Baiting the Trap, oil by Professor Donald Robson

 

If you are applying to become an art or art education major in the Department of Visual Arts, you must be accepted by portfolio review. The Department of Visual Arts requires approximately three weeks from the time we receive your portfolio to complete the review.

NOTE: If you do not have a portfolio to submit you can take two introductory classes, 2-D Design (ART 1100) and Drawing I (ART 1150) at KSU. These foundation courses, which should be taken as early as possible and preferably during your first semester at KSU, give you the opportunity to develop a portfolio for submission. All students enrolling in 2-D Design and Drawing I must request an override from the Department of Visual Arts. Overrides are approved based on portfolio approval and space availability within the courses. (Download override form {148 kb PDF})

Portfolios will be evaluated on the basis of drawing and design ability, original ideas, craftsmanship, and overall presentation. You will receive separate notification of the result of your review directly from the College of the Arts.

Glossary of Visual Arts Terms

Portfolio Requirements for First-Year Students

• Submit 8-20 works in digital image form on CD or DVD. See the Submission Instructions.
• The portfolio must include a minimum of four (4) samples of representational drawing made from direct observation (i.e., not copied from photographs, comics, or “fantasy”). Other work could include painting, photography, page layout designs, computer images, two-dimensional design, sculpture, ceramics, models, mechanical drawings, and marker renderings.

Portfolio Requirements for Transfer Students
and Changes of Major

Transfer students and current KSU students seeking to become art or art education majors follow the same portfolio procedures and deadlines as freshmen.

For transfer students, the portfolio is used to determine transferability of previous coursework. Therefore, your portfolio should clearly represent your basic foundation experience, as well as any advanced or “applied” work. Transfer students should submit, along with this application and your portfolio, an unofficial copy of all transcripts with catalog course descriptions of any art and art history courses taken, and the Transfer Credit Equivalency Form available from our website.

NOTE: While credit hours from courses with a C or better will transfer, it is possible that you will have to repeat some courses regardless of the grade you received at your previous institution. Credits from non-accredited institutions will not transfer.

• In addition to the minimum of four (4) representational drawings, transfer students must submit a minimum of four (4) samples of work dealing specifically with design concepts. At least two (2) of these works should be traditional 2-D class assignments done by hand. A brief, written description of assignment objectives, parameters, and personal goals should accompany your Image File Inventory for each work (see example below). If you are requesting transfer credit equivalency for previous coursework, you must submit at least four strong examples of artwork for each art course that you wish to have evaluated for transfer credit. For example, if you took 2-Dimensional Design at your previous institution, you should have at least four designs in your portfolio showing the breadth of your design skills.
• Current KSU students seeking a change of major must submit a minimum of two works from 2-D Design (ART 1100) and two of the four required representational drawings must come from Drawing I (ART 1150). Each work should be clearly labeled on your Image File Inventory page to designate the course category of your artwork.

Examples:

1. Drawing: “Portrait in Blue.” 24 in. x 18 in.
   Pastel on blue paper from Drawing I class, fall 2006
2. 2-D Design: “Opposites Attract.” 11 in. x 14 in.
   Graphite pencil from 2-D Design class, fall 2006. This assignment focused on expressive line and shape for the communication of two concepts. I chose femininity and masculinity with a diagonal structure to emphasize tension between the elements. The curvilinear lines and shapes (femininity) flow toward the bold, vertical shapes that I used to represent male characteristics. The female qualities are extended into the male area, in part to unify the space, but also to represent the qualities of confidence and receptivity.
3. Drawing: “Seated Figure.” 24 in. x 18 in.
   Graphite pencil from Drawing I class, fall 2006

For transfer students only:

Enclosure of course description photocopies from the catalog of the prospective student's previous institution will assist in transfer credit evaluation; however, the final decision as to whether or not the previous coursework is equivalent is determined in a review of the student's portfolio. Transfer students must have their portfolio reviewed and evaluated before registering for art courses.

At least four strong examples of artwork should be included in your portfolio for each art course that you wish to have evaluated for transfer equivalency. For instance, if you attended Drawing I in your previous higher education institution, you should have at least 4 drawing examples in your portfolio showing the breadth of your drawing skills. Each work should be clearly labeled on your Image File Inventory page to designate the course category of your artwork.

e.g., 1. Drawing: “Portrait in Blue.” 24 in. X 18 in.
Pastel on blue paper from Drawing I class. 2006.
e.g., 2. Design: “Obsession.” 14 in. X 18 in.
Digital design from 2-D Design class. 2006.
e.g., 3. Painting: “Seated Figure.” 24 in. X 18 in.
Oil on canvas from Painting I class. 2006.
e.g., 4. Design: “Contribution.” 9 in. X 12 in.
Paper collage from 2-D Design class. 2006.

