SAT or ACT scores are required for Art History and Art Education applicants, however test scores are optional for Visual Arts applicants. Instead, extra emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s high school transcript, extracurricular involvement, and art portfolio. Admitted students interested in being considered for scholarships will ultimately be required to submit their standardized test scores.
Need a Portfolio?
Acceptance to the Visual Arts and Art Education majors requires a successful portfolio review as well as admission by the College. A portfolio review is also required to enter the Dual Visual Arts major which is offered to students enrolled in one of the following programs: Deaf Education and Art (DEAR), Early Childhood Education and Art (ECAR), Elementary Education and Art (ELAR), or Special Education and Art (SEAR).
| Requires a Portfolio | Where to Find Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Arts (Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Photography and Video) | Yes | Requirements |
| Art Education | Yes | Requirements |
| Art History | No | N/A |
| Open Options Program | No | Open Options Program |
All prospective students are highly encouraged to attend Art Attack, our open house and portfolio consultation day held in the Fall.
Please contact the Department of Art and Art History at artdept@tcnj.edu or 609-771-2652 for information about the registering for this event.
Requirements
In order to be considered for admission into the Visual Art, Art Education, or Dual Education/Visual Arts programs, applicants must:
- Apply to TCNJ. For more information about the submission process to the college, please visit our Admissions Website: https://admissions.tcnj.edu/apply/
- Submit a Portfolio. Students should submit work through Slideroom: https://tcnj.slideroom.com/
Please note that a strong portfolio at Art Attack could meet the portfolio requirements for admission to the Art Education and Visual Arts major.
The portfolio should consist of the following three components:
- Digital images of 12 works of art*
- A numbered list indicating the title, materials and dimensions of the work
- A one-page personal essay
12 Works of Art
Professional presentation of the work is important. Please present documentation that is in-focus, well lit and shows your best work.
*For students interested in Art Education, Fine Arts and Graphic Design, include 12 images of original works demonstrating the applicant’s drawing and technical skills, creativity, and aesthetic ability. A substantial part of the portfolio should feature drawings (still life, figure, self-portrait, and assorted sketches).
*For students interested in Photography and Video Specialization, a portfolio with a substantial amount of photographs and/or video is required. You may supplement the portfolio with additional works including a range of drawing, sculpture, graphics or mixed-media.
For all applicants:
All work must be original. Copies of other artists’ work including anime, cartoons, graffiti or tattoos should not be included in the portfolio. If possible, please also include at least one image from a sketchbook.
Please note that a strong portfolio at Art Attack could meet the portfolio requirements for admission to the Art Education and Visual Arts major. If a student would like to be considered for a talent-based scholarship, a SlideRoom portfolio is required.
To conform to our viewing format, each still image file may be no larger than 5 MB and no larger than 60MB for video. Please note that image files may be jpeg, png, bmp, or tiff format. Video (file formats include .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg) are considered as part of your selection of 12 files and should not be used as a method of showing examples of additional still images. Do not include titles or credits within the videos. If you wish to submit a longer video, you may post the video to your own Web site, YouTube or Vimeo and provide a screenshot with a link in the application. If you are including a link to a video, please provide details such as title, running time and date created.
Do not format images in any presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote), or include composite images (more than one work per file).
Image List
Include a numbered image list along with your submitted work. Indicate your name, date of completion, materials, and dimensions of the individual pieces.
Personal Essay
Please include a one-page, single-spaced statement that includes a brief description of who you are and your experience in art and life. Your essay should include your major artistic and academic goals, and your reasons for wanting to either study art education or specialize in the visual arts.
Please follow the Slideroom submission instructions carefully. Please DO NOT mail a portfolio CD or DVD. If you experience difficulty uploading your artwork, you must contact Slideroom technical support at support@slideroom.com for assistance. Please allow one day for a response. You may also consult the Slideroom Helpdesk and FAQ at Slideroom Support.
Internal transfer application for current TCNJ students
Current TCNJ students planning to transfer into the Art Education or Visual Arts major must submit a portfolio via SlideRoom. Internal applicants should use this link. Internal transfer applications are rolling, but it is recommended that students submit their portfolio by the first week of October or the first week of March. This allows adequate time for faculty to review portfolios, advise students, and process change of major paperwork prior to spring or fall registration. Please contact the program coordinators with any questions.
Deadlines
Freshmen Applicants
| Common Application Deadline | SlideRoom Portfolio Deadline | Notification of Decision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | November 1 | December 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 1 | January 15 | February 1 |
| General Admission | February 1 | March 1 | No later than April 1 |
| Spring Admission | November 1 | November 1 | December 1 |
Transfer Applicants
| Common Application Deadline | SlideRoom Portfolio Deadline | Notification of Decision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Admission | October 15 | November 1 | December 15 |
| Fall Admission | February 15 | March 1 | April 1 |
Open Options Program
If you do not have a portfolio, you are encouraged to apply as an Open Options student to the School of Arts and Communication. The Open Option Program in the School of Arts and Communication is designed for those students who are not ready to declare a major but are interested in one or more programs within the School. Students in Open Options may enroll in studio art classes as freshmen to build up a portfolio and then can submit an application to apply for a major within the Department of Art and Art History.
Coordinators
Art Education
Lisa LaJevic: lajevic@tcnj.edu
Fine Art and Photography & Video
Anita Allyn: allyn@tcnj.edu
Graphic Design
Belinda Haikes: haikesb@tcnj.edu