Art

The Department of Communication and the Arts offers two baccalaureate programs in Art: one in Fine Art, and one in Graphic Design. These majors prepare the student to enter a variety of professional careers in the visual arts or graduate study. Academic minors are available in Art History, Fine Art, Visual Communication, and Photography.

Portfolio Submission

Portfolio Submission Requirements

In addition to fulfilling all of York College’s admissions requirements, a student seeking admittance into either the Fine Art or Graphic Design program is required to submit a portfolio of 10 to 20 examples of artwork. The portfolio should contain the student’s best work to date, reflect a range of abilities, interests and concepts, and demonstrate experience in a variety of media. In addition, an introductory artist’s statement must be included, which should be a brief synopsis of the applicant’s experience, who or what has been an influence and how, and what aspirations are for the future.

The portfolio is to be submitted via York College’s online submission portal. The applicant will receive confirmation of receipt by email with a confirmation number and approximate decision date. A portfolio will only be reviewed after the applicant has been accepted to York College. Acceptance to York College does not guarantee acceptance into art programs.

Portfolio Evaluation Criteria

The Portfolio Review Committee wants to get a sense of who the applicant is as an artist, through reading the artist’s statement and viewing his or her best work to date. Experience in a variety of media, interesting perspectives and subject matter indicate to the committee that the applicant has potential for success in a college-level art program and beyond. A numerical score is given to the applicant in areas listed below. These numbers are then averaged for a final rating.

The committee asks these questions during the evaluation of a portfolio:

Are the images of good quality in terms of focus and lighting?
Is the artist’s statement clear and substantive?
Is there a good sampling of several of the following media: ink, pencil, pastel, oil, acrylic, collage, digital, photography, sculpture, fabric, jewelry, ceramics, printmaking, video, or web?
Is there drawing from both real and still life?
Has there been experimentation with both realistic and expressive drawing and composition?
Are there varied subjects and concepts in the portfolio?
Is the subject matter a reflection of the applicant’s interests?

Please include no more than 3 photographs. Avoid submitting cartoons, anime, and vacation photos.

Portfolio Submission Dates

The portfolio submission deadlines are November 1 (for entry in the spring semester) and January 31 and March 15 (for entry in the fall semester). The student will be notified by email of the review committee’s decision approximately two weeks after portfolios are reviewed. Portfolios will also be reviewed on an as-received basis and accepted as space permits after the deadlines.

Information for Transfer Students

The portfolio should contain a minimum of two examples of work from each art course the student wishes to transfer to York College. Transfer credit in Graphic Design is given only for foundation courses, art history courses, and art electives. Transfer credit in Fine Art is given for foundation courses, art history courses, art electives, and any additional nine credits in art.

Provisional Fine Art/Graphic Design Majors

Students who are interested in Fine Art or Graphic Design, but are not yet ready to submit a portfolio, may declare themselves as Provisional Fine Art or Provisional Graphic Design majors, hereafter referred to as Provisional. Becoming Provisional indicates that the student’s intent is to eventually apply to Fine Art or Graphic Design, and assures assignment to an advisor who specializes in providing students with guidance towards the goal of acceptance into the desired major.

New incoming students should inform admissions of their intent to apply to Fine Art or Graphic Design upon acceptance to the College, and will then be processed as Provisional majors. New incoming Provisionals will receive a block schedule containing courses applicable to their desired eventual major, as space permits, with preference given to accepted and declared Fine Art or Graphic Design majors with deposits paid.

Current York College students who wish to become Provisional should contact the Academic Advising Office, request a meeting with the Provisional advisor concerning the program’s status, then request a switch to Provisional if desired.

Becoming a Provisional major does not guarantee acceptance into either of the art programs. Provisional majors are subject to the same portfolio submission criteria and deadlines as new incoming students. Provisional majors should be prepared to stay at York College at least a year longer than those who enter the programs as first-semester freshmen to complete their degrees. A student’s advisor will help them to progress through the programs as efficiently as possible once accepted.