Application Process for Transfer Admission

Transfer Applicants - Academic Requirements

What makes you a transfer? You need to have attempted (or completed) 15 or more college-levels credits - after high school graduation - by the time you apply. The average transfer grade point average is 3.0 for most programs; however this is not a guarantee of admission.

For most programs, transfer students must complete the application process by June 1st for the Fall semester or by November 1st for the Spring semester.

You must request that all high schools and colleges which you previously attended send official transcripts to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Temple University by these deadlines. SAT or ACT scores are not required if you have earned at least fifteen college-level credits.

Transfer applicants to the BA in Visual Studies, BA in Art History, BS in Art Education, or BS in Architecture

Students applying to the BA in Visual Studies, BA in Art History, BS in Art Education or the BS in Architecture must complete the online Temple University application, which is found here at the Temple Admissions Website.

BA in Visual Studies and BS in Art Education must submit a portfolio for admission. Students applying to Art History only need a portfolio in the case that they have studio credits they wish to transfer. Transfer students who have taken studio art courses seeking equivalency credit for those studio courses must submit a portfolio for studio placement. Plan to include 5 to 7 images representing each studio course completed at the college level. The portfolio must be uploaded to http://temple.slideroom.com.

Although admission into the Architecture Program does not require a portfolio, the faculty requires that you submit one if you have taken college level Architecture studio courses and wish to be considered for placement above the first year level.   Admission to the architecture program is highly selective.  Please note that if you have not taken architecture coursework in college, and you are not selected for architecture but meet the general requirements for admission to Temple University and wish to be re-evaluated for admission to architecture, you may submit a portfolio of artistic or creative work, as per requirements, procedures and assessment criteria specified by the Architecture Department. Download the Architecture portfolio Guidelines here.

Transfer Applicants to the BFA

Applicants to the BFA program must complete the online Temple University application as well as the Tyler-specific admissions requirements. The online Temple application is found here at the Temple Admissions Website.

  • The online Temple application will prompt you to send your high school and college transcripts, etc. to the Temple Admissions Office. At the same time that you send the required materials to Temple Undergraduate Admissions, you must send the following materials to the Tyler School of Art Admissions Office.  Click here for the Checklist for Undergraduate Admissions.
  • Statement of Purpose (can be the same essay as submitted for the Temple application- just duplicate and send to Tyler Admissions)
  • Self Portrait - All freshman and transfer applicants must execute one drawing specifically for Tyler as an essential part of the application. The self-portrait should be drawn in pencil, on 8 l/2" x 11" paper from a mirror reflection. The self-portrait should be an original drawing and should not be matted or framed. This drawing is not considered part of your portfolio, but it is required as part of your application for Tyler. This drawing will not be returned.
  • Portfolio

Transfer students seeking admission into the Tyler BFA program must upload a portfolio to http://temple.slideroom.com of at least 20 images that represent artwork from all studio courses taken. All transfer applicants must include images of work that show five examples of drawing from observation regardless of the major you wish to pursue. If you have completed over 36 credits in studio art, and are applying for admission into a BFA major, it is important to include images of work that reflect preparation for that major. Students who are uploading portfolios at http://temple.slideroom.com will find format instructions on the website.  


Please note: Undergraduate applicants to the BFA apply for full-time matriculation for either the Fall or Spring semester. Part-time status is not available for BFA applicants.