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A Guide to Planning Your Transfer

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A Guide to Planning Your Transfer

So you’re thinking about transferring?

MICA’s transfer students are a unique population, bound to our artist community by creative interests and a common philosophy. They come from all over the world, each adding experience and depth to our community of distinguished students. Approximately 17 percent of the College’s new enrollment each year is composed of students who are already part-way through their academic careers. More than 69 percent of these students transfer to MICA from out of state. 

There is no typical reason for transferring. Some students plan to gain additional experience in art before applying to MICA, some postpone for financial reasons, some are changing careers, while others need more time to define their commitment to the visual arts. Whatever your reasons for choosing MICA as the place to continue your education, we want to welcome you, and we look forward to helping you make the transition.

Where our transfers come from:
•   29% from liberal arts colleges and universities
•   51% from community colleges
•   20% from other art colleges

At MICA you can work within a single discipline or achieve your career goals through cross-disciplinary work. You can choose a minor program to complement your major, or you can add a fifth-year master’s program as a professionally oriented capstone experience. Read further to explore our programs of study.

Studio Majors (BFA)
Animation
Fiber
General Fine Arts
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interactive Arts
Interdisciplinary Sculpture
Painting
Photography
Printmaking

Studio Minors
Animation
Architectural Design
Book Arts
Ceramics
Creative Entrepreneurship
Drawing
Experimental Fashion
Film & Video
Game Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interactive Arts
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Product Design
Sequential Art
Sound Art

Liberal Arts Majors (BFA)
History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture
Ecosystems, Sustainability & Justice
Humanistic Studies (Integrated major with a studio discipline)

Liberal Arts Minors
Curatorial Studies
Global and Intercultural Exchange
History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture
Humanistic Studies
Unmaking Racism

5th-Year Capstone and Master’s Programs
Art Education (dual degree BFA/MAT) 
Business of Art & Design (online MPS)
Critical Studies (MA)
Data Analytics and Visualization (online MPS)
Design Leadership (online MA/MBA)
Social Design (MA)
UX Design (online MPS)

As you plan your transfer, you may have questions about procedures, policies, and the application process. Our team of Admission Counselors are here to work with you one-on-one to help you navigate the transfer process. We can suggest courses that would qualify for transfer credit and help you build your portfolio. We can discuss equivalencies, financial aid possibilities, and whether or not our school is the place for you. To meet our team and schedule some time to chat, visit mica.edu/admission-counselor.

If you decide you’d like to continue your education at MICA, we encourage you to submit an application for admission. Undergraduate students can apply to enter MICA in either the fall or spring semester. If you are currently enrolled in college, you should apply as early as possible prior to the semester you wish to start. An admission decision can be made based on a preliminary evaluation of your portfolio and transcripts prior to receipt of final grades. A final transcript will be required if you are admitted and plan to attend MICA. In addition to submitting an application, MICA requires an essay, transcripts from each postsecondary institution you have attended, and a portfolio of artwork. Letters of recommendation are not required, but can enhance your application. If you are not currently enrolled in college, we suggest you submit a résumé of recent activities and work experience.
  1. Schedule some time with us. At MICA you are assigned a personal Admission Counselor to act as your guide through the transfer process. We encourage you to reach out to them at any point during the application process with questions or concerns.
  2. Learn more about Scholarships and Financial Aid. MICA offers Transfer Scholarships and need-based grants to eligible students transferring from other post-secondary institutions.
  3. Explore our Campus. We offer a wide range of events both on campus and online. You can even tour our campus virtually!
  4. Prep your Portfolio. You’ll need to submit a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of work along with your application. Our Admission Counselors are always available to review your work and offer feedback before you submit your final portfolio.
  5. Join our mailing list. Stay up to date on application deadlines, next steps, and upcoming events at MICA. 

Visit www.mica.edu/transfer-process, to see the most up to date information about our deadlines for the spring and fall semesters. Please note that you must submit both your application and all other required documents by the deadline in order for your application to be considered complete for review.
  1. Submit Your Application. You can apply to MICA through our dedicated MICA Application, or using the Common Application.
  2. Request Your Transcripts. Make sure to provide copies of your transcripts for all secondary academic work. Your guidance or college counselor may submit your transcript through the Common App, Parchment, mail, or email to records@mica.edu (We also accept unofficial transcripts for evaluation purposes!). If you’re attending school in another country, your transcripts must be translated into English by an approved translator. We recommend using World Education Services (WES), but it’s not required.
  3. Create Your Portfolio. You’ll need to submit a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of artwork. Your portfolio should be a selection of recent artwork that represents your artistic interests and demonstrates your technical skills and ability. After your application is submitted, you will receive instructions on how to upload your portfolio through your Applicant Portal.
  4. Include Your Test Scores (Only for International Students) MICA does not require SAT or ACT scores for your application to be considered complete. However, if English is not your first language, you must submit a valid TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo score with your application. Self-reported scores are acceptable in order to receive an admission decision.

Your portfolio is one of the most important requirements in the application process. It is the most meaningful indicator of serious artistic commitment, ability, and potential to succeed in MICA’s rigorous studio environment. For transfer students, the portfolio is used to evaluate your post-secondary art experiences and to determine equivalency to MICA coursework. It is expected that transfer students have had formal training in art prior to submitting their application for admission. If not, we strongly recommend that you take additional art classes to gain experience and prepare a portfolio for admission.

