Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Art, BFA

Transfer Guide for Associate in Arts

2024-2025

Concentration(s): Graphic Design
Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer students should apply to Western Carolina University at applynow.wcu.edu. A minimum 2.2 GPA is required for consideration, however, this does not guarantee admission. We recommend that you aim for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 12+ hours of college credit for competitiveness with other incoming transfer applicants.

Please note that admission to the institution does not guarantee admission to specific programs, and some programs do require a supplemental application. Check the program website at WCU.edu for supplemental application details and instructions, or reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 828.227.7317.

Contact:

Advising Center
transferadvising@wcu.edu

Revised: May, 2024

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language requirement for this program.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the Community College course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended major.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours
University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled
University Requirement Fulfilled
ART 114: Art History Survey I 3 ART 136: Art History Survey I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
ART 115: Art History Survey II 3 ART 137: Art History Survey II Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
ART 121: Two-Dimensional Design 3 ART 132: Two Dimensional Design Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
ART 131: Drawing I 3 ART 131: Introductory Drawing Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
ART 122: Three-Dimensional Design 3 ART 142: Three Dimensional Design Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
ART 275: Introduction to Graphic Design 3 ART 270: Communication Design Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
ART 276: Interactive Media Design 3 ART 271: Interactive Media Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours
University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled
University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric English Composition General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry English Composition General Education
COM 231: Public Speaking 3 COMM 201: Foundations of Communication UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 3 University Equivalencies UGETC Math General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 4 University Equivalencies UGETC Natural Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 7 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 ELEC 19A: Lower Level Electives Academic Transition Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

Students interested in Graphic Design must submit an entrance portfolio.

The entrance portfolio for the BFA with Emphasis in Graphic Design must be submitted prior to enrolling in Graphic Design emphasis studio classes.

Current first-year students are encouraged to submit after completing the freshman-level Foundation classes. Transfer students must submit their entrance portfolio prior to enrolling in the Graphic Design program. Incoming students considering the BFA with Emphasis in Graphic Design can submit their portfolio prior to enrolling in classes at WCU.

Detailed guidelines for entrance portfolio preparation and submission are available at the School of Art & Design, Graphic Design Emphasis webpage: https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/fpa/artdesign/undergraduate-programs/graphic.aspx

The Graphic Design Entrance Portfolio consists of 12-20 (including direct observational drawings) of your best and most recent work.

The entrance portfolio should include a variety of media and approaches. It can include assignment-based projects, self-directed work and sketchbook work, which often provide information on the applicant’s creative process.

The portfolio does not need to be major-specific, and can include both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional work in a variety of media and formats including: paintings, drawings, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, digital, animation, etc. , do not include work that is copied from photographs, uses the grid system or directly replicates any other artist’s work (including replicating anime drawings, cartoons, or video game character designs).

As part of the 12-20 works submitted, students must include 3-5 drawings from direct observation. Examples of observational work include landscape, still-life, self-portrait, figure drawings, and interior spaces. Do not submit drawings from imagination or copied from photographs for the observational work.

Include the following information for each work submitted: include your name, title of work, date completed, media and size (in inches). Example: (1, Jon Smith, Self-Portrait, Mixed media, 1/2018, 24”x 48”) Your images should not exceed 1280 x 1280 x 72 ppi.

Include a 500-word (max) essay stating your intent to submit your entrance portfolio for consideration into the Graphic Design Program. You have a unique background, interests and personality, write a personal, thoughtful essay about something that has meaning for you. Be honest and genuine. Include an introduction about yourself, talk a little about your existing knowledge about design and or art, or how you think it connects to another discipline you are interested in. Describe your skills and ambitions, and what truly motivates you. Describe your future goals.

Additional Details and Portfolio Advice can be found at: https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/fpa/artdesign/undergraduate-programs/graphic.aspx

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours
University Course Notes
Art Core Requirements 3
  • PAR 310 - Philosophy of Art Credits: 3
Graphic Design Emphasis Requirements 27
  • ART 275 - Typography I Credits: 3
  • ART 371 - Design Studio 1 Credits: 3
  • ART 375 - Interactive Design Credits: 3
  • ART 460 - Motion Design I Credits: 3
  • ART 471 - Design Studio 2 Credits: 3, R6
  • ART 473 - Portfolio Design Credits: 3, R6
  • ART 475 - Typography II Credits: 3, R6
  • ART 479 - Motion Design II Credits: 3, R6
  • ART 483 - Art Internship Credits: 3
Exploratory Studio Electives 21

Select 15-21 credit hours of Studio Art Courses 200 level and above.

  • ART 231 - Life Drawing Credits: 3
  • ART 233 - Introductory Painting Credits: 3
  • ART 234 - Introductory Printmaking Credits: 3
  • ART 241 - Introductory Sculpture Credits: 3
  • ART 251 - Introductory Ceramics Credits: 3
  • ART 272 - Introductory Photography Credits: 3
  • ART 273 - Intro to Digital Photography Credits: 3
  • ART 330 - Drawing II Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 333 - Painting II Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 334 - Printmaking II Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 342 - Sculpture II Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 351 - Ceramics II Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 359 - Introductory Book Arts Credits: 3
  • ART 377 - Painting III Credits: 3
  • ART 380 - Ceramics III Credits: 3
  • ART 381 - Sculpture III Credits: 3
  • ART 433 - Painting IV Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 434 - Problems in Printmaking Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 440 - Advanced Drawing Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 443 - Sculpture IV Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 451 - Problems in Ceramics Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 452 - Problems in Sculpture Credits: 3, R9
  • ART 453 - Problems in Painting Credits: 3, R9
  • ART 455 - Photography II Credits: 3
  • ART 461 - Problems in Design Credits: 3, R9
  • ART 476 - Problems in Photography Credits: 3, R9
  • ART 480 - Experimental Studio Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 481 - Independent Study in Studio Art Credits: 1-6, R12
  • ART 493 - Topics in Art Credits: 1-4, R12
Alternate Exploratory Electives 6

Select 0-6 credit hours from the list below.

  • CIS 240 - Intro to Coding with Python Credits: 3
  • CIS 340 - Python for Analytics Credits: 3
  • CIS 493 - Topics in Information Systems Credits: 1-3, R15
  • CS 150 - Problem Solving and Programming I Credits: 4
  • FTP 155 - Camera Craft Credits: 3
  • MKT 201 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 3
  • MKT 406 - Social Media Marketing Credits: 3
  • MUS 150 - Fundamentals of Audio Credits: 3
  • MUS 383 - Post-Production Audio for Film and Television Credits: 3
Upper Level Art History Requirements 6

Students should choose one course from the 300-400 level Art History courses listed below, and ART 419.

  • ART 419 - History of Design Credits: 3

    AND, Select one course from the following:

  • ART 404 - Greco Roman Art Credits: 3
  • ART 405 - History of Photography Credits: 3
  • ART 412 - Nineteenth-Century Painting Credits: 3
  • ART 414 - American Art Credits: 3
  • ART 418 - Development of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture Credits: 3
  • ART 482 - Independent Study in Art History Credits: 1-6, R6
  • ART 486 - Exhibition Practicum Credits: 3
General Electives 30

To complete 120 hours, students may need to take additional General Electives (the number depends on how many Liberal Studies courses also count toward the major).