Applying for Undergraduate Admission
Application Procedures – All Undergraduate applicants
All applicants to Tyler programs must fill out the Temple University online application at www.temple.edu/undergrad. You should arrange to send official test scores and transcripts directly to the Temple University Undergraduate Admissions Office (not to Tyler Admissions) after completing the online application.
Academic Requirements for Admission- all Tyler undergraduate programs
All applicants must meet the academic requirements of Temple University. The Temple Undergraduate Admissions Office reviews all academic credentials upon the receipt of the completed application, fee, transcripts, and test scores. General guidelines for admission are found at the Temple Admissions website.
Deadlines and Notification
Tyler, as part of Temple University, has a policy of rolling admissions after the priority deadlines. Notification of a decision for admission is given as soon as possible after all credentials have been received and the application is completed. Application and scholarship deadlines are posted and updated at both the Temple and Tyler websites. Please note that some Tyler programs have gone to a waitlist before the application deadlines.
Checking Your Application Status
To track the status of your application, please visit
www.temple.edu/undergrad/applying/applicationstatus.htm
International Student Application
You are considered an international student if you hold a non-immigrant visa, including a student visa, visitor visa, or exchange visitor visa. If you are a permanent resident, naturalized citizen or refugee and have not studied in the United States at the secondary or college level, you, too, are considered an international student. Temple University has a special International Student Application that may be accessed at admissions.temple.edu/international.
Please review the admissions information below specific to the program of your interest. Please see the Temple website for TOEFL information.
Admissions Requirements Overview
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS & BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAMS
Please note that the information below refers specifically to requirements for admission. Applicants wishing to be reviewed for portfolio scholarships should review all the information regarding scholarship requirements and deadlines at the Tyler website.
Undergraduate applicants for the BFA program apply for full-time matriculation for either the Fall or Spring semester. Part-time status is not available for BFA applicants.
All BFA freshman and transfer applicants must submit a portfolio, self-portrait, and statement of purpose via slideroom and complete the Temple application in order to be considered for admission.
The 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, charcoal or conte crayon on 8 l/2" x 11" paper from a mirror reflection. The Self-Portrait should be an original drawing and should not be matted, framed, drawn from a photograph or created digitally. 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.
The Statement of Purpose
All freshman and transfer BFA applicants must submit a separate sheet containing a brief written Statement of Purpose. Describe your aspirations, goals, and/or why you are choosing art as a discipline. This Statement is submitted separately from the essay written for the Temple Undergraduate application.
Specfic Program Requirements – Undergraduate Bulletin
Art Minor
BA Arts
BA ARts inStudio
BAARts in Digital Media
Certificate in Arts in Community
Ceramics/Glass
Fibers
Graphic and Interactive Design (GAID)
Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM
Photography
Printmaking
Painting/Drawing
Sculpture
Portfolio Requirements
Freshman Portfolio Requirements
BFA applicants must call the Tyler Admissions Office to arrange a date for a portfolio review. The interview and portfolio review is a private session with a Tyler faculty member or a member of the Admissions staff. At this time you will present and discuss your portfolio of artwork. Admissions staff will be available to answer your questions before or after your interview. You may arrange to have a Tyler facility tour before or after your review. Tyler will also review portfolios at various National Portfolio Day events and at some high schools that we visit, time permitting.
The BFA portfolio should include 15 or more pieces of original work executed in the last two years. You must include at least 5 strong examples of drawing from direct observation regardless of the major you wish to pursue. These drawings must be larger than 9" x 14", and show a wide range of values and strong composition. These drawings are separate from sketchbook drawings. The remainder of the portfolio may include additional drawings; work in both black-and-white and color media, ceramics, design examples, fibers, glass, jewelry or metal work, paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or time-based media. Variety of medium, subject matter and scale are important. Large pieces may be represented in photographs presented during an in-person review. Plan to bring your sketchbooks as well as work completed in weekend or summer programs.
Freshman applicants should make every attempt to attend a portfolio review, as an interview will weigh heavily in the decision process. Applicants living at a considerable distance from Philadelphia may elect to upload a portfolio via www.temple.slideroom.com. SlideRoom charges an additional fee for this service. Do not send CD-ROMs, DVDs, slides, slide carousels, portfolios, photographs, binders or original work through the mail. These are not acceptable and will not be reviewed or returned.
Transfer Portfolio Requirements
BFA transfer applicants must upload a minimum of 20 images via www.temple.slidreoom.com. SlideRoom charges an additional fee for this service. Admission and studio placement will be based on the results of the review of the portfolio and academic credentials. Tyler will consider course credit from accepted students transferring from colleges or universities depending on accreditation as per Temple University policy. Tyler will only accept studio credits equivalent to those offered in the BFA degree program. In order to be considered for transfer credit, studio courses must have been completed within ten years prior to application and matriculation, and images of work completed in those courses must be included in the portfolio.
The portfolio must include five strong 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 specific BFA major, it is important to include images of work that reflect preparation for your intended major. Be sure to describe the work by dimension, medium, date completed and title.
