Welcome to the Art Department! Regardless of where your studies began, we are glad you found your way here.
Because of the sequencing and intensity of our degree programs’ coursework, we recommend that you disperse your general education requirements throughout your studies. For most students, it makes sense to transfer to App after no more than a year at another institution, rather than completing all general education requirements first.
After you have been accepted to Appalachian State University, you may enroll in Art Department courses at the 1000- and 2000-level, provided you have met the prerequisites for those courses.
There is no portfolio requirement prior to enrolling in courses in the Art Department. If you are pursuing one of our BFA programs (Art Education, Graphic Design, or Studio Art), though, you will be required to pass the candidacy review prior to advancing into 3000-level courses. We recommend that you apply to candidacy as soon as you have completed the prerequisite coursework, which is generally fall semester of the sophomore year for most students, and may be as early as the first semester in the department for transfer students.
Although we recognize the value of prior studies in preparing you for your time at Appalachian, not every transfer course will automatically “count” in your degree program. In accordance with the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement and established Departmental policies, the following courses from any community college in North Carolina will transfer into the Art Department as the following specific courses:
| North Carolina Community College Course |
Appalachian State University Course |
| ART 111 Art Appreciation |
ART 2011* Introduction to Visual Arts |
| ART 121 Two-Dimensional Design or GRD 141 Graphic Design I |
ART 1001 (Foundations I) |
| ART 122 Three-Dimensional Design |
ART 1002** (Foundations II) |
| ART 130 Basic Drawing or ART 131 Drawing I |
ART 1003 (Foundations Drawing) |
| ART 114 Art History Survey I |
ARH 2030 Art from Prehistory to 1400 |
| ART 115 Art History Survey II |
ARH 2130 Art from 1400 to the Present |
| GRA 121 Graphic Arts I |
GCM 1012 & 1 hour GCM ELEC |
| GRA 221 |
GCM 2012 & 1 hour GCM ELEC |
| PRN 131 |
GCM 2222 & 1 hour GCM ELEC |
| GRA 151 Computer Graphics I & GRA 152 Computer Graphics II |
GCM 1022 & 1 hour GCM ELEC |
| GRA 153 & GRA 256 |
GCM 2522 & 1 hour GCM ELEC |
| GRA 154, GRA 250 & GRD 271 |
GCM 3102 & 3 hours GCM ELEC |
ART 261 Photography I or
ART 262 Photography II or
PHO 110 Fund of Photography or
PHO 130 Adv Black & White Photo or
PHO 132 Small Format Photography |
PHO 1022*** |
| ART 260 Photography Appreciation or PHO 113 History of Photography |
PHO 2032 (History of Photography) |
- *ART 2011 earns credits in General Education, but does not count toward the major in any Art Department degree program except BS-Commercial Photography (Electives Courses in the major).
- **Students who earn ART 1002 credit through another institution will be required to pass a woodshop safety training module before enrolling in any Art Department course that requires use of the woodshop. This training does not earn course credit. It includes online training videos, hands-on learning, and safety quizzes. The training is coordinated with the Lab Operations Manager and generally takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete.
- ***PHO 1022 may be substituted for ART 2026 in the BFA Studio Art, BFA Graphic Design, and BFA Art Education degree programs.
Art Department Transfer Credit Policies
Tips for Transfer Students
The BA with a concentration in Art History is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory studio art and art history courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ARH 4030 (Seminar in Criticism and Theory) should be taken during the final year. Refer to the transfer guide and four-year guide for more information.
The BA with a concentration in Art Management is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor in nonprofit management as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory studio art and art history courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ART 4900 is often completed in the summer following the last semester of coursework. Refer to the transfer guide and four-year guide for more information.
The BA with a concentration in Studio Art is a liberal arts degree that requires both a minor as well as a foreign language in addition to the major coursework. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory art courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to evenly distribute foreign language, minor, and major requirements throughout the remaining semesters. In order to complete the BA in two years after earning an associate’s degree, you must enroll in at least 15 hours per semester. You should enroll in ART 2035 (Seminar in Visual Culture) in your first or second semester in the department. The capstone course, ART 4310 (Advanced Studio Art) should be taken during the final semester and requires 6 semester hours (typically two courses) of studio classes at the 3000-level or higher as prerequisites.
The BFA in Art Education is a professional degree that requires intensive studio art coursework, a professional core in the College of Education, and four classes in the Art Education area, along with one semester of student teaching, to be completed in the final semester. For most transfer students arriving with General Education and introductory art courses complete, the best strategy for navigating through the program is to prioritize courses towards admission to teacher education and BFA in Art Ed candidacy review. For students entering with all general education and introductory art courses (ART 1001, 1002, 1003; ARH 2030, 2130, ART 2022) complete, the following sequencing of Art Ed and Professional Core courses is recommended:
Complete all requirements for admittance to the Reich College of Education in your first semester. Check SAT and ACT scores to determine exemption from Praxis Core (required for admittance and candidacy). Successfully complete (C or better) RC 1000, FDN 2400, & CI 2300. Apply to Teacher Education.
Successfully complete ART 2222 (Introduction to Art Education) and a 2000-level studio course in order to apply for BFA Candidacy Review in Art Education. Successfully complete PSY 3010.
Art Education majors must be accepted to the Reich College of Education (RCOE) by junior year. Apply for student teaching one year in advance of student teaching.
