Art Transfer Students

Art student works on a sculpture

Welcome Transfer Students!

Transfer students bring a variety of experiences and talents and enrich our educational community. If you are transferring to Rhode Island College to complete your studies as an art major or a minor, the following information will assist in guiding you through the process.

Transfer Portfolio Reviews

Studio Art coursework completed at other institutions must be approved for Art Program credit via a portfolio review. Because curricula and courses vary among colleges, the portfolio reviews determine optimal placement in RIC’s challenging studio art programs. Your plan of study will be determined by the abilities you demonstrate in the work submitted for your portfolio. Being prepared for more advance coursework is essential for successful completion of your degree program.

The Portfolio Review Process

Your art work will be evaluated by Art Department faculty to determine if it meets the standards of a corresponding RIC Studio Art course. Approved portfolios will be granted RIC Art Program credit. Courses that are not approved for program credit will remain in the elective category. Elective credits will accumulate toward your degree, but not fulfill specific Art Program requirements.

A portfolio review is not required for admission to RIC and is not required for ART 201 or for art history courses.

Students may view a list of corresponding studio art courses using RIC’s Transfer Evaluation System (TES). Students transferring from CCRI or URI are advised to visit the state transfer website for more information regarding transfer within the RI state system.

Courses Without RIC Equivalents on the RIC TES

If a 3-4 credit studio course is not listed on the RIC TES or is designated as “99999 Free Elective” or “XFER 999 Free Elective,” students may still submit a portfolio for these classes and may receive program or elective credit. Examples of such classes include Color, Watercolor, Digital Art, Web Design, etc.

Transferred courses may be approved for RIC Art Program Credit in the following 3 categories.

1. Full Art Program Credit — All Art Programs
The portfolio is approved for requirements in all Art Programs: BA Studio Art, BA Art History, BFA Studio Art, BS Art Education or the Minor in Studio Art. Minimum grade requirements apply.

2. Studio Elective or Art Elective for the BA Studio Art or BFA Studio Art Program
The portfolio is approved as a Studio Elective or Art Elective for the BA in Studio Art or BFA in Studio Art Program. 
While the portfolio exhibits skills that will support your development as an artist or designer, it is missing some skills or content taught in the RIC Art Curriculum, and therefore cannot replace a RIC Foundations or Studio Concentration courses.

3. Art Elective for the BA Studio Art Program
The transferred course is approved as an Art Elective for the BA in Studio Art Program. 
For Studio Art Courses: The portfolio includes some good examples but is missing a significant portion of skills or content taught within the RIC curriculum and therefore cannot replace a Foundations, Studio Concentration, or Studio Elective course.
For Non-Studio Art Courses: The course description shows that the course will support your studies; however, cannot replace RIC Art History or Art Education requirements.

Transferred Courses Not Approved for RIC Art Program Credit
Portfolios/courses that do not meet the standards listed above will remain in the General Elective or General Education category per Admissions and accumulate as credits taken on your MyRIC Academic Record.

Digital Portfolios

While physical portfolios with original art may be submitted, the digital format is most often used. Students may save their portfolios to a cloud storage account or web site and email the link to the Art Department. To avoid delays in your review decision, please follow the guidelines.

  1. Digital portfolios must be sorted by course.
  2. Images should be no larger than 1000 pixels in height or width at 72 dpi.
  3. File formats must be PDF, JPEG, PNG, or GIF. Video files should be MPEG4 or MOV format.
  4. Please attach or include the completed Transfer Form. Save as "Your_Name_Transfer_Form".

Digital portfolios can be submitted by emailing Cloud Storage or URL links to: artdepartment@ric.edu
Subject: Transfer Portfolio Submission

DO NOT attach image files to your email.

Digital portfolios may also be saved to a USB flash drive and delivered to the Art Department Administration Office, located in Alex and Ani Hall, room 143. Please include a printed copy of your Transfer Form.

Details are in the sections below.