Note: Some transfer course credits may be determined to not be equivalent to KSU courses, and will therefore need to be repeated. These courses may not meet requirements for individual departments. Credits from non-accredited institutions will not transfer.

Submit your application and portfolio to:

Samuel G. Robinson
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management
College of the Arts
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Rd. #3101
Kennesaw GA 30144-5591

Hand deliver to:
College of the Arts
Room 201 of the Joe Mack Wilson Building
on Bartow Avenue

Questions about the application process can be directed to
the College of the Arts Office of Admissions, 770-423-6614.
COTA-Admissions@kennesaw.edu

Submisson Instructions:

Digital File Portfolios
Digital files must be formatted for readability on Macintosh® computers and prepared in strict adherence to the specifications outlined below.

Disk Format and Mailing Information
All submissions must be on a single CD or DVD that is Macintosh-readable. Disks should be sent in paper sleeves in a 6 x 9-inch envelope, with your name legibly printed on the disks, the sleeves, and the envelope. If you would like your CDs or DVDs returned, you must include an affixed return address label with your name and address clearly printed on it. They will be returned via priority mail unless you prefer (and pay for) an alternate method. CDs and DVDs will be considered disposable if return envelope not included.

Note: Portfolios without self-addressed, stamped envelopes not claimed within 60 days of receipt of a decision letter will be held for an additional 30 days. After 30 days, if still unclaimed, the portfolio will be discarded.

A total of 8-20 still images and/or moving images may be submitted, and they should be numbered 1–20. Sort them in chronological order, ending with the most recent work. All twenty images must be placed in a folder labeled last name first.

e.g., SmithJohn

File Format
Still images: Submit files as 2048 X 1360 pixels or larger (2.7 megapixel or greater camera). Do not format images in a presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Preview, Keynote, or PDF), or include composite images (more than one item or picture per file). Files may be sent in either tiff or jpeg format and must be labeled by: Last name, First initial, file number, date in parenthesis and file type...

e.g., smithj12(2006).tif or smithj13(2006).jpg

Moving images: All videos must be in the QuickTime format and should be no longer than two minutes each. If you break up a video into more than one two-minute segment, make sure that this is indicated. Do not include titles and credits in video files.

Web sites: Links to Web sites should not be included in your submission list, but QuickTime movies of a Web site are acceptable. Keep such movies under two minutes in length and label— last name, first name, Website, number, date in parenthesis and file type...

e.g., SmithJohnWebsite16(2006).mov

Image File Inventory List

Sample Inventory List SheetGlossary of Visual Arts Terms

Please include an inventory list on your disk with your digital submission. This must be headed with your name and the area of study to which your application is being made (Graphic Communication, Drawing/Painting, Photography/Printmaking, Sculpture/Ceramics) and must include a thumbnail picture, title, dimensions, (height, width, and depth for 3d works) and a materials description of each work, along with the year in which it was made. If it was created for a class assignment, please indicate for which class it was created.

It should be arranged and numbered in the same order as your images, and the descriptions should indicate whether a particular image is being submitted as a photographic work of art...

e.g.,
1. Photography: “Montana Plains” 8 in. X 10 in. Film negative, digital print. 2006.

or as a document recording an object, installation, or performance that you have created...

e.g.,
2. Installation Sculpture: “Untitled.” 10 in. X 8 in.
Installation with steel, wire screen, & electronics. 2006.
3. Graphic Design: “Working with Time” 24 in. X 36 in.
Poster design project from graphic design class (digital screen capture). 2006.
4. Painting: “Glass Bottle Study.” 16 in. X 20 in.
Oil on canvas, still-life project for drawing class. 2006.

Please note that you must also enclose a printed, hard copy of this inventory page on an 8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper with your application or portfolio submission.

Note: While every precaution is taken to ensure proper handling, KSU assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to submitted materials.

For BFA Concentration: After acceptance into the program as an art major, and usually after taking several lower-level visual arts courses, a second portfolio review will be required for acceptance into a BFA Concentration. Acceptance to a concentration will be based on available space in the concentration’s student body and approval of this second portfolio. In a required course, Art 3000 “Professional Practices,” students will develop and submit a second portfolio from works produced in their foundation courses.

Procedures to Apply at KSU Photographing Your Artwork (MSword Doc)