Students applying to the School of Art & Art History should visit the Office of Admissions (undergraduate) or the Office of Graduate Studies (graduate) to initiate the admissions process.

Prospective Undergraduate Students
Students seeking admission to D.U. as undergraduates with majors in the School of Art and Art History should visit the Office of Admissions website and fill out the admissions application. In addition, a portfolio is needed for students planning to apply for the B.F.A. program in studio art, pre-art-conservation, or electronic media arts design. A portfolio should also be submitted by any student in these majors (B.A. or B.F.A.) who wishes to be considered for an art scholarship. See "Admission Portfolio" below for detailed information about the portfolio requirements.

Prospective Graduate Students
Students seeking admission to the M.A. program in art history or art history with a concentration in museum studies or the M.F.A. program in eMAD should fill out the online Arts & Sciences information request form to receive information. Or apply online at the Office of Graduate Studies website. The application deadline for the M.A. programs in art history is rolling, so students may apply for admission to any quarter (applications should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the end of the previous quarter). However, students who wish to be considered for financial aid must apply by March 1 for the following fall quarter.  The application deadline for the M.F.A. program in eMAD is March 1 for admission to the following fall quarter.

Transfer Credits
Transfer students should meet with the Director of the School of Art and Art History after they have been admitted and received preliminary consideration of transfer credits.  Together they will determine which transfer credits apply to the major or minor.. The total amount of art transfer credit that might be allowed follows these guidelines:

Art minor
up to 12 quarter hours of transfer work (for a 24-hour minor)
BA
up to 30 quarter hours of transfer work (for a 60-hour major)
BFA
up to 55 hours of transfer work (for a 110-135 hour major)
MFA and MA
If a student wishes to transfer graduate credit from another institution into the M.F.A. and M.A. program, application should be made before the end of the first quarter of graduate work at DU. The application takes the form of a copy of the official transcript and a letter to the eMAD Graduate Committee or the Art History Graduate Committee explaining how the credit will enhance the student's program and what part of the requirements it would replace.

If a student wishes to take a course at another institution after enrolling in a graduate program at DU, approval must be sought and granted, through the process described above, before the student enrolls in the course. A compelling academic argument must be made, as such transfers are very unusual.

All transfer of credit must be completed at least one quarter prior to the quarter of graduation. See the Graduate School Bulletin for additional university restrictions on transfer of credit into graduate programs.

Prospective Undergraduate Admission Portfolio
The portfolio should consist of the following:

1.  Student's name, address, phone, e-mail, and a statement of whether a B.A. or a B.F.A. degree is sought at this time including the area of interest (eMAD or studio art). For B.F.A. portfolios an additional statement of the student's reasons for applying for the B.F.A., tentative career goals, etc., is also requested.

2.  Reproductions of 6 to 10 works of art.

- Reproductions may be laser prints, photographs, slides, CD-ROM, high quality photocopies, or a URL, and should be of a quality to give the most faithful idea of the art possible. DO NOT send original paintings, drawings, etc.
- Clearly label each image with your name, its title, medium, size and date made.
- Quality is more important than medium in choosing work to include.
- B.F.A. applicants who are transferring from other colleges and universities should include only work    completed in the last year.
- We look for evidence of talent and originality in all portfolios. In BFA applicants, we seek promise of success in the program, and the ability and desire to produce a portfolio of entry-level graduate school quality by the time of graduation.

3.  Stamped, self-addressed postcard to let you know that we received your portfolio.

4.  Stamped, self-addressed return envelope if you want the portfolio back. Note that portfolios of admitted students who enter DU are kept on file.

Mail your portfolio to:
School of Art and Art History
University of Denver
2121 East Asbury Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80208

Deadlines: Portfolios should be sent to the School of Art and Art History at the same time as admission application is sent to DU's Office of Admission. Some flexibility is available to send a portfolio later, but best consideration for financial aid goes to those applicants who meet Admission Office deadlines.

How we use your portfolio
Admission portfolios are reviewed by the art faculty. The reviews are used by the Office of Admission to ensure that talented and promising art students are admitted to the University and by the School of Art and Art History to offer art scholarships to applicants with excellent portfolios. In addition, portfolios of students who indicate a desire to be admitted to a B.F.A. program will be assessed for program admission.

Please note that the B.A. is a liberal arts degree requiring 59-60 hours of arts credits and is the preferred degree for art students with multiple interests. Any student admitted to D.U. may choose to major in studio art or eMAD as a B.A. student, so the portfolio is used to increase the chances of talented students being admitted and to offer art scholarships.

The B.F.A. is a highly focused, professional arts degree requiring 110-135 hours of arts credits and participation in the senior B.F.A. exhibition. B.F.A. students are expected to maintain a 3.3 G.P.A. in their major and they have the option of taking a minor. Admission is competitive, based on a faculty committee's review of the portfolio. Portfolios are also used to offer art scholarships.

If a student is accepted to D.U., but not to the B.F.A. program, he or she may become a B.A. art major and reapply to the B.F.A. program after developing a stronger portfolio through art classes. Students may apply for the B.F.A. twice. If unsure which program is best suited, choose to enter as a B.A. art major.