1.  Candidates seeking fall admission must submit materials before March 1.  

PORTFOLIO REVIEW PROCESS:
A well thought-out portfolio gives you an opportunity to demonstrate breadth of artistic strengths and depth of artistic abilities. You may include artwork completed during summer courses, Saturday art classes, classroom projects, and work without supervision.

All potential art majors are required to take a core program of studio courses to be completed during the freshman (foundation) year. These courses include
Design I , Design II , Drawing I , and Drawing II. Click on course name for link or refer to catalog for expanded course description.

Portfolio materials will be submitted directly to the art department. Portfolios must be submitted as 35mm slides, CD's, or mounted photographs. The portfolio must include at least 10 and no more than 15 pieces of art. A description of each piece must include title, medium, date, and dimension of each work, in that order. There will be no in-person reviews. You must include an SASE for the return of materials.

THE COMMITTEE WILL BASE ITS JUDGEMENT ON THESE CRITIERIA: DRAWING, VISUAL ORGANIZATION AND CREATIVE ORIGINAL THINKING. YOUR PORTFOLIO MUST INCLUDE 3-5 DRAWINGS (TWO FROM DIRECT OBSERVATION). YOUR SELECTION OF OTHER SUGGESTED MEDIA MAY INCLUDE:

CERAMICS
Ceramic images may include sculptural, functional pieces, hand-built, wheel thrown, tiles, and/or mosaics. The images should show evidence of the ability to conceptualize and respond to the physical characteristics of form, space, structure, volume, and texture in clay.

DESIGN
The candidate is encouraged to select artwork that best demonstrates their understanding of the elements of design and principles of organization in two- and/or three-dimensional formats. Attention to the organization and presentation of composition should be evident in all media throughout your application.

DIGITAL MEDIA/NEW MEDIA
Digital Media/New Media may include web graphics, digital photography, video, and animation AND must be MAC formatted or MAC compatible.

DRAWINGS
The drawings may be taken from a still life, life figure model, self-portrait, and/or landscape. DO NOT include drawings done from photographs, copies of commercial art, another artist’s work, or from memory. Your ability to draw should be evident throughout your portfolio.

METALS
Metalwork examples can be sculptural, functional, or wearable designs. Works selected should exemplify technical proficiency, original ideas, and strong design.

MIXED MEDIA
Mixed media examples may include combinations of acrylic, paper collage, watercolor, recycled materials, stencils, stamping, imprinting, encaustic, fabric, digital art, and digital photography. An emphasis on narrative and composition should be considered when presenting mixed media images.

PAINTING / WORKS IN COLOR
Painting images should show evidence of the ability to mix color, apply paint, understand how to depict form with color, and control value in a composition. The paintings may be done in any medium including oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, pastel, collage, or mixed media.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Black and white or color photography maybe submitted. Select images based on the importance of composition, development of an individual point of view, and technical aptitude.

PRINTMAKING
Printmaking images may include examples of woodcut, etching, engraving, linoleum cut, lithography, letterpress, silk-screening, or a combination of any of the aforementioned media. Emphasis should be on print quality and composition.

SCULPTURE
Sculpture images should show evidence of the ability to conceptualize and respond to the physical characteristics of form, space, structure, volume, and texture in three dimensions. You may include slides of carved, cast modeled, joined, or assembled sculpture in any media. You are limited to two slides per piece.