How to apply for art at the University of Pittsburgh: the 52-credit Studio Arts B.A. in the Dietrich School, with no portfolio required to declare the major or take courses, for students from China, Canada and transfer students

At the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), art is taught by the Department of Studio Arts in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, which offers a Studio Arts B.A. and a studio arts minor. This guide uses the department, Dietrich School and tuition websites, 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.

Note: Pitt’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid sites (admissions.pitt.edu, oafa.pitt.edu) block automated access and the university catalog returned a verification page, so this guide does not use them. Check deadlines, English requirements, international documents and the use of the Gaokao or Canadian curricula on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website.

1. Degree and courses

• Degree: the department’s academics page lists the Studio Arts major (B.A.) and minor. The pages we read do not mention a BFA or design majors; ask the department if you need one. The School of Computing and Information separately offers a digital narrative and interactive design major (school website).
• Credits: the major is 52 credits, 46 in studio arts and 6 in art history. The department says the Dietrich School’s program requirements sheet is the authoritative version.
• Five foundation courses: SA 0110 Visual Thinking, SA 0120 Painting Studio 1, SA 0130 Drawing Studio 1, SA 0140 Sculpture Studio 1 and SA 0180 Photo Studio 1. All level-one courses are open to non-majors.
• Required upper-level courses: Painting 2, Drawing 2, Sculpture 2, Print Studio: Intaglio, Digital Studio: Imaging, Preparation and Practice in Visual Arts (writing intensive), Senior Seminar and Senior Exhibition (1 credit).
• Upper-level electives: three courses (9 credits) such as painting, drawing or sculpture projects, installation, screenprint, Digital Studio: Video, perspective drawing and figure painting. Directed study, internships and teaching assistantships need permission and 30 studio arts credits; internships or assistantships count for up to 3 credits.
• Art history: HAA 0010 Introduction to World Art plus either Introduction to Modern Art or Introduction to Contemporary Art.
• Other rules: at least a 2.00 GPA in the major; no major course on an S/NC basis and credit by exam is generally not available; the department recommends no more than two studio courses a term. A 3.50 major GPA and 3.25 overall GPA earn departmental honors. Seniors exhibit in the Annual Student Exhibition at the University Art Gallery.

2. Is a portfolio required?

• The department states that no portfolio submission or review is required to declare the Studio Arts major or minor, or to enroll in department courses.
• The Dietrich School major page says the declaration form for the Spring 2027 term is due by 5:00 p.m. on January 15; the procedure and forms are on the school’s website.
• Whether admission to Pitt itself considers artwork is not stated on the pages we read; ask the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

3. Deadlines and application materials

• Deadlines, application platform, fee, essays, recommendations and testing policy are on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website, which this guide could not read (not checked); see the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Whether Gaokao, art exam or school exam results are considered is not stated on the pages we read; ask the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• English score requirements, transcript evaluation and financial documents are on its international pages; not checked here.

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

• Grade requirements for BC or other Canadian curricula, and whether Canadian students can skip English tests, are not stated on the pages we read; ask the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• Tuition is charged at the out-of-state rate (see below).

6. Transfer students

• Declaring Studio Arts as a transfer student also needs no portfolio (the department states no review is required to declare the major).
• How outside credits count toward studio courses, transfer deadlines and grade requirements are not stated on the pages we read; ask the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and the department advisor.

7. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition (2026–2027, Pittsburgh campus): Dietrich School out-of-state full-time, two terms, USD 43,328 (USD 21,664 per term; USD 1,805 per credit part-time); Pennsylvania residents USD 21,594.
• International Services Fee: full-time international undergraduates at the Pittsburgh campus pay USD 500 per term in fall and spring.
• The tuition site says student accounts include tuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing, meal plans, some course materials and certain program fees; the amount of studio course fees was not on the pages we read.
• Scholarships: whether first-year or international students can receive university scholarships is on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website, which we could not read; check there.

Checklist

Students in China:

• Check deadlines, English requirements and the use of the Gaokao on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website
• No portfolio is required for Studio Arts; take the five foundation courses, then declare through the Dietrich School

Students in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• Ask Admissions about BC grade requirements and whether English scores are needed

Transfer students:

• Ask the Studio Arts advisor how your art courses transfer; keep a 2.00 GPA in the major

Sources: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Studio Arts major requirements; Studio Arts academics; Dietrich School Studio Arts B.A. page; 2026–2027 Pittsburgh campus tuition; School of Computing and Information; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, international. Tuition is for 2026–2027; check deadlines, English requirements and international documents with Pitt’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.