Transfer Students

UTC Art welcomes transfer students from regional universities and community colleges, as well as students relocating to Chattanooga from higher learning institutions across the country.

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The Department of Art participates in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway program to provide a path to a bachelor’s degree beginning at an eligible Tennessee community college. The time to the completion of your degree will vary based on the credits you transfer in and the degree program you intend to pursue. Read more about transferring into specific degree programs below.

Visit our Programs page for more information about our degree programs. If you will be transferring in from a regional community college or university you can also consult the Records Office transfer equivalency chart.

BFA Transfer Information

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees can usually be completed in three years after transferring with the appropriate ttp Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art or Associate of Fine Arts degree.

Students who wish to transfer into a BFA program at UTC must take or have equivalent credit for art 1010, art 1020, art 1050, and art 1060. UTC Art will also accept equivalent credit for the Art History survey sequence, art 2140 and art 2150.

Transfer students seeking a BFA must compete in the Portfolio Review by registering for art 2900 in the Spring semester following the completion of required sophomore-level courses.

In order to be eligible for Portfolio Review, sophomore-level courses must be taken at UTC. These vary by concentration area. Except by special permission of the Department Head, transfer credits will not be accepted for the following courses:

Graphic Design: art 2601 and art 2611

Painting & Drawing: art 2070 and art 2080

Photography & Media Art: art 2810 and art 2820

Sculpture: art 2330 and art 3360

Learn more about the differences between BFA and BA degrees on our Programs page.

About Portfolio Review

Portfolio Review is required of all bfa candidates. Students enroll in Art 2900 during the Spring semester of the sophomore year of a student’s matriculation in the program (for transfer students, this is often the first year at UTC). The review is a formal assessment of the student’s studio performance as well as oral and written competency as it pertains to the designated concentration area. In addition to the portfolio review, the student’s overall academic record will be evaluated for quality and seriousness of purpose. A history of excessive absences, significant lack of participation, withdrawals, or incompletes may result in denial of progression.

If, in the year of review, there is a high interest in a particular program of study, only the most qualified students will be admitted into their desired concentration area. In such cases, students not offered entrance into their desired degree may work with their advisors to determine the best options for next steps. Portfolio Review provides students with an assessment of their potential for success early enough to allow them to change their major, should that be advisable.

Students will receive a “Satisfactory” or “No Progress” grade for Art 2900 at the determination of the Portfolio Review Committee, which is comprised of full-time departmental faculty. To be eligible for Portfolio Review, students must have completed all pre-requisites, be enrolled in required co-requisites, and meet a minimum Art gpa of 2.5.

Students who do not satisfactorily complete the review will be unable to enroll in many upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level) in Art except by special permission of the Department Head. Students will have only one opportunity to reapply for admission into the BFA in a chosen concentration by retaking Art 2900 the following spring.

BA Transfer Information

Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees can be completed in two years with the appropriate ttp Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art or Associate of Fine Arts degree.

Students who wish to transfer into a BA in Studio Art, Art History, or Art Education at UTC, must take or have equivalent credit for art 1010, art 1020, art 1050, and art 1060. UTC Art will also accept equivalent credit for the Art History survey sequence, art 2140 and art 2150. The Portfolio Review is not required for badegrees.