Art Transfer Student FAQs

Studio art course credits transferred to RIC with a minimum grade of C are listed on the student’s transfer report in the elective category. (The code “XFER 999” will be entered into the equivalent course column.) Elective credits accumulate towards the degree, but do not fulfill specific program requirements unless approved by the Art Department via a portfolio review. 

Students who have been accepted to the college should submit their transfer portfolios for review the semester before they intend to begin their studies at RIC. It will be essential to have your portfolio/s reviewed as early as possible so you know which courses you are eligible for.

Portfolios submitted after the Fall or Spring Semesters end, or during Summer Session will be reviewed as soon as possible.  
 

Preparedness for the next level in your degree program is the main criteria. Because curricula and courses vary among colleges, the portfolio reviews determine optimal placement in RIC’s challenging studio art programs.

The Art Department will provide review results as soon as possible. Be sure to include all contact information on the Transfer Form.

Students may also call 401.456.8054 or visit the administration office to ask about their review.

New B.S. Art Education Intended Majors (IM) and B.A. Studio Art majors who have NOT received transfer portfolio review results should enroll in ART 101: Drawing I AND ART 104: Design I to insure they have a place in each class. 

In the event a portfolio is approved just before or at the beginning of a semester, it may be possible to enroll in the next level course.* Deadlines for adding/dropping courses are published on the RIC Academic Calendar.

* Foundations courses are often filled to maximum capacity by the end of the previous semester's registration period. Please submit your portfolios as early as possible.

If a portfolio is not approved, the transferred studio art course credits will remain in the elective category and accumulate towards graduation. If the course is a degree requirement, it must be completed at RIC. Discuss your plan of study with an art faculty adviser.

It is important for students to complete their degree in as few semesters as possible.

In the event that transferred courses are not approved for program credit, students are encouraged to discuss their plans of study with an art faculty adviser. Although customized plans of study may expedite the degree, transfer students often need more time to complete their program of study.

Any decisions regarding the plan of study are contingent on the student’s academic goals, grades, overall GPA, final Admissions Office decisions regarding course transfers and Department of Art approvals.
 

The number of examples submitted will depend on how many projects were completed in the course. Generally, it is assumed there will be several studies/gesture drawings and a minimum of 5 finished drawings in drawing courses, and a selection of exercises and approximately 8 projects in design courses (including Foundations in Digital Media). 
For studio concentration courses (Ceramics, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Metals/Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture) a minimum of 5–10 finished projects are expected.

1. Work from each studio course being transferred
Please include as many examples as possible to support your request, presented in an organized manner and sorted by course. 
2. Completed Transfer Portfolio Form 
Use the link below to download the Transfer Form. Forms are also available at the art department administration office.  
3. Transcripts from your previous college (If available at time of review.)
Admissions will request transcripts for final transfer credit decisions. Credits for approved studio art courses must transfer to RIC.
4. Course Descriptions
Include course descriptions for each course from the previous college’s catalog. 
 

Original artwork may be delivered in a portfolio or protective container. Please be sure that items are secure and can be easily taken out for review and replaced. Large works of art should be photographed for submission.

Photographs of Artwork
Photographs of artwork must be good quality. Multiple views of folded works, booklets and 3-D artworks are recommended. Please label with dimension, medium and course name.

Digital Portfolios
Students may submit digital portfolios, sorted by course, on a USB flash drive or by emailing Cloud Storage or URL links to the department. 
Digital submissions must show sufficient detail in order to assess concept and design. Items that fold, booklets or 3-D artwork and design examples should include multiple views. Images should be no larger than 1000 pixels in height or width at 72 dpi. File formats must be PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, MPEG4, OR MOV.

