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Temple University Home Page -- Undergraduate Bulletin Main Page
founded 1935
Rochelle Toner, Dean
An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; affiliated with the consortium of East Coast Art Schools.
The Tyler School of Art provides a comprehensive curriculum in the visual arts on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Professional programs are offered in Ceramics and Glass, Fibers and Fabric Design, Graphic Design, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Evening and summer classes are available.
In addition to the studio component, a full academic program is offered on the Tyler Campus, providing the University Core Curriculum requirements necessary to complete the BFA degree.
The resources of Temple University are also available to the Tyler student, who may participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities or enroll in academic courses at other Temple campus locations. Tyler's curriculum is designed to give sound preparation to the future artist while at the same time avoiding narrow vocational goals. The freshman foundation program and introductory courses in each studio area develop a thorough understanding of fundamental processes and information. Advanced courses in the majors stress the development of an individual idiom and preparation for the professional world. At Tyler, art students find an atmosphere of aesthetic freedom that encourages personal experimentation and the exploration of visual concepts.
Rome
Juniors may elect a year or semester abroad. Housed in the Villa Caproni, facing the Tiber River just north of the Piazza del Popolo, the school offers courses in painting, drawing, graphic design, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Facilities include a library, an art gallery, private work areas, and full equipment in studio disciplines. Art history is taught through direct observation of original works and historic sites. The student also may elect courses in Italian, anthropology, history, or literature offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information about Study Abroad options, see International Programs and Study Abroad.
Scotland
In conjunction with the Glasgow School of Art, the Crafts Department of the Tyler School of Art offers an intensive studio program in Scotland. The program consists of four weeks of traveling and intensive studio workshops in a variety of media while exploring the art, culture, and geographic beauty of Great Britain.
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Entering undergraduates are admitted to Tyler by the Director of Admissions of Temple University after consultation with Tyler's Assistant Dean for Admissions following the review of the student's academic record and art portfolio. This procedure requires the applicant to file all records and test scores in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions of Temple University on the Main Campus. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
September admission applications should be filed no later than March 31 of the previous academic year. For January admission, application should be made prior to November 15 of the previous semester. After the priority deadline dates, applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis.
Applications and application materials may be obtained by
calling: (215) 782-2828 or (215) 782-2875
or writing: Office of Admissions, Tyler School of Art of Temple
University (801-00), Beech and Penrose Avenues, Elkins Park,
Pennsylvania 19027
Portfolio Review
In addition to satisfying academic requirements, all freshmen applicants are required to present a portfolio for evaluation. Regularly scheduled portfolio reviews are held on the Tyler Campus. Applicants living at a considerable distance from Tyler may elect to submit a portfolio in 35mm slide form instead of appearing for an in-person interview. Those who live in or near the Philadelphia area, however, are expected to present a portfolio of original work during a review day.
This is an occasion when applicants and their families may see the campus and discuss Tyler's educational program with faculty, staff, and students.
While the application to Tyler is being processed by Temple University, an interview by a member of the Tyler faculty must be arranged. All work included in the portfolio should have been completed during the previous year and should represent as broad a selection as possible: drawings from life, work in both color and black and white media, design examples, photography, prints, crafts, or sculpture. Portfolios must include five strong examples of drawing from observation regardless of the major the applicant wishes to pursue. No work that is copied from photographs or magazines should be included. It is not necessary to mat or frame any of the art work for this presentation. If slides are used, they are best shot outdoors in the shade using daylight film. Original work must not be sent through the mail. Instead, between ten and twenty pieces of work should be brought in for the portfolio review.
The freshman applicant is advised to submit work done independently as well as under instruction. The transfer student should submit work that is representative of the college level studio work completed to date.
In order to complete the application, an 81/2 x 11 self-portrait, in pencil from a mirror reflection, must be sent to Tyler. The application is not considered complete without the self-portrait; it becomes a permanent part of the application and is not returned. This self-portrait should not be framed or matted. Please refer to the Tyler catalogue for more information.
Transfer Students
To enroll with advanced standing, applicants must fulfill the admission requirements of Temple University as well as the special requirements of the School of Art. Applicants should demonstrate a level of art performance appropriate to the year for which they are applying. Usually this requires completion of a proportion of studio and academic courses comparable to that taken by Tyler students, as well as a comparable portfolio of 20 slides. The slides should represent all studio coursework taken, as well as work towards a specific major. The slides must also include five strong examples of drawing from observation regardless of the major the applicant wishes to pursue.
All transfer students must submit a slide portfolio through the U.S. mail instead of an in-person review of art work. To be as fair and precise as possible in making transfer decisions it is necessary to consistently apply a uniform standard to all applicants. A transfer committee comprised of Tyler faculty and the Assistant Dean for Admissions will review the slide portfolios and academic records of each application to determine the best placement level possible. However, we strongly encourage all transfer applicants to visit the Tyler campus and to schedule a campus tour.
