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Application Requirements

Foundation Courses and Portfolio Review

Applicants to the Department of Art should observe the following procedure. Formal application should be made to the director of Admission, Office of Admission. Current degree candidates enrolled at the University who transfer into the Department of Art from another discipline must obtain a change of major form and submit this form with a current transcript to the chair of the Department of Art.

Unique to USMART is our open admission process. This is done in the recognition that many of our best students come to their University studies with very little prior art experience in their high schools or have come to study art late in their careers. We do not require an entry portfolio review, however, students enter as Art Candidates and only after they complete the Foundation program do they submit a portfolio. If accepted they matriculate to major status. The art foundation consists of Fundamental Design I & II, Fundamental Drawing I & II, Art History: Prehistoric to Medieval; and Art History: Renaissance to Present before matriculating as an art major in the Department of Art.

Portfolio Review 

Portfolios are not required for the art history concentration, and portfolios must be submitted during or no later than one semester beyond completion of the art foundation courses. If the student completed the art foundation at another institution, he or she must submit a portfolio at the next scheduled opportunity and no later than the second semester at USM.

The portfolio should consist of no more than 12 works within specific categories.

Each work submitted is to be labeled on the back with the students name and category. No slides, glass, three-dimensional work, or work larger than 3611 x 3611 (including matting) will be accepted. Presentation should be considered for the joint purpose of appearance and protection. The Department cannot accept responsibility for damage to or loss of the work. All three-dimensional work must be represented by a minimum of two photographs of each work, matted or in plastic sleeves.

The categories and numbers of work for each category are as follows:


• Two-dimensional works (3 pieces) should be taken from and/or exhibit skills in the visual design of the flat page;


• Three-dimensional works (2 pieces) should exhibit (in photographs) capabilities in the physical development and articulation of form and space;


• Drawing category (3 pieces) should contain works of any medium exhibiting skills and concepts of drawing;


• Self-portrait (I piece) should be executed from life and may be in any medium but should be a representational depiction rendered by hand;

Open submissions (3 pieces) may be work in any medium as long as it conforms to the overall guidelines of this review.

Portfolios that do not adhere to the established procedures will not be accepted for review.
Art candidates whose portfolios are not accepted are required to meet with their advisor and one additional full-time faculty member to review and discuss their plans for re-submission. Portfolios that are not accepted may be re-submitted two additional times. Failure at the conclusion of these three times will result in denial of acceptance as an Art Department degree candidate.

Students are required to submit a portfolio for acceptance to the Department prior to enrolling in any 200-level or above studio courses.

Portfolio deadlines and application forms may be obtained from the Department of Art. Portfolios are reviewed once each semester. Final notification of a decision will come from the Department of Art approximately two weeks after the portfolios have been evaluated.

Students already enrolled in the University who wish to change their major to art must follow the Departmental admission procedures concerning submission of portfolio, as described above.

Only students who have completed the art foundation and who have earned 60 credits or more may enroll for Independent Study courses. Grades of C- or better must be earned lo satisfy a major or minor requirement.