Foundations in Digital Media Portfolios
Transfer students may submit a USB flash drive or link to a cloud storage account or URL via email with up to 20 images of their previous digital media work.
The submitted work samples should include, but are not limited to, pixel-based and vector-based art works. 2-D time-based, 3-D modeling, rendering, animation, 3-D prints and video game design work may also be submitted.
Students who seek credit for ART 107: Foundations in Digital Media have the option of including any combination of images, video links, etc. on video hosting sites, such as Vimeo or YouTube. Static images should be in JPEG format. GIF animations may also be included.
Name each file with “Artist’s Last Name_Artist’s First Name_Number.jpg,” (e.g., “Evans_Amy_01.jpg”, “Evans_Amy_02.jpg” etc.). Video files should be MPEG4 or MOV format. 
Please note the review committee will not view a video sample that exceeds five minutes, so please edit your materials accordingly. Any other projects, such as applications or video games, should be compatible with MAC computers.
 
Portfolios for Studio Concentration Courses
Students may submit portfolios for Ceramics, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography,* Printmaking, Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design and Sculpture.

* Photography Portfolios:
A portion of photography portfolios may be submitted in digital form; however, a selection of prints and proof sheets must also be included.

Portfolios for Other Concentration Areas
Transferred courses that do not have a direct equivalent at RIC typically remain in the elective category. However, work from other studio art concentrations may exhibit skills that demonstrate readiness for more advanced coursework in the RIC curriculum. Students may submit work from concentration areas not offered at RIC (e.g. Glass, Fiber Arts, etc.) for review if they feel that work may support requests for program credit in Foundations or Concentration courses offered at RIC.
 

Because the majority of transfer requests are for foundations courses, additional information describing specific criteria used in the review is included here.

Examples of RIC student foundations artwork
To see examples of Foundations art work completed by RIC students, please go to the Foundations in Art page.

ART 101: Drawing I: Basic Drawing
The portfolio must demonstrate adequate abilities in the use of art elements and compositional strategies. Competent use of line, shape, value, proportion, organization of space, perspective, and composition are essential considerations.

ART 104: Design I: Two-Dimensional Design
The portfolio must demonstrate adequate abilities in the use of art elements, including color theory, and principles of organization. Competent use of visual structure, color, organization of space, problem-solving skills, and quality of execution are essential considerations.

ART 105: Drawing II: Figure Drawing
The portfolio must demonstrate the use of the basic visual language to effectively design coherent and unified compositions based on the analysis and interpretation of visual perception, as well as skills in two-point perspective, foreshortening, shape, line, tone, composition, expression, media and anatomy. Competence in the use of structural and gestural lines, linear variation and tone are essential considerations.

ART 107: Foundations in Digital Media
In order to receive credit for Foundations in Digital Media, students must prove basic proficiency in digital image capture. Portfolios must demonstrate basic abilities of organizing visual elements, composition, form and space, light and color, and combine fundamental artistic knowledge with pixel-based and vector-based digital imagery.

ART 114: Design II: Three-Dimensional Design
Portfolios must demonstrate adequate skills in visual structuring, basic problem-solving, process and media as it relates to the development of form and basic materials construction and manipulation skills. Competence in visual structuring strategies, sequencing, dimensional evolution, understanding and use of both planar and volumetric form, sophistication of concepts and craft are essential considerations.

ART 204: Synthesis/Three-Dimensional Emphasis
If submitting a portfolio to request program credit for ART 204: Synthesis/Three-Dimensional Emphasis, the portfolio must adequately demonstrate abilities more advanced than the first five Foundations courses. Typically, students at this level of study are simultaneously enrolled in a level-one Studio Concentration course. A series of works that demonstrate a consistent personal investigation and a high level of technical proficiency must be present in the portfolio for a positive review

ART 205: Synthesis/Two-Dimensional Emphasis
If submitting a portfolio to request program credit for ART 205: Synthesis/Two-Dimensional Emphasis, the portfolio must adequately demonstrate abilities more advanced than the first five foundations courses. Typically, students at this level of study are simultaneously enrolled in a level-one Studio Concentration course. A series of works that demonstrate a consistent personal investigation and a high level of technical proficiency must be present in the portfolio for a positive review.
 