Tyler accepts transfer students from accredited institutions of higher education and strives to keep any loss of credit to a minimum. The transfer student will be required to complete a minimum of 30 studio credits as a full-time student on the Tyler campus. A maximum of 64 credits may be transferred from two-year institutions. In order to be transferable to the B.F.A. degree, studio credits must have been completed within the last 10 years.
If the transfer student has not completed the equivalent of Tyler's Foundation Program, the deficient courses will be required the first semester at Tyler.
Transfer students are admitted at a specific studio level (second semester sophomore, first semester junior, etc.) which is determined by transferable courses, academic performance, and the portfolio evaluation by Tyler faculty.
Readmission Policy
All students who have attended Tyler School of Art of Temple University who wish to be considered for readmission to Tyler must fill out a readmission application available through the Associate Dean's office. For those students who left Tyler in good academic standing, who apply for readmission into a semester within three years of the last completed semester, no portfolio review or interview is required. A slide portfolio is required for those students who have not attended Tyler for more than three years from the semester in which they intend to apply for readmission. A slide portfolio is also required for all students who are dismissed from Tyler. Students who are dismissed from Tyler must also prove readiness to reenter the program by successfully completing a semester's worth of transferable credits (15) with a 2.5 cumulative G.P.A. from a fully accredited college or university. Any student who attends another college or university and has taken studio art credits must send in slides that represent studio coursework completed in order to have those credits considered for transfer credit into the Tyler BFA program.
All slide portfolios must be sent to the Assistant Dean for Admissions who will present them to the Transfer Committee for review. The slides of readmission applicants with 36 or more total studio credits which have been satisfactorily completed within the 10 years prior to the semester for which they seek admission will also be sent to the area chairperson or senior faculty for review. The final decision regarding readmission will depend on both the recommendation of the transfer committee as well as the review of academic credentials by the Associate Dean.
Any student applying for readmission must be aware that Tyler will not accept studio credits from transfer or readmission applicants that are more than 10 years old into the BFA curriculum regardless of where those credits were completed.
Academic credits will be accepted into the BFA program as determined by Temple University policy for the semester in which the student is applying for readmission.
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Emergency Assistance and Awards
Emergency Assistance. Funds donated by alumni and friends of the School are available to students in the form of emergency grants and loans. Among these are the Samson Freedman Memorial Fund, the Billikopf Fund, and the Stella Elkins Tyler Memorial Fund.
Scholarships. Student accepted into the BFA degree program are eligible for merit and financial need scholarships. No special application is necessary. Please contact the Admissions Office.
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The University policies and regulations generally apply to all undergraduate students and provide a framework within which schools and colleges may specify further conditions or variations appropriate to students in their courses or programs.
Courses Inapplicable to Graduation
Credits earned in ELECT, SRAP, Mathematics 0015 (formerly Math 0001) and Military Science are not included in the minimum number of credits required for graduation. Mathematics 0045 (formerly Math 0002) may be included only when taken as an elective. Courses transferred from other institutions or taken at Temple University which do not satisfy studio, art history, or core curriculum requirements, are elective and inapplicable toward degree completion.
Honors
Each semester, those undergraduates who have a 3.50 average in 15 or more credit hours for the previous semester are placed on the Dean's List. Upon completing the BFA degree, a student with a 3.25 average is graduated cum laude; 3.50, magna cum laude; 3.75, summa cum laude.
Loss or Damage
Temple University is not responsible for loss of property of any student or other individual due to fire, theft, or other cause. The University may require dormitory students to present proof of insurance against loss by fire, theft, or other cause before assignment to any dormitory facility.
Student Art Work
The School reserves the right to keep art work submitted for course credit. In practice, this privilege is exercised sparingly but, in certain studio areas, the selection of one piece by each graduating student contributes to an important instructional collection.
Registration and Records
Tyler Hall, Room 201
215-782-2751
Monday through Friday, by appointment
Office of the Academic Coordinator
207 Tyler Hall
(215) 782-2780
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and by
appointment
Major Advising:
Art and Art Education (Main)
Anderson Hall, Room 311
215-204-7191
Art Education (Tyler)
Tyler Hall, Room 304
215-782-2730
Art History (Main)
Ritter Annex, 8th Floor
215-204-7837
Crafts
Penrose Hall, Room 305
215-782-2868
Graphic Arts and Design
Penrose Hall, Room 302
215-782-2869
Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture
Penrose Hall, Room 303
215-782-2870
Advising is provided, individually and in groups, to full-time matriculated students enrolled in Tyler School of Art. Additionally, the Wednesday before the start of telephone registration is set aside each semester for advising purposes, at which time students receive their DARS and meet with an advisor. First year students are advised by the Academic Coordinator and are automatically registered by the Tyler Office of Registration and Records. Studio advising is provided in the second year by sophomore studio advisors as assigned in each area. Major advising is by studio advisors in the student's area with academic advising provided by the Academic Coordinator and the Tyler Office of Registration and Records.
