How to Apply to Art and Design at the University of Oklahoma: No Portfolio at Entry, a Start in the BA in Art, and Portfolio Review After the Core Courses for the Studio Art, Art Technology & Culture and Visual Communication BFAs, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Norman, undergraduate art and design are offered by the OU School of Visual Arts in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Founded in 1915, the school is based in the Fred Jones Jr. Art Center. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on OU’s website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Programs

• BA in Art: a liberal arts degree that places art and design within a broad program of general studies, with flexibility to tailor the course of study.
• Studio Art: for developing a focused studio practice in ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture or a combination. The degrees page heads it “Bachelors of Arts in Studio Arts” but the text and checksheet call it the “Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art”; the admission page lists Studio Art among the BFA programs that require a portfolio review to apply.
• BFA in Art, Technology & Culture: courses in animation, coding, film, photography, video and other new media.
• BFA in Visual Communication: a design degree covering visual language, form, syntax and typography, applied to information and systems design and to digital, time-based and interactive media.
• There are also a BA in Art History, minors in Art and Art History, and a Museum Studies undergraduate certificate. The program checksheets sit on a third-party catalog site and are not used here.

2. No portfolio at entry; BFAs come later

• OU admission first: the School of Visual Arts says admission depends on acceptance to OU by the Admissions Office.
• Start in the BA: once admitted to OU, all art majors enter the BA in Art or the BA in Art History. You can graduate with the BA in Art or apply later to a BFA; no further application is needed for Art History.
• BFA application after faculty portfolio review:
  • Studio Art: complete Core I–IV and 12 hours of lower-division ART courses; portfolio review by studio faculty.
  • Art, Technology & Culture: complete Core I and II, with Core III and IV completed or in progress; portfolio review by ATC faculty.
  • Visual Communication: complete Core I and II, with Core III and IV completed or in progress; interview and portfolio review by Visual Communication faculty.
• The number of works, format and review dates are not published; ask the school’s undergraduate coordinator (art@ou.edu).

3. Dates and materials (international students)

• Deadlines for international students outside the US (those already studying in the US follow US freshman or transfer dates):
  • Freshmen: fall, apply by 1 February and complete credentials by 15 April; spring, 1 November and 15 November; summer, 1 February and 15 March.
  • Transfers: fall, apply by 1 April and complete credentials by 31 May; spring, 1 September and 1 November; summer, 1 February and 1 March.
• Fee: a non-refundable USD 90 international application fee, required before review.
• Materials: official transcripts from all secondary schools (with certified English translations if not in English), national exam results and certificates where they exist, the passport name page, and optional recommendations.
• Grades: completion of secondary school that qualifies you for university entry at home, with marks equivalent to a B or 3.0 on the US unweighted 4.0 scale; you must be 17 before classes start.
• English: TOEFL iBT 79 (generally 20 in each section), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE 53, no more than two years old at the start of the term; completing high school in an OU-recognized native English-speaking country also works.
• Testing: ACT/SAT is not required of international applicants but can raise scholarship awards.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao and art exams: OU does not say how the Gaokao or China’s art entrance exams are used; this is not published. The general rule applies: complete high school that qualifies you for university in China, with grades equivalent to a B or 3.0. Ask International Admissions (intladmissions@ou.edu).
• English: students at Chinese high schools generally need TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE scores.
• No portfolio is needed at entry; for a BFA, take the Core courses and prepare for the portfolio review after enrolling.

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

• OU does not publish grade requirements for Canadian provinces; the general rule applies: a high school diploma that qualifies you for Canadian universities, with grades equivalent to a B or 3.0.
• Whether Canada is on OU’s list of native English-speaking countries, and whether BC graduates can skip English tests, should be checked on the list linked from the admissions page or with the admissions office.

6. Transfer students and changing major

• College requirement: transfer students and OU students changing to art need minimum OU and combined retention GPAs of 2.50 for the Weitzenhoffer College and the School of Visual Arts; they also start in the BA in Art or BA in Art History and can apply to a BFA later.
• Prior art courses: if you have college art coursework equivalent to the Core courses, contact the undergraduate coordinator.
• OU guaranteed admission: a GPA of 2.5 or higher with at least 24 non-remedial hours, or an associate degree from a recognized Oklahoma community college; some colleges require more. With fewer than 24 hours, you must also meet freshman admission requirements.
• Credit from abroad: only from institutions recognized by the national ministry of education; technical and vocational credit is not accepted. Submit syllabi or course descriptions; credit is evaluated after admission and recorded as S or U, not counted in the GPA.

7. Costs and scholarships

• Estimated 2026-2027 cost for international undergraduates: tuition USD 24,210, fees 10,125 (USD 9,971 in mandatory fees plus the USD 154 annual International Student Maintenance Fee), housing and food 16,381, books 800, medical insurance 2,795 and personal expenses 2,000, for a total of USD 56,311. The cost page does not mention art material fees.
• International freshman scholarships (fall 2027): apply by 15 December; awards are tiered by SAT/ACT, from USD 48,000 over four years (ACT 24–25 or SAT 1160–1220) to USD 70,000 (ACT 31 or SAT 1390+); applicants without scores are reviewed holistically. Only one award is given, and scores can be updated until 30 April.
• School of Visual Arts scholarships: the admission page links to scholarships, but specific awards, amounts and international eligibility are not published; ask the school.
• International students must show funding for one year of study and living costs to receive an I-20.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 15 December for international freshman scholarships; for fall, apply by 1 February and complete credentials by 15 April
• Grades equivalent to 3.0 or higher; TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 100
• For a BFA, complete the Core courses after enrolling, then prepare for the portfolio review (plus an interview for Visual Communication)

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

• Apply under the general international requirements; confirm Canadian grade expectations and English exemptions with admissions

Transfer students:

• OU and combined retention GPAs of 2.50 or higher; bring syllabi; fall deadline 1 April; have prior Core-equivalent courses reviewed by the undergraduate coordinator

Sources: University of Oklahoma, School of Visual Arts; School of Visual Arts degrees; School of Visual Arts admission and BFA application; International undergraduate admission; Freshman application; Transfer admission requirements; Cost; Scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 rates). Check OU for the latest details.