Portfolios may be delivered to:
The Department of Art Administration Office
ALEX AND ANI Hall #143 (Near the South Entrance)
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908

For office hours please call 401-456-8054 or email artdepartment@ric.edu

For digital portfolios on USB drives:
Please place the USB Drive in an envelope with the completed Transfer Portfolio Form.

For cloud storage or URL links:
Email to: artdepartment@ric.edu
Subject: Transfer Portfolio Submission
The completed Transfer Portfolio Form may be included as an attachment.
Please do not attach images to this email.

Transfer Portfolio Form:
Please download and complete the Art Department Transfer form (located in the section below). If uploading or attaching to an email, please save as "Your_Name_Transfer_Portfolio_Form" and include it with your transfer portfolio submission/s.

note

Transfer Portfolio Form

Please complete the Transfer Portfolio Form and include it with your transfer portfolio submission/s.

Program Details

Admission Requirements

A portfolio review is not required for admission to Rhode Island College and is not required for ART 201 or for art history courses.

Studio Art coursework completed at other institutions must be approved for Art Program credit via a portfolio review. Because curricula and courses vary among colleges, the portfolio reviews determine optimal placement in RIC’s challenging studio art programs. Your plan of study will be determined by the abilities you demonstrate in the work submitted for your portfolio. Being prepared for more advance coursework is essential for successful completion of your degree program. 

Students may view a list of corresponding studio art courses using RIC’s Transfer Evaluation System (TES). Students transferring from CCRI or URI are advised to visit the state transfer website for more information regarding transfer within the RI state system.

Transfer students may also refer to the Rhode Island College Office of Undergraduate Admissions transfer requirements.

Portfolio Guidelines

What to Include in Your Portfolio 
  1. Artwork from each studio course being transferred. Please include as many examples as possible to support your request, presented in an organized manner and sorted by course. 
  2. A completed Transfer Form. (Download from the section above.)
  3. Transcripts from your previous college, if available at the time of review.  
  4. Course descriptions of transferred courses (from the previous college’s catalog). 
Acceptable Forms of Artwork 

Original work is the preferred presentation for 2-D design and drawing portfolios; however, photographs or digital submissions are acceptable. Poorly organized portfolios may not be reviewed. 

Original artwork may be delivered in a portfolio or protective container. Please be sure that the items are secure and can be easily taken out for review and replaced.  

Large works of art should be photographed for submission due to limited storage space and for ease of transport. Photographs of artwork must be good quality. Multiple views of folded works, booklets and 3-D artworks are recommended. Please label photographs with dimension, medium and course name.  

Digital submissions must be sorted by course and may be delivered on a USB drive or by emailing cloud storage or URL links to the Art Department. Please refer to the How to Submit Portfolios tab to the right. Do not attach art to emails. Digital submissions must show sufficient detail in order to assess concept and design. Items that fold, booklets or 3-D artwork and design examples should include multiple views. Images should be no larger than 1000 pixels in height or width at 72 dpi. File formats must be pdf, jpeg, png or gif. 

Portfolios for Digital Media Foundations Courses 

Transfer students may submit a USB drive or link to a cloud storage account or URL via email with up to 20 images of their previous digital media work. 

The submitted work sample should include, but is not limited to, 2-D pixel-based and vector-based digital art, digital photography and digital manipulated images. 2-D time-based, 3-D modeling, rendering, animation, 3-D prints and video game design work may also be submitted. 

Students have the option of including any combination of images, video links, etc. on video hosting sites, such as Vimeo or YouTube. Static images should be in jpeg format. 

Name each jpeg file with “Artist’s Last Name_Artist’s First Name_Number.jpg,” (e.g., “Evans_Amy_01.jpg”, “Evans_Amy_02.jpg” etc.). Video files should be mpeg4 or mov format. Please note the committee will not view video samples that exceed five minutes, so please edit your materials accordingly. Any other projects, such as applications or video games, should be compatible with Mac computers. 