Freshmen are automatically scheduled for both their fall and spring semester classes. Midway through their second semester, freshmen meet with an adviser whose responsibility is to advise students for their first sophomore semester.
Sophomores also meet with an adviser who will help them register for their second sophomore semester. When sophomores register for their junior year, they are assigned to a major adviser, who will be a faculty member from the major they enter and will continue to advise the student during her junior and senior years on studio matters.
Transfer students should consult the Tyler Office of Registration and Records for advising.
Additional Advising Services
The Associate Dean (Tyler Hall, Room 200; 215-782-2718) is available for advising that cannot be handled through normal channels, or to help with special problems.
The Academic Coordinator (Tyler Hall, Room 207; 215-782-2780) should be contacted if there are questions concerning Composition C050, Intellectual Heritage, and other Core curriculum requirements, or developmental courses in English and mathematics.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 132 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
Curriculum
Three Requirement Areas
Four Year Sequence
| Freshman | Fall | Spring |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 |
| 2-D Design | 3 | 3 |
| 3-D Design | 3 | 3 |
| Art Heritage I and II | 4 | 4 |
| Composition C050 | 3 | - |
| Intellectual Heritage I | - | 3 |
| Total: 34 credits | 17 | 17 |
| Sophomore | ||
| Studio electives | 9 | 9 |
| Intellectual Heritage II | 3 | - |
| University Core Curriculum | 6 | 9 |
| Total: 33 credits | 18 | 18 |
| Junior | ||
| Studio major | 6 | 6 |
| Studio electives | 3 | 6 |
| University Core Curriculum | 6 | 3 |
| Total: 30 credits | 15 | 15 |
| Senior | ||
| Studio major | 6 | 6 |
| Studio electives | 6 | 6 |
| Art History elective | 4 | 4 |
| Total: 32 credits | 16 | 16 |
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Freshman Year
The Freshman Foundation program in drawing, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional, design forms the base that establishes the fundamental studio practices and principles for all visual art expression. In addition to presenting traditional vocabulary, theory, media, and technique, the program develops perceptual and imaginative abilities.
Studio requirements
Art History requirements
Sophomore Year
Sophomore studio electives serve as prerequisites to enter the major, of which one specific course is required in each major. The sophomore year also offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of studio areas. This experience gives the necessary background with which to make an informed selection of a major and adds to the overall breadth of the educational experience.
Requirements
Junior and Senior Years
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is completed after a final, two year, concentration in a major studio area. Teaching in the major stresses the development of an individual idiom and preparation for the professional world. Because expressive work is often achieved by synthesis of disparate media, a substantial amount of studio work outside the major is allowed.
Requirements
BFA Degree with Teaching Certification
This program leads to certification for teaching art in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students must complete BFA requirements along with a three-year department core in Education and Art Education which begins in the sophomore year. Because of increased requirements, four years plus one summer session are usually necessary to fulfill all requirements.
Total 149 credits
| Freshman | Fall | Spring |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 |
| 2-D Design | 3 | 3 |
| 3-D Design | 3 | 3 |
| Art Heritage I and II | 4 | 4 |
| Intellectual Heritage I | - | 3 |
| Composition C050 | 3 | - |
| Total: 34 credits | 17 | 17 |
| Sophomore | ||
| Three Studio Courses | 9 | 9 |
| Art History Elective 1 | - | 4 |
| Intellectual Heritage II | 3 | - |
| Education 0110 (prereq. for Art Ed. 0085) | - | 4 |
| Psychology 0050 (prereq. for Ed. 0110 and 0121) | 3 | - |
| University Core | 3 | - |
| Total: 35 credits | 18 | 17 |
| Junior | ||
| Studio courses | 9 | 12 |
| Art Education 0085 | - | 4 |
| Speech Communication 0065 | - | 2 |
| University Core 1 | 3 | - |
| Art History Elective 1 | 4 | - |
| Total: 34 credits | 16 | 18 |
| Summer Session - Main or Ambler Campus | ||
| Education 0121 (prereq. for Art Ed. 0187) | 3 | |
| Education 0132 (prereq. for Art Ed. 0187) | 1 | |
| Education X060 (prereq. for Art Ed. 0187) | 3 | |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Total: 13 credits | 13 | |
| Senior | Fall | Spring |
| Studio Courses | 12 | 3 |
| Art Ed. 0187 (Student Teaching) | - | 12 |
| Academic Core | 6 | - |
| Total: 33 credits | 18 | 15 |
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This web version written by Mary England 1/98
Comments and questions concerning this web version of the bulletin or requests for adding reference marks for linking to subsections of a page may be sent to Robert Schneider.