Art Transfer Students

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.

Students requesting RIC Art Program credit for transferred courses will be required to select a major and, if applicable, studio concentration on the Transfer Form. Our Records Officers will need this information in order to update your Transcript, Transfer Report and Academic Advisement Report (AAR).

Not sure which art major to choose? 

Select the art major and (if applicable) studio concentration and/or minor you are most interested in at the moment. You may update your choices later through the Art Department’s Administration Office if you change your mind.  

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 via email as soon as possible — usually within two weeks. To avoid delays, please include your email address, along with other important information, on the Transfer Form. 

Please contact the Chair of the Portfolio Review Committee if you have questions.

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.

*Please Note: 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 may depend on how many projects were completed in the course. Generally, it is assumed there will be several studies/gesture drawings and approximately 5 finished drawings in drawing courses, and a selection of exercises/studies and approximately 5 projects in 2-D and 3-D design courses, and approximately 5 – 7 projects in courses such as Foundations in Digital Media. 

For studio concentration courses (Ceramics, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Metals/Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture) it is recommended that you submit the projects completed in the course. 

Please limit the number of submissions to 20 image files for each course. Up to three multiple views of a 3-D project or project with pages will be considered one submission.

Please include up to 20 examples of your best work from each course, presented in an organized manner.

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 Theory, Watercolor, Digital Art, Web Design, etc.

Website Portfolios or Portfolios Uploaded to Cloud Storage

You will be able to paste the link/s directly into the Transfer Portfolio Form. Images of your art and design course work 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. Pixel dimension should be no larger than 1000 in height or width at 72 dpi, and image size should not exceed 20 MB (Megabytes). File formats may be JPEG, PNG, GIF, MPEG4, OR MOV.

Please do not include PDF files or excessively large files to Google Drive or other Cloud Storage service.

If using Adobe Publish Online or Share For Review, the link should be included on the Transfer Form.

Digital Portfolios on USB

Students may submit digital portfolios, sorted by course, on a USB flash drive. Images should be no larger than 1000 pixels in height or width at 72 dpi. File formats may be JPEG, PNG, GIF, MPEG4, OR MOV. PDF files can be included on a USB flash drive.

Original Artwork

Original artworks 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.

Printed 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.

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 if you are seeking credit for ART 217: Introduction to Photography. 

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

Foundations in Art provides examples of Foundations art work completed by RIC students.

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.

1. Download the Art Department Transfer Form
   To complete the form, we recommend Adobe Acrobat® or Preview®.
2. Submission: Forms are to be completed and submitted as an email attachment.
   ​For cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive), URLs, Adobe Publish Online or Share For Review links: Paste the link/s into the Transfer Portfolio Form. Test your links to ensure access.
   If you plan to deliver a USB drive or Physical Portfolio to the Art Department please indicate the drop off date on the Transfer Portfolio Form. The form should be completed and submitted via email attachment.
   Physical Portfolios and/or Digital Portfolios on USB may be delivered to:
   The Department of Art Administration Office, ALEX AND ANI Hall #143
   Rhode Island College, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908
   For office hours please call 401-456-8054 or email the Art Department Administrative Assistant, Armande Aways.
3. Save the Transfer Form and Rename as "Your_Name_Transfer_Portfolio_Form.pdf"
4. Email the completed form as an attachment to:
   Nancy Bockbrader, Portfolio Review Committee Chair: nbockbrader@ric.edu
   Subject: Transfer Portfolio Submission
   (Please do not attach images to this email.)

Google Drive Directions

If using links to your Google Drive account, you must allow General Access:

1. On your computer, go to Google Drive.
2. On the folder/s you want to share, click the Action Menu and select “Share.”
3. Under “General access,” click the Down arrow and select “Anyone with the link.”
4. For “Role,” select "Viewer."
5. Click the “Copy link” button.
6. Paste the link into the Portfolio Links field on the Transfer Form.