Undergraduate Programs Admission
Admission to Herron School of Art and Design is based on the student's previous school record and a visual portfolio, with the exception of those entering the school as Art History majors. All Herron applicants must first be admitted to IU Indianapolis. Students enrolled at other units or divisions of IU Indianapolis may apply for Herron admission the semester before beginning Herron courses. To transfer, students must have at least 12 credit hours that apply toward a Herron degree and a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA). IU Indianapolis students must file an application for priority admission by November 1 for spring admission and March 1 for summer or fall admission. Please contact the Herron Office of Admissions and Student Services at (317) 278-9400 or herron4u@iu.edu for more information. All students are admitted into Herron as Art History, pre-fine art majors, VCD majors, pre-music technology majors, or pre-music therapy majors.
Admission with Transfer CreditStudents with transfer credits from other colleges or universities may be considered for admission to Herron. Transfer students may receive credit for successfully completing academic courses (grade of C or higher) of equivalent content from other regionally accredited institutions. Transfer credit for studio art courses, however, is granted only from institutions with National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation.
Advanced Placement CreditA score of 5, 4, or 3 on the Art History Advanced Placement (AP) Exam will be counted as either HER-H 101 or HER-H 102. Students should contact their advisors to elect which course they prefer to use the AP credit towards. A score of 5, 4, or 3 on the AP Fine Arts Exam will be counted as a studio elective. Herron will not accept an AP score of 2 or 1.
Readmission of Former StudentsFormer students who were in good standing in accordance with the regulations of the school when they withdrew and who desire to return after two semesters, must reapply to IU Indianapolis' Office of Undergraduate Admission.
Students who have been gone for two or more calendar years must follow the current bulletin requirements and meet all departmental curriculum requirements offered at the time of their return. BAE students who interrupt their art education program for more than five years must re-apply to the program and complete the requirements in place at the time of return. For Visual Communication Design students, no major course completed more than five years previously will be accepted toward graduation requirements. Former students whose standing was not satisfactory at the time of withdrawal, former students who withdrew without compliance with the regulations of the school, and former students who were terminated on the basis of performance, must apply via an electronic form for consideration by the Assistant Dean. (See section on ''Petition for Readmission"). Petitions are due to Herron Office of Admissions and Student Services by October 15 for spring admission and April 15 for fall admission.
Academic SequencingThe studies in the BFA programs at the Herron School of Art and Design are sequential, in that a student moves through definite programs of prescribed and optional studies on a year-to-year basis until all the requirements for a particular degree are fulfilled. Students who fall behind in fulfilling degree requirements at a particular year's level will be expected to fulfill those requirements in sequence, either in conjunction with or in place of courses offered at the next level. Conflicts in scheduling may occur when students try to make up requirements, and they may find that their enrollment must be extended beyond the original graduation date. Students are therefore strongly advised to carefully plan their academic schedule.
Awarding of CreditHerron School of Art and Design awards credit in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
An undergraduate credit hour corresponds to approximately three hours of work per week for a period of one semester. Thus, a three-credit course corresponds to approximately nine hours per week for a period of one semester. A three-credit lecture/discussion course typically meets with the instructor two and a half to three hours per week, with the expectation that students will work, on average, six or more hours outside of class per week. A three-credit studio course typically meets with the instructor four and a half to six and a half hours per week, with the expectation that students will work, