School of Art and Design Entrance Portfolio

The School of Art & Design at Kennesaw State University admits students in the Fall (August) and Spring (January) semesters each year. We offer two degree programs for which you must submit a portfolio for entrance: the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (concentrations in Art Education, Art History, Ceramics, Comics and Sequential Art, Graphic Communications, Illustration, Painting and Drawing, Photography and Video, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Textile and Surface Design), and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Animation (concentrations in 2D Animation and 3D Animation).

Portfolio Requirements

The School of Art and Design Entry Portfolio requires 4 artworks and a 200-word artist statement:

Technical Artwork

This artwork demonstrates your preferred, strongest media and technique with that media. We recommended that the work be done from observation or follow a technical process that is well-known.
Imaginative Artwork

This artwork is something created from imagination with little reliance on direct references. This work best expresses your ideas and feelings.
Idea Sketches

The fancy word for this is “ideation.” Take a couple recent pages from your sketchbook or find similar sketches and brainstorming sessions from a past art project and capture those as scanned or photographed images. Another sample of this type of work is a video that captures your process for a given artwork.
"Wildcard"

If you have strong work that doesn’t neatly fit into one of the previous three categories, we want to see it. Perhaps you want to be an art educator, or an art historian and you have a lesson plan, abstract or scholarly paper to share. Perhaps, you have created murals with augmented reality components. Show us your unique vision.
200-Word Artist Statement

Using Microsoft Word or a similar word processing tool, please tell us why you want to be an art student at KSU in the School of Art and Design. What do you see yourself doing using art as a profession? What are your goals in the program over the next 4 years? Tell us about yourself and your interests as well.

Portfolio Review Criteria
The School of Art and Design Portfolio Committee will use the following values to evaluate your portfolio:
- Technical skill and proficient use of the media.
- Creativity, originality, and innovative use of ideas and subject matter.
- Ideation and artistic thought process.
- Professionalism with following directions, presenting your work (including making sure your materials are photographed well and uploaded properly), demonstrating strong writing skills (grammar and spelling), and submitting relevant choices for each artwork type.

Application & Deadlines

Spring 2027

Portfolio Deadline: November 14, 2026

Class Starts: January 11, 2027

Fall 2027

Portfolio Deadline: May 1, 2027

Class Starts: August 23, 2027

Portfolio submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are allowed two total attempts at their portfolio. Be sure to apply ahead of your time ticket to allow for ample time to review your application.

Apply and Submit Your Portfolio

The Art Interest Classification

Students must apply to KSU before they apply to the School of Art and Design. Students who apply to KSU and select an Arts major will automatically have their major classified as Art Interest. Art Interest students cannot begin their major coursework until they are admitted to an Art major. The Art Interest program designation is only applicable for one semester of enrollment at Kennesaw State University, after which students must submit an entrance portfolio for entrance to the School of Art and Design and declare a degree.

If a student is accepted to the School of Art and Design, their major will be changed from Arts Interest to the concentration they applied to. If a student has not been admitted, advising will prompt them to choose a major outside of the School of Art and Design. We encourage students to plan ahead so that they can be admitted and start coursework in their desired major.

Need a little extra advice?

Join us for an Open House and Portfolio Review night!

More Information

The Open House and Portfolio Review offers prospective students the opportunity to learn more about our areas of study. You will also receive information on the entrance portfolio and will have the chance to have your work reviewed by our faculty members!

Bring your drawings, small paintings, digital artwork, or photographs of their three-dimensional work for a review and guidance from our faculty.

Additional Guidelines for Some Applicants

Substitute Studio Art Credit Earned Prior to Enrolling at KSU
It is possible to substitute credit earned prior to enrolling for specific KSU studio art degree requirements. This credit can be earned in one of two ways:
- By taking one or more of the AP Studio Art Exams (Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, or Drawing), or
- By taking studio art courses at another institution
In either case, you must submit work to be reviewed by our faculty before a determination can be made whether substitution is possible. This review can take place at the same time as your application to the major, or after you have been formally accepted to the School of Art & Design. Also, please make sure your transcripts from your previous institution are in the hands of the KSU Admissions Office.
To request a review of credit based on the AP Studio Art Exam, you must do the following:
- Earn a score of 3 or higher on the exam and make sure the most recent transcripts reflecting these scores are sent to the KSU Admissions Office.
- Submit a minimum of four images that demonstrate your highest level of proficiency in the media from each course. For example, if you are requesting credit for 3-Dimensional Design, you must submit four images of 3D work. These can be included in, or in addition to the works required for the entrance portfolio.
The courses eligible for substitution based on an AP score are:
- ART 1100 Two-Dimensional Design & Color Theory
- ART 1150 Drawing I
- ART 1200 3-Dimensional Design
A substitution will only be approved based on receipt of an official score report from the College Board showing that a 3 or higher was earned on the relevant exam, and after successful determination by the faculty of the School of Art & Design or equivalent proficiency.
To request a review of credit based on studio courses taken at another college or university, you must do the following:

Submit a minimum of four images that demonstrate your highest level of proficiency in the media from each course. For example, if you are requesting credit for Printmaking I, you must submit four printmaking images. These can be included in, or in addition to the works required for the entrance portfolio.

Transfer equivalency will be granted based on approval by the Office of the Registrar, a minimum grade of “C” or better in an equivalent course, and successful determination by the faculty of the School of Art & Design of equivalent proficiency.

It is strongly recommended that you review the course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the content of these courses before completing the application.

A substitution will only be approved based on receipt of an official score report from the College Board showing that a 3 or higher was earned on the relevant exam, and after successful determination by the faculty of the School of Art & Design or equivalent proficiency.

Apply and Submit Your Portfolio

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I find out the results of my application to become a major?

All decisions will be communicated via email. If you are currently enrolled as a KSU student, this will be sent to your students.kennesaw.edu email address. All other communications will be sent to the address you indicate on your application.
When will I learn of the results of my application?

You will be notified of a decision via email within six (6) weeks of receipt of your portfolio.
May I re-apply if I am not admitted?

Students may only apply twice for admission to the School of Art & Design. We recommend that you attend an Open House night. At this event, faculty can conduct an unofficial review of your portfolio and provide valuable feedback. Visit our Open House webpage for more information and upcoming dates.
I took studio art courses at another college or university. How do I receive credit for these courses?

This is a two-step process. First, the Office of the Registrar will determine the course credit is eligible to transfer.

How the Registrar evaluates transfer credit

Most studio art courses that meet this standard will be assigned elective credit in your record, and flagged with a “T” in your Owl Express record (e.g., ART 1T00). Once this happens, it is up to our faculty to determine how these classes may or may not be substituted for specific KSU courses. This determination is made based upon their review of the images you submit in your portfolio. For example, if you took a basic drawing course at your previous institution and receive a B, and the faculty determine that you demonstrate sufficient drawing proficiency to move on to the next level of drawing, they will approve a substitution for Drawing I. If, they determine that you need to repeat Drawing I, you can work with your advisor to find a way that your basic drawing course may be used for elective credit, however you would still need to take Drawing I to fulfill that specific requirement.
Is there a sample portfolio I can look at to help me decide what to put in mine?

No, there isn’t, we really want you to choose art that best represents what you can do and who you are as an artist. Examples of current student artwork are available on our website.

Apply and Submit Your Portfolio

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