How to apply to art at Washington State University: the Department of Art’s BFA and BA in Art (Studio or Graphic Art and Integrated Design), with entry to the major through an academic advisor and no entry portfolio, and portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Undergraduate art at Washington State University (WSU) is taught by the Department of Art in the College of Arts and Sciences on the Pullman campus in Washington state. This guide summarises WSU’s published requirements for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Two degrees

• Bachelor of Fine Arts: for students aiming at a professional career in the arts or graduate study. It requires 70 credits of ART courses plus WSU’s UCORE requirements:
  • ART 102 2D Art & Design, ART 103 3D Art & Design and ART 110 Drawing;
  • one course each from the 2D area (ART 111, 312, 320 or 370), the 3D area (ART 340 or 350) and media arts (ART 332, 333 or 381);
  • 6 more credits in your area of emphasis and 46 credits of upper-division (300 or 400 level) ART electives;
  • a solo thesis exhibition in the final semester, developed with two faculty advisors. The department says BFA students study one of eight specialty areas in depth and meet faculty each semester to discuss their work.
• Bachelor of Arts in Art: a liberal arts degree that works well as a double major or with a minor, with two options:
  • Studio: 39 ART credits, including 9 credits of 200–300-level art history and 18 upper-division ART elective credits. The required courses are listed two ways: the BA page says ART 102 or ART 103, while the curriculum page lists ART 102, ART 103 and ART 110.
  • Graphic Art and Integrated Design (GAID): 45 ART credits, with ART 102, 103, 110, 332 Intro to Digital Art and Design, 336 Intro to Typography, 369 Illustration, 381 Photography and 433 Design for Print required, 6 credits from figure drawing, animation, printmaking, screenprinting and interactive media courses, and 9 credits of art history. The same page also lists “46 elective credit hours of upper division ART courses”, which does not match the 45-credit total; check the catalog.
  • Both options include a capstone thesis paper.
• Areas of focus listed by the department include Art History, Ceramics, Digital Media (2D/3D animation, interactive media, VR/AR, digital fabrication), Graphic Arts and Integrated Design, Drawing, Sculpture, Painting and Photography. Ceramics, Drawing, Sculpture, Painting and Photography are stated to be open to both BA and BFA students.

2. Entering the major and portfolios

• Entry: both degree pages say “You can apply for admission to either degree through your academic advisor”; when and on what criteria students enter the major is not published.
• Portfolio: the degree and curriculum pages list no portfolio or interview for admission, so WSU applications are reviewed on university standards. Whether a portfolio or a minimum grade is needed to enter the major is not published; ask the department (Alma Rocha, alma_rocha@wsu.edu).
• Scholarship portfolios: Department of Art scholarships ask for a PDF of 10 portfolio images and a statement of creative goals of up to 250 words (see section 7).

3. Dates and materials (international first years)

• Rolling admission; deadlines listed by International Programs (no year given):
  • Fall: apply by 15 June, all documents by 1 July;
  • Spring: apply by 15 November, documents by 1 December;
  • Summer: apply by 15 March, documents by 1 April.
  Lower on the same page, the timeline says “July: Spring Semester Application Submission Deadline”, which does not match 15 November; both are shown, so confirm with international admissions. For fall, WSU recommends paying the $500 Enrollment and Orientation Fee by 1 May.
• Application: the WSU application or the Common App, $70 fee.

4. Admission and English

• GPA: at least 2.70 for international first years, calculated by WSU; SAT/ACT not required.
• English (direct admission): IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 4 (as written on the International Programs page), Duolingo 105, PTE 58; SAT reading and writing 500 or ACT English 17 plus reading 19 also count. Slightly lower scores can lead to the Undergraduate Foundation program.
• Exemption: three years at a US high school or a US regionally accredited international high school; study at an English-medium school confirmed by the school; or citizenship of a listed country such as Canada, the UK or Singapore.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials: secondary school certificate and grades, with a minimum GPA of 2.70 as calculated by WSU. How Gaokao totals or art exams are used is not published.
• English: International Programs lists the Gaokao English score; 125 meets the direct-admission requirement and 105 corresponds to the Foundation program.
• Documents: transcripts should be in English if possible, otherwise with translations and originals; unofficial transcripts are reviewed first.

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

• English: Canadian citizens are on the exemption list.
• Admission: reviewed as international first years with a minimum 2.70 GPA. Grade requirements for BC or other provinces are not published; ask international@wsu.edu.

7. Costs and scholarships

• Costs: International Programs’ undergraduate estimate (fall and spring, no year given): tuition and fees $33,087, books $900, health insurance $4,290, living costs $17,246, other $3,684, total $59,207.
• International Academic Award: considered automatically at admission and renewable for three more years: a cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher earns $4,000 a year off tuition, 3.0 to 3.59 earns $2,000; renewal needs a 3.0 GPA and 12 credits a semester. The department page says to apply for admission and scholarships on the International Programs website by 31 January.
• WSU General Scholarship Application: due 31 January each year; it covers more than 700 college and university scholarships, with decisions around mid-March.
• Department of Art scholarships: a separate department application with a PDF of 10 portfolio images and a creative-goals statement of up to 250 words, due mid-April and decided in mid-to-late April. Applicants need a 3.0 cumulative GPA, must be incoming or continuing students at the Pullman, Vancouver or Tri-Cities campus in or intending to join a Department of Art degree, and need-based awards also need the FAFSA or WASFA. Incoming students can apply while waiting for an admission decision. The department does not say separately whether international students are eligible.

8. Transfer students

• International transfers: at least 27 semester credits or a full year of college courses with a GPA of 2.50. Students from universities outside the US are strongly encouraged to submit a course equivalency request and English syllabi.
• Entering the art major: both degree pages say to apply through an academic advisor. Portfolio requirements for transfers and how many art credits transfer are not published; ask the department.
• English: English 101 and 102 equivalents at a US institution (3.0 or higher each) plus 27 semester credits, or 53 semester credits, or an associate degree with a 2.5 GPA or higher, can exempt you from English tests.

Checklists

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply with the WSU application or the Common App ($70) by 15 June for fall
• A GPA of 2.70 or higher; IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105 or a Gaokao English score of 125
• No portfolio for admission; for department scholarships, prepare 10 images and a 250-word statement by mid-April

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Canadian citizens are exempt from English tests; a 2.70 GPA; SAT/ACT not required

Transfer students:

• 27 or more semester credits and a 2.50 GPA; apply to the art major through an academic advisor

Sources: Washington State University, Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Arts; Two degree options; Curriculum requirements; Areas of focus; Department of Art scholarships; International admission requirements; International deadlines and dates; International tuition and fees; International scholarships; Transfer students. The International Programs pages do not state an academic year for deadlines and costs; check WSU’s website for the latest.