You should prepare a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of artwork that demonstrates your knowledge of college- level artwork. If you would like to receive feedback from a MICA admission representative on your portfolio prior to submitting your application, you can bring it to a National Portfolio Day or you can schedule an in-person or virtual portfolio review with us. Click the link below to learn more about upcoming events and portfolio review opportunities, or visit www.mica.edu/admission-events.

The transfer credit evaluation is an important part of the transfer process. MICA’s admission committee will evaluate your prior college experience in comparison to the College’s B.F.A. requirements. To earn your B.F.A. at MICA, 120 – 126 credits are required. Up to 60 credits may be transferred and applied toward the MICA B.F.A., and only courses carrying a grade of “C” or better will be considered.

Transfer credit for studio work and placement in the program are determined by portfolio review. Liberal arts courses in which the course content parallels that of the courses offered at MICA will be considered for transfer as well. Examples of course equivalency are detailed under Recommended Transfer Courses & Equivalencies in this guide. Because your portfolio allows the review committee to evaluate which studio courses will transfer and determines class standing in departmental majors, it should represent as much work as possible from all studio courses taken at post-secondary institutions. There is no real formula for building a portfolio, but you should choose pieces that best represent the level of work you have accomplished in college so far.

Please note: students transferring sophomore (200 level) or junior (300 level) studio courses will have portfolio evaluations completed by departmental faculty as well as by the Office of Admission.

An evaluation of your transfer credit will be mailed with your notification of acceptance from the Office of Admission. The registrar will verify all transfer credits upon receipt of final grades. The basic unit of credit at MICA is the semester hour. If you are transferring from a college that uses the quarter- hour system, estimate that approximately two thirds of the total quarter hours will be transferred as semester hours. Individual course grades and grade point averages are not transferred. You will develop a new GPA as you complete your coursework at MICA.

The following course listings represent examples of approximate equivalences to help you plan your transfer. Actual transfer of credit for liberal arts courses will be based on the course description and grade received. Credits for studio courses are transferred only if the portfolio demonstrates similarity of course content and a level of competency comparable to that of its equivalent MICA course.

Studio courses

First year experience  Example transfer course 
Drawing: Fundamentals  Drawing I, Basic Drawing 
Color Design (2D)  Studio art/design/media class that involves color such as Painting 1, Color Drawing 
Fabrication (3D)  3D Design, Introductory Sculpture 
New Media (4D)  4D Design, Time-Based Art, Film, Video, Interactive Art, Animation 
Forum I  2-D Design, Design I 
Forum II  Design II, Color Theory 
Program Elective(s)  Studio art/design/media class of your choice (two are required in the first year) 

Academic courses

MICA course Example transfer course
Humanistic Studies (3 credits) Literature, History, Philosophy, Natural Science, Social Science, Religious Studies 
Science/Math (3 credits) Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Calculus, Geometry, etc.
Art History Electives (9 credits) Special Topic Art History Courses or Surveys of Art History
Modernism and After Modern or Contemporary Art History Survey
Academic Elective (6 credits) Courses from any academic area
Ways of Writing College Writing, College Composition, etc.

Financial assistance is available through merit-based competitive scholarships and need-based financial aid. Scholarship applications and deadlines are included in our application for admission. Upon acceptance into the College, the awarding process will begin for both financial aid and scholarships as long as deadlines have been met and all necessary documents required by the financial aid office have been received.

For many students, college cannot become a reality without the support of financial aid, so we encourage students to apply for every resource available. The College administers financial aid from local, state, federal, and institutional sources. Each year the College awards over $2 million in MICA renewable merit-based scholarships and need-based grants to transfer students. Whether you think you are eligible for aid or not, all eligible students should complete the FAFSA to ensure we consider you for every form of assistance available to you. Monthly tuition payment plans are also available with zero interest.

Your financial aid package will likely consist of a combination of self-help and scholarship/grant funds. To be eligible, you need only meet the financial aid requirements and be accepted to the College. MICA also offers competitive scholarships each semester to qualified transfer students based on meritorious achievement and financial need. Participation in the scholarship program is determined by a review of the admission and scholarship applications, transcripts and portfolio.

For more information on the financial aid and scholarship process, visit www.mica.edu/financial-aid.

For students relocating to Baltimore, our Residence Life staff can assist you in finding living accommodations that best suit your needs. MICA’s residential housing complexes offer apartment-style living spaces designed especially for artists. Each apartment is fully furnished and equipped with a kitchen, living room, and bath. Students may choose a private bedroom or one that is shared with a roommate. Laundry facilities and on-campus parking are also available. Priority consideration for on-campus housing is given to entering transfer students who have paid their tuition and housing deposits by the deposit deadline. If you wish to live off campus, our housing office can assist you in finding an apartment in surrounding neighborhoods. To learn more about housing at MICA, visit www.mica.edu/residence-life.

MICA’s Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Career Development provides students with the information they need to plan their career. The Center serves as a one-stop resource, assisting both students and alumni seeking information about internships, employment, postgraduate study, competitions, and other career-related opportunities. To learn more about Career Development at MICA, visit www.mica.edu/career-development.
Degrees offered BFA, BFA/MAT, MAT, MFA, MA, MPS, MA/MBA
Students 1,362 undergraduate students
549 graduate students
48 states and 48 foreign countries represented 
Important links Undergraduate Admission
www.mica.edu/undergraduateadmission

Scholarships & Financial Aid
www.mica.edu/financial-aid

Programs of Study
www.mica.edu/programs

Apply Now online
MICA application or commonapp.org

Visiting Campus
www.mica.edu/admission-events

Student Life/Residential Life
www.mica.edu/residence-life

Career success of young MICA alumni
www.mica.edu/creatives-at-work

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