How to Apply to Art and Design at The University of Alabama: Studio Art BA/BFA and Graphic Design BFA With No Portfolio at Application and a Departmental Review After Entry, and Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), undergraduate art and design is in the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Arts and Sciences. It offers three studio degrees: the Studio Art BA, the Studio Art BFA and the Graphic Design BFA, plus an Art History BA. Here is what you need to know, based on UA’s official websites, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and curriculum

• Studio Art BA: after foundation courses, students focus on one of seven media areas: ceramics, digital media (graphic design/digital arts/animation), drawing, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. The 2026-2027 catalog lists 12 foundation credits (ART 110 Drawing I, ART 130 2D Design, ART 131 3D Design, ART 210 Drawing II), 18 credits of studio electives (12 at the 300–499 level), 9 credits of art history and 3 credits of BA Studio Capstone (ART 496) in the last two semesters, 42 credits in all. A minor is required; the degree needs at least 120 credits and a 2.0 major GPA.
• Studio Art BFA: the professional degree, with a primary and a secondary concentration. Primary concentrations are ceramics, digital media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture; Intermedia is available only as a secondary concentration. The department page lists 81 departmental credits: 12 foundation credits, 3 credits of introduction in each of four studio areas, 15 credits in the primary and 12 in the secondary concentration, 12 credits of studio or art history electives, 18 credits of art history, and 3 credits of Studio Capstone (ART 498) two semesters before graduating; the 2026-2027 catalog lists 78 major credits, so the two figures differ, and the catalog in force when you register applies. No minor is required; a 2.0 major GPA and at least 120 credits are needed. Each concentration has a four-year plan.
• Graphic Design BFA: after the portfolio review in the fall of the second year, students move through five semesters of required courses as a cohort, in a fixed order: Typography and Digital Layout & Production (spring only), Publication Design (fall only), Brand and Identity Systems (spring), Graphic Design Portfolio (fall) and Senior Thesis (spring). Internships can earn credit, with at least 135 hours a semester for 3 credits. There is no laptop requirement, but the department recommends a MacBook Pro that runs Adobe CC, and many students buy one by their sophomore year.
• First year: the first-year plans for the Studio Art BA and Graphic Design both include ART 110, 130, 131 and 210, along with art history surveys and general education. Incoming freshmen are advised through Bama Bound, then by the College of Arts and Sciences for spring classes.

2. Choose the major when you apply; reviews come later

• No portfolio at application: the catalog says students may choose the Studio Art BFA or Graphic Design BFA during regular UA admission, and the Studio Art BA has no admission process beyond general UA admission. None of the department or admissions pages we read asks freshmen for a portfolio when applying.
• Studio Art BFA review: apply after completing 18 hours of studio courses, preferably in the second term of the sophomore year. Email the BFA application form (with a one-paragraph statement written with a studio faculty member) and ask a faculty member to send a reference form. If you are not admitted, you can apply once more before completing 30 studio hours; after two unsuccessful reviews you cannot pursue the BFA, and the department recommends the Studio Art BA. To finish in four years, start program coursework as a first-semester freshman.
• Graphic Design BFA portfolio review: held once each fall. The 2026 round closes on 5 October, with results by 9 October. Submit an application form (including a statement of intent of at least 250 words) and a PDF portfolio of 6 works from Drawing I or II, 2D Design and Introduction to Graphic Design, with images at 72 dpi, RGB, and no larger than 1280 pixels on the long side. Faculty assess observational drawing, creativity, design sense and attention to detail, and admit from a ranked list. Students not admitted may stay in the department and reapply the next fall; after two unsuccessful reviews they cannot pursue the Graphic Design BFA, and the department recommends the Studio Art BFA or BA.
• Graphic Design eligibility (UA’s pages differ): the department page says students who have completed ART 130 and ART 210 and have taken or are taking GDS 214 may apply, and required courses need C- or higher; the 2026 review guidelines PDF says ART 110 and ART 130 must be completed, ART 210 and the introductory course taken or in progress with C or higher, and required courses need C or higher; the catalog says C-. Both versions are given here; confirm with the department.
• Graphic Design semesters (UA’s pages differ): the application page and review guidelines describe a five-semester required sequence after admission; the four-year plan page describes a six-semester sequence starting in the fall of the second year.
• Declaring the major: declare formally no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 hours for transfer students).