Portfolios for Studio Concentration Courses 

Students may submit portfolios for ceramics, digital media, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, metalsmithing and jewelry design and sculpture.  

Portfolios for Photography 

A portion of photography portfolios may be submitted in digital form; however, a selection of prints and proof sheets must also be included. 

Portfolios for Other Concentration Areas 

Transferred courses that do not have a direct equivalent at RIC typically remain in the elective category. However, work from other studio art concentrations may exhibit skills that demonstrate readiness for more advanced coursework. Students may submit work from concentration areas not offered at RIC (e.g. glass, fiber arts, etc.) for review if they feel that their work will support requests for program credit in foundations or concentration courses offered at RIC. 

Portfolios for Foundations Courses 

Because the majority of transfer portfolios are for foundations courses, the following foundation courses offered at RIC will describe the specific criteria used in the review: 

ART 101: Drawing I: Basic Drawing 
The portfolio must demonstrate adequate abilities in the use of art elements and compositional strategies. Competent use of line, shape, value, proportion, organization of space, perspective and composition are essential considerations.​ 

ART 104: Design I: Two-Dimensional Design 
The portfolio must demonstrate adequate abilities in the use of art elements, including color theory and principles of organization. Competent use of visual structure, color, organization of space, problem-solving skills and quality of execution are essential considerations.  

ART 105: Drawing II: Figure Drawing 
The portfolio must demonstrate the use of the basic visual language to effectively design coherent and unified compositions based on the analysis and interpretation of visual perception, as well as skills in two-point perspective, foreshortening, shape, line, tone, composition, expression, media and anatomy. Competence in the use of structural and gestural lines, linear variation and tone are essential considerations. 

ART 107: Foundations in Digital Media 
In order to receive credit for Foundations in Digital Media, students must prove basic proficiency in digital image capture. Please include digital photographs or video. Portfolios must demonstrate basic abilities of organizing visual elements, composition, form and space, light and color and combine fundamental artistic knowledge with pixel-based and vector-based digital imagery. 

ART 114: Design II: Three-Dimensional Design 
Portfolios must demonstrate adequate skills in visual structuring, basic problem-solving, process and media as it relates to the development of form and basic materials construction and manipulation skills. Competence in visual structuring strategies, sequencing, dimensional evolution, understanding and use of both planar and volumetric form, sophistication of concepts and craft are essential considerations. 

ART 204: Synthesis/Three-Dimensional Emphasis 
If submitting a portfolio to request program credit for ART 204: Synthesis/Three-Dimensional Emphasis, the portfolio must adequately demonstrate abilities more advanced than the first five foundations courses. Typically, students at this level of study are simultaneously enrolled in a level-one studio concentration course. A series of works that demonstrate a consistent personal investigation and a high level of technical proficiency must be present in the portfolio for a positive review. 

ART 205: Synthesis/Two-Dimensional Emphasis 
If submitting a portfolio to request program credit for ART 205: Synthesis/Two-Dimensional Emphasis, the portfolio must adequately demonstrate abilities more advanced than the first five foundations courses. Typically, students at this level of study are simultaneously enrolled in a level-one studio concentration course. A series of works that demonstrate a consistent personal investigation and a high level of technical proficiency must be present in the portfolio for a positive review.​

How to Submit Portfolios

Portfolios may be delivered to:
The Department of Art Administration Office
ALEX AND ANI Hall #143 (Near the South Entrance)
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908

For office hours please call 401-456-8054 or email artdepartment@ric.edu

For digital portfolios on USB drives:
Please place the USB Drive in an envelope with the completed Transfer Portfolio Form.

For cloud storage or URL links:
Email to: artdepartment@ric.edu
Subject: Transfer Portfolio Submission
The completed Transfer Portfolio Form may be included as an attachment.
Please do not attach images to this email.

Transfer Portfolio Form:

Please download and complete the Art Department Transfer form. If uploading or attaching to an email, please save as "Your_Name_Transfer_Portfolio_Form" and include it with your transfer portfolio submission/s.