Department of Art: BA in Visual Arts

First Year Applicants

Upon acceptance to the University, freshman applicants interested in majoring in Visual Arts may declare Art as their major without submitting an entrance portfolio. All applicants are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts plan of study.

After completing the Department of Art’s Foundation program (typically one year), art majors will submit a portfolio of work for review by a faculty committee. In addition to evaluating artistic capabilities and the proficiency and promise of the work, students must meet departmental academic requirements to continue in the program.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants must submit a portfolio and meet departmental academic requirements as part of the admission process. We strongly encourage early submission of transfer portfolios.

Up to 12 credits for the equivalent of New Paltz freshman Foundation courses (Drawing: Visual Thinking I; Drawing: Visual Thinking II; Design: Color; Design: Form) will be accepted based on transcript alone. Credit for other studio courses beyond the Foundation sequence (and appropriate placement in our course sequences) shall be determined by portfolio review.

Learn more about the Department of Art's undergraduate admission process on the department website. Visit the Undergraduate Admission website for more information on applying to SUNY New Paltz.