Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Art, BFA

Transfer Guide for Associate in Arts

2025-2026

Concentration(s): Studio Art
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: April, 2025

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language requirement for this program.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended university and major.

Recommended NCCC 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 122: Three-Dimensional Design 3 ART 142: Three Dimensional Design Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
ART 131: Drawing I 3 ART 131: Introductory Drawing 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 NCCC 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
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 5 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

The BFA is a focused pre-professional degree, leading to careers or graduate study in art and design. Students can declare the BFA as a major but must submit a portfolio of digital images and a letter of application that describes their goals and interests in the fields of art and design and must pass the BFA Entrance Portfolio Review before completing 80 hours. At the time of application portfolio for the BFA, students must identify their concentration in one of the three areas: Studio Art, Graphic Design, or Art Education.

Students will submit digital images of 12 original artworks that successfully incorporate principles and elements of 2D and 3D art and design. These examples should provide evidence of competency with tool usage, measuring, material handling, and presentation. Within this portfolio, students should include three to five analytical drawings demonstrating basic knowledge of perspective and proportion. This group of drawings should include some drawings made from direct observation. In addition, the portfolio should include some work that evidences personal ideas and concept development. Detailed guidelines for portfolio preparation and submission are available at the School of Art & Design.

To continue in the program, students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the major.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
Art Core Requirements 3
  • ART 416 - Contemporary Art Credits: 3
Studio Emphasis Requirements 9
  • ART 474 - Portfolio Credits: 3
  • ART 480 - Experimental Studio Credits: 3, R12
  • ART 483 - Art Internship Credits: 3
Studio Emphasis Electives 21

Students should choose an additional seven courses (21 hours) of studio courses at the junior-senior level:

  • 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 459 - Book Arts II Credits: 3, R12
  • 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
Exploratory Studio Electives 18

Students should select six courses (18 hours) from studio courses offered at the 200-level or 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 359 - Introductory Book Arts Credits: 3
  • ART 493 - Topics in Art Credits: 1-4, R12
Upper Level Art History Requirements 6

Students should select two courses (six hours) of Art History electives at the junior-senior level:

  • 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 419 - History of Design 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).