3. International freshman applications

• Application: apply through the UA Undergraduate App.
• Priority deadlines: 4 December for fall, 2 November for spring and 4 December for summer.
• Grades: applicants from schools outside the US are considered with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, calculated on all coursework. Transcripts need a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from a NACES member; preferred agencies include ECE, IEE, The Evaluation Company and WES. UA recommends 4 units of language, 3 of mathematics, 3 of natural science (two with labs) and 10 other academic units.
• Testing: admissions says that for 2027 entry, SAT or ACT is required only if your cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0, and scores are required for automatic scholarships. The department’s undergraduate programs overview says freshmen must submit ACT or SAT scores and pay a USD 40 fee, which differs from admissions; follow the international freshman page and check with admissions if unsure.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao and art exams: UA does not say how Gaokao, provincial art exam or school art exam results are used. Check with international admissions.
• English: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (from that date), IELTS 6.0, PTE 54, Duolingo 110, IB Literature or Language & Literature 4 or above, A or AS Level English Language at A–E, SAT EBRW 550 or ACT English 22. Students with lower writing or speaking subscores must add academic writing or speaking courses. Students who meet academic and financial requirements but not English can apply for conditional admission through the English Language Institute.
• A-level, IB and AP credit: this guide has not checked which art or art history courses they earn credit for. See the registrar’s transfer credit page.

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

• English: citizens or residents of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt.
• Grade requirements: UA does not publish requirements for BC or other provinces beyond the 3.0 GPA and credential evaluation for schools outside the US. Check with international admissions.

6. Transfer students

• International transfer: priority deadlines are 1 March for fall and 1 October for spring. With 24 or more credit hours you apply as a transfer; with fewer you must also meet freshman requirements. You need a 2.00 GPA on all university work, and coursework outside the US needs a NACES course-by-course evaluation.
• Entering a BFA: transfer students go through the same reviews. The Graphic Design guidelines say fall transfers follow the normal schedule, while spring transfers may submit an application and portfolio in the first week of January, with admission also depending on space in the spring required courses. The department says transfer students and students who change majors may add a year to their graduation date.
• Transfer credit: UA does not say how outside studio courses are credited or how many count. Check with the department.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 international estimate (for the I-20): tuition USD 35,924, international fee 200, course/college fees 800, books 700, housing 12,000, meals 5,850, health insurance 2,428 and personal expenses 1,200, a total of USD 59,102. Art supplies are not listed separately. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published.
• UA automatic scholarships (2027 out-of-state and international freshmen): the same amounts for out-of-state and international students. With a 3.50+ GPA, tiered by ACT or SAT from USD 6,000 to 28,000 a year, for example USD 6,000 for SAT 1200–1250 and USD 28,000 for SAT 1420–1600; no separate application, but test scores are required.
• Department scholarships for incoming students: the prospective students page says the department awards scholarships to incoming freshmen and transfer students planning to major in studio art or art history, based on the quality of their work and contingent on admission for fall and declaring the major. The 2026-27 round has closed; the incoming instructions posted are the 2024-25 version, and the 2027 deadline is listed as TBD. Whether international students can apply, and the amounts, are not published.
• Current student scholarships: declared majors with at least 3 ART credits at UA, a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in ART/ARH courses can apply each year, with a portfolio review; in 2025, 50 students received more than USD 120,000.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the UA Undergraduate App by 4 December for fall; you can choose the Studio Art BA, Studio Art BFA or Graphic Design BFA directly
• Have transcripts evaluated course by course by a NACES member; GPA 3.0 or higher
• IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 79 (4.5 on the new scale) or Duolingo 110
• Submit SAT or ACT for automatic scholarships; watch the department site for the incoming scholarship deadline
• Start foundation courses in your first semester and apply to the BFA review on time in your second year

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

• No English test outside Quebec; confirm grade requirements with admissions

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 1 March; 2.0 GPA; contact the department early if you want Graphic Design, as spring entry depends on space

Sources: The University of Alabama, Department of Art and Art History undergraduate programs; Studio Art degrees and BFA review; BFA in Graphic Design; Graphic Design program application; 2026 Graphic Design entry portfolio review guidelines; Department scholarships; Prospective students; Undergraduate programs overview; 2026-2027 Catalog: Studio Art, BFA; 2026-2027 Catalog: Studio Art, BA; 2026-2027 Catalog: Graphic Design, BFA; International freshman admissions; English proficiency policy; International transfer admissions; 2026-27 international student expenses; Out-of-state and international freshman scholarships. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published; those quoted are 2026-27 estimates. Check The University of Alabama’s website for the latest.