Portfolios may not be reviewed until the Temple Undergraduate application materials and Tyler-specific materials are received. The original Self-Portrait drawing must be sent directly to the Tyler Admissions Office in order for your portfolio to be complete. It must not be uploaded to SlideRoom. Follow the directions on SlideRoom to upload the Statement of Purpose. Do not send CD-ROMs, DVDs, slides, slide carousels, portfolios, photographs, binders or original work through the mail. These are not acceptable and will not be reviewed or returned.
ART HISTORY PROGRAM
The BA in Art History program does not require a portfolio review for freshman admission unless a student has taken studio art coursework at the college level and is seeking studio equivalency credit.
Please note that there are special requirements for applicants wishing to compete for portfolio scholarships. Be sure to review all the information regarding scholarship requirements and deadlines at the Tyler website.
Specfic Program Requirements – Undergraduate Bulletin
BA Art History
Minor in Art History
VISUAL STUDIES & ART EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Art in Visual Studies, Bachelor of Science in Art Education
Please note that the information below refers specifically to requirements for admission. There are special requirements for applicants wishing to compete for portfolio scholarships. Be sure to review all the information regarding scholarship requirements and deadlines at the Tyler website.
Specfic Program Requirements – Undergraduate Bulletin
BA Arts in Visual Studies
BS Art Education
Freshman applicants
After completing the Temple online application, applicants must complete a required drawing exercise and a written essay and must submit a portfolio for consideration for admission.
For information about the portfolio format, specific drawing exercise and required essay click here.
BA in Visual Studies and BS in Art Education freshman applicants must call the Tyler Admissions Office to arrange a date for a portfolio review. The interview and portfolio review is a private session with a Tyler faculty member or a member of the Admissions staff. At this time you will present and discuss your portfolio of artwork. Admissions staff will be available to answer your questions before or after your interview. You may arrange to have a Tyler facility tour before or after your review. Tyler will also review portfolios at various National Portfolio Day events and at some high schools that we visit, time permitting.
Applicants living at a considerable distance from Philadelphia may elect to upload a portfolio via www.temple.slideroom.com. SlideRoom charges an additional fee for this service. Do not send CD-ROMs, DVDs, slides, slide carousels, portfolios, photographs, binders or original work through the mail. These are not acceptable and will not be reviewed or returned.
Transfer applicants
All transfer applicants must upload a portfolio consisting of a minimum of 20 images at www.temple.slideroom.com. At least two of the pieces should be drawn from direct observation (not from photographic references). SlideRoom charges an additional fee for this service. Make certain to include examples of coursework completed at the college level for both admissions and placement purposes. The Tyler transfer committee will review the work to determine studio placement into the BA in Visual Studies or BS in Art Education programs. Although an interview is not required for admission, transfer applicants are encouraged to make an appointment to tour the facilities. A maximum of 24 studio credits will be considered for transfer. Transfer students wishing to compete for portfolio-based scholarships must submit a self-portrait as described in the scholarship listing. All applicants must also complete a writing exercise via slideroom – please contact the Tyler Admissions Office for more information. Applicants who have not completed a college level drawing course must submit the drawing exercise (see above Freshman requirements). Do not send CD-ROMs, DVDs, slides, slide carousels, portfolios, photographs, binders or original work through the mail. These are not acceptable and will not be reviewed or returned.
Admission and studio placement will be based on the results of the review and the evaluation of the required drawing exercise and the required essay. Transfer applicants with few or no college level art courses should submit the freshman portfolio along with the required drawing exercise and essay. Specific portfolio requirements are available for download here.
ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMS
BS in Architecture, BS in Facilities Management, BS in Architectural Preservation
All new undergraduate BS degrees will begin with the common Architecture Undeclared curriculum which comprises the first 2 years of study. Places in the freshman year of this program are limited to 70. All students will be admitted directly to this program and will be identified as architecture undeclared majors. Temple University Admissions will consult directly with the Tyler Admissions Office in the admission of students.
Please note that the information below refers specifically to requirements for admission. There are special requirements for applicants wishing to compete for portfolio scholarships. Be sure to review all the information regarding scholarship requirements and deadlines at the Tyler website.
Freshman Admission
Admission to the architecture program is selective, based on a review of academic credentials. If a student is offered admission into Temple University but not into Architecture and wishes to be considered for admission to architecture, he/she required to submit a portfolio of artistic or creative work, as per requirements, procedures and assessment criteria specified by the Architecture Department. Specific portfolio format requirements are available for download here. Freshman admission is available for the fall semester only.
Transfer Admission
All transfer students must submit the online Temple University application at www.temple.edu/undergrad. Admission will be based on GPA and prior education. A portfolio is not required for consideration for admission, but may be submitted to enhance the application. Transfer students with previous credits in architecture from other institutions may be considered for admission to Tyler’s Architecture program with advanced standing based on portfolio review and evaluation of credits. Students who already hold a Bachelor's degree and certain other upper level transfer students may be eligible for consideration for participation in various options for acceleration. Placement is based upon prior architectural education and a review of a portfolio representing studio coursework completed, not merely the course descriptions or the number of credits earned at another institution.
Portfolios must be uploaded to www.temple.slideroom.com. SlideRoom charges a fee for this service. Students without college level architecture studio coursework may apply for the fall semester only.
Specfic Program Requirements – Undergraduate Bulletin
BS Architecture
BS Architecture Perservation
BS Facilities Management