Successfully complete Art Ed methods courses ART 3333, Constructions of Childhood (offered fall only), and ART 3969, Differentiation and Inclusion in Art Education (offered spring only). Successfully complete RCOE courses SPE 3300 and CI 3400.
In your senior year, successfully complete all remaining courses, including ART 4444 Art Education Seminar, our edTPA preparation course. Note: the ART 4444 course is required the semester prior to CI 4900 Student Teaching.
You must maintain a 2.70 GPA to graduate and receive a teaching license. Read more about our advising guideposts here.
Refer to the transfer guide and four year guide for more information.
The BFA in Studio Art is a professional degree program that requires intensive studio coursework, but does not require a minor or foreign language. Because enrolling in more than three studio courses in a single semester is challenging (and enrolling in more than four studio courses in a single semester is virtually impossible), it is recommended that transfer students plan on enrolling in summer studio courses in order to complete the BFA degree two years after earning an associate’s degree. A candidacy portfolio review is required prior to advancing into upper-level studio and seminar courses. Most transfer students will be eligible for candidacy at the end of their first semester in the Department (deadlines are the last Monday in November for fall semester review, and the last Monday in April for spring semester review). For students entering with all general education and introductory art courses (ART 1001, 1002, 1003; ARH 2030, 2130) complete, the following sequencing of courses is recommended:
Summer (6 hours): two 2000-level studios (consider ART 2103, 2104 and/or 2105)
Fall (12 hours): Art History, three 2000-level studios (including ART 2103 and ART 2104 or 2105, if not completed in the summer); submit to candidacy portfolio review
Spring (12 hours): ART 3015 (So/Jr Seminar), three studios (including at least one at the 3000-level in studio area of focus); declare studio area in Art Office
Summer (6 hours): two studios and/or related area courses
Fall (12 hours): ART 4351 (Sr. Seminar), three studios (including 4000-level studio in studio area of focus)
Spring (12 hours): ART 4852 (Senior Studio), two studios and/or related area courses, Art History
The BFA in Graphic Design is a professional degree program that requires intensive studio coursework, but does not require a minor or foreign language. Because enrolling in more than three studio courses in a single semester is challenging, transfer students should plan on enrolling in summer studio art courses in order to reduce a heavy studio load during fall and spring terms.
The Graphic Design program’s required courses must be taken at Appalachian and will take students at least five semesters to complete. You can expect to complete the BFA degree in at least two-and-a-half years after earning an associate’s degree.
A candidacy portfolio review is required prior to advancing into upper-level studio courses. The portfolio consists of work produced in Appalachian’s two introductory Graphic Design classes and several studio art pieces. Specific coursework must be completed to be eligible to submit a portfolio for review. Most transfer students will be eligible for to submit a portfolio for review at the end of their first semester in the Department. Graphic Design's Candidacy Portfolio Review takes place every fall and spring semester on Reading Day, a one-day break between the last day of classes and the first day of exams.
For students entering with all general education and introductory art courses (ART 1001, 1002, 1003; ARH 2030, 2130) complete, the following sequencing of Graphic Design’s required courses is recommended:
ART 2026 and 2104 are prerequisite courses for ART 3202 and 4102 and should be completed before the second fall term. They are often offered during the summer and may be taken before the first fall term.
The BS in Commercial Photography is a professional degree program that includes required Advertising, Accounting, and Business courses. Although not required, transfer students with associate degrees should consider choosing a minor to help fill their schedule because it is very difficult to fill the course load entirely with Commercial Photography classes. It is recommended that transfer students plan on enrolling in summer courses in order to complete the BS degree in two years after earning an associate’s degree. A three-year course of study is more manageable and typically results in a stronger portfolio upon graduation. The recommended sequencing of courses is:
Summer (6sh)
- 1st session: PHO1022
- 2nd session: PHO2022
Semester 1 (12sh)
- PHO 2032 – History of Photography
- PHO 2052 – Form and Media in Photography
- PHO 2062 – Survey of Photographic Careers (Fall only)
- PHO 3032 – Perspective and Optics
Semester 2 (12sh)
- PHO 3042 – Studio Photography
- PHO 3012 – Retouching for Photographers
- ART 2130 – Art from 1400 to the present
- COM 2700 – Foundations of Advertising
Semester 3 (12 sh)
- PHO 3052 – Video for Photographers
- PHO 3072 – Editorial Photography
- Choose 3 (sh) : ACC 1050, BUS 1050, or FIN 3010
- GRA 1012 – Intro to Graphic Communication
Semester 4 (12 sh)
- Choose 6 (sh) : PHO 4402, PHO 4412, PHO 4422, PHO 4432, PHO 4442, or PHO 4452
- Choose 3 (sh) : ACC 1050, BUS 1050, or FIN 3010
- Minor 3 (sh) :Optional
Semester 5 (12 sh)
- Choose 6 (sh) : PHO 4402, PHO 4412, PHO 4422, PHO 4432, PHO 4442, or PHO 4452
- Minor 6 (sh) :Optional
Semester 6 (12 sh)
- PHO 3092 – Professional Photographic Practices (WID)
- PHO 4492 – Photographic Portfolio (CAP)
- Minor 6 (sh) :Optional
The BS in Graphic Communications Management is a professional degree program that requires two internships and a General Business minor. It is recommended that transfer students plan on taking GCM 3900 Graphic Communications Internship I at the end of junior year and finishing GCM 4900 Graphic Communications Internship II by the end of senior year (typically done in the summer after completing all the coursework). Because not all courses can be offered every semester, it is important to follow the sequence of courses in which they are offered.
