Transfer Orientation

Once you have been accepted to the University of Iowa, you'll attend a one-day Transfer Orientation program the semester before you start classes. Transfer Orientation is required in order to register for your courses at Iowa. When you make your Orientation Program Reservation through your Admissions Profile on MyUI , you'll see available orientation dates. At orientation, you will get your student ID card, build a tentative course schedule, and be assigned a time to meet with an undergraduate advisor in the School of Art & Art History (SAAH). The SAAH advisor will provide you with information about SAAH and help you finalize your schedule. After this advising session you'll return to Transfer Orientation to get your registration codes and register for classes.

Transfer Credit Policy

When you transfer to the UI as a Studio Art or Art History major, most of your studio art and art history credits will automatically be credited toward your general elective hours instead of your major. Some of your art history classes may be credited to your art major if they are classes are already recognized by UI Admissions as equivalent to UI classes. General concerns about how your course work from other schools will transfer to Iowa will be addressed at Orientation. For more information about transferring credits to your art major, see "Studio Art-Transfer Portfolio Review" and "Art History Course Review" below.

General UI Transfer Policies

Transfer Course Limitations

A minimum of 2/3 of the semester hours (sh) required for your studio major must be completed at The University of Iowa (27 sh for the BA in Studio Art, 41 sh for the BFA).

Studio Courses-Transfer Portfolio Review

Studio Art coursework taken at other collegiate level institutions cannot be used to satisfy course requirements for your Studio Art or Art History major until the course material has been approved for substitution during a transfer portfolio review conducted by School of Art & Art History studio faculty.

Transfer portfolios are done electronically and will consist of 8-10 pieces of your coursework, which will be put into a pdf file.

To prepare, please read the course description of the University of Iowa class you are trying to get credit for. You will want to select images from the transfer university that reflect the content of the UI course. Once you have assembled the images, please create a title page with your name, the college institution that you took the course at; the name of the course; the materials used and the year you took the course. If possible, please provide a syllabus of the transfer course. 

When the pdf is completed, please email to lynne-lanning@uiowa.edu and I will forward to the appropriate faculty member for review. Your art work will be evaluated by faculty to determine if it meets the requirements of a UI course. If so, you will be given credit for the corresponding course. The disciplines that may be reviewed are: ceramics, sculpture, intermedia, 3D design, jewelry and metal arts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and graphic design.

IMPORTANT: You must complete the requirements for both Basic Drawing and Design Fundamentals courses prior to taking subsequent studio art courses. If you the pass portfolio review for Basic Drawing (ARTS:1510) but have not taken Design Fundamentals (ARTS:1520), you cannot sign up for any studio courses until Design Fundamentals is completed.

Also, consult with an academic advisor before you go through a Portfolio Review for a course in which you received a C grade or lower. A review may not be in your best interests.

Art History Course Review

Art history coursework that has been transferred from another institution must be reviewed to determine if it will satisfy a requirement of the UI Art History B.A. degree. You will need to provide a copy of your course syllabus that includes subject matter covered, reading requirements, and information about how your course was graded. The Director of Undergraduate Studies in Art History will determine which, if any, of the requirements for the Art History major you will be granted substitution course credit.

Art History Transfer or Study Abroad Course Equivalency Form
Tips for Transfers