How to Apply to Art and Design at Texas State University: BFAs in Studio Art, Photography, Communication Design and Art Education plus BA Art, with Communication Design Entry by Foundation Portfolio Review after Admission, Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Texas State University (TXST) is in San Marcos, between Austin and San Antonio. Its art and design degrees are taught by the School of Art and Design in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. This guide sets out degrees, entry to the major and requirements for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including British Columbia and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and programs

• BA: Art and Art History.
• BFA: Art Education, Communication Design, Photography and Studio Art. There are also minors in Art and Art History.
• Credits: each BFA needs at least 120 hours, including 42 of general education. Studio Art and Communication Design require at least two years in residence at Texas State; Photography requires three.
• First year: Studio Art students complete ART 1301, ART 1303, ARTS 1301, ARTS 1302 and two beginning studios (2D, 3D or 4D) in the freshman year; Photography students complete ART 1301, 1303, ARTS 1303, 1304, 3361, 3364 and two art history courses.
• Laptop: Communication Design, Photography, Studio Art and Art Education majors must bring their own laptop; the catalog strongly recommends a 16" MacBook Pro with an M-series processor and a 1–4TB drive.
• Graduation: Studio Art and Photography include Portfolio, Practice and Exhibition (ARTS 4200), a thesis and the Senior Art Exhibition (ARTS 4000); Communication Design includes Senior Portfolio Presentation (ARTC 4315).

2. Portfolio and entry to the major

• At application: the admissions pages and catalog read for this guide do not ask first-year applicants for a portfolio.
• Communication Design:
  • applicants are admitted as Pre-Communication Design;
  • entry requires C or better in ARTC 1301 and ARTC 1302, a 2.25 overall GPA and passing the ARTC 2000 Admission Portfolio Review;
  • the portfolio uses work only from ARTC 1301 and 1302, reviewed by faculty with a rubric; 68% or above passes;
  • students who do not pass get one more attempt; pre-majors cannot take 2000–4000 level Communication Design courses until admitted;
  • to graduate in four years, meet all admission requirements no later than the first semester of sophomore year.
• Two names for one course: the catalog course list calls ARTC 2000 “Admission Portfolio Review”, while the program notes on the same page call it “Senior Show and Review”. The course list and the major’s admission requirements are the basis here; check with an advisor.
• Studio Art and Photography: the catalog pages for these BFAs list no separate admission requirement or portfolio review.
• Art Education: the additional requirements page lists a 2.75 overall GPA, C or better in major and certification courses, and acceptance through the Office of Educator Preparation.
• No interview is mentioned.

3. Applying as an international first-year student

• Applications (from another guide on this site): TXST Application, Common App or ApplyTexas; $90 fee, non-refundable and not waived for international students.
• Deadlines: the priority dates page currently lists fall 2026 (international freshman priority 1 December 2025, deadline 1 June 2026) and spring 2027 (international freshman deadline 1 October 2026). Fall 2027 dates are not yet published.
• Documents: semester transcripts and graduation or leaving exam results, with certified translations if not in English; Texas State evaluates foreign records itself, without WES or similar services.
• English: TOEFL iBT 78 (19 per section, 18 writing; 4 overall and per section on the 6-point scale), IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band), Duolingo 105, PTE 52 and other options; one is enough.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials (from another guide on this site): three years of senior secondary transcripts (plus the last year of junior secondary if not yet graduated) and the graduation certificate once awarded; a B average and a converted GPA of at least 2.74 over the last three years is typically admissible but not guaranteed. Conversion: 90–100 A, 80–89 B, 70–79 C.
• Gaokao and art exams: not mentioned on the credentials page; whether they are used is not published. Ask Admissions.
• English: China is not on the exempt list, so an English score is required.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• English: students in English-speaking provinces such as BC are exempt; Quebec is not.
• Credentials: grade 10–12 transcripts (plus grade 9 if not yet graduated); a B average and a converted GPA of at least 2.74 (not guaranteed).
• BC conversion: the Canada page treats 86–100 as A, 73–85 as B and 60–72 as C.

6. Transfer students

• University level (from another guide on this site): with 14 or fewer transferable hours, a 2.0 GPA plus freshman criteria; 15–29 hours, 2.5; 30 or more, 2.25. The spring 2027 international transfer deadline is 15 October 2026; fall 2027 is not yet published (fall 2026 was 15 June).
• Communication Design: transfers who meet the academic requirements may submit a portfolio for admission and placement; depending on the review they may be exempt from ARTC 2000 and placed in the appropriate level. Otherwise they register for ARTC 2000 in the earliest semester they are eligible.
• Credit: Texas transfers can use the Transfer Equivalency System and Transfer Planning Guides; credit from institutions abroad is evaluated by Admissions.

7. Costs and scholarships (US$)

• 2026-2027 international estimate (from another guide on this site; 12 hours, fall and spring): non-resident tuition and fees 19,700, nine months of living costs 20,900, total 40,600. Art materials and the required laptop are extra; the catalog gives no amounts.
• Assured scholarships: based on SAT/ACT and class standing (or the IB Diploma or AP Capstone Diploma); the page says eligible international students are also guaranteed them, with an SAT or ACT required; $4,000 to $12,000 a year.
• Merit scholarships: students without SAT/ACT in the top 35% or with an IB Diploma receive an academic review; amounts vary, and international students are reviewed too.
• Good Neighbor Scholarship: for students from Western Hemisphere countries (excluding Cuba and the U.S.), covering the difference between resident and non-resident tuition; apply by 1 March. Ask the scholarship office whether Canadian students qualify.
• The pages read do not list School of Art and Design scholarships.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Watch the priority dates page for fall 2027; prepare the $90 fee and an English score (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 78)
• No portfolio at application; for Communication Design, take ARTC 1301 and 1302 first and keep that work
• Bring your own laptop

Students at Canadian high schools:

• No English score outside Quebec; BC marks convert at 86+ for A and 73–85 for B, with a B average expected
• Otherwise as above

Transfer students:

• Meet the 2.0 / 2.5 / 2.25 GPA threshold for your hours
• For Communication Design, consider submitting a portfolio for direct placement

Sources: Texas State University, School of Art and Design undergraduate programs; BFA Communication Design; 2026-2027 Catalog: School of Art and Design; Catalog: BFA Communication Design; Catalog: BFA Studio Art; Catalog: BFA Photography; Additional program requirements; Priority dates; International admission requirements; Credentials: China; Credentials: Canada; 2026-2027 estimated cost for F-1 students; Freshman scholarships. Information is for 2027 entry (costs are 2026-2027 estimates). Check Texas State’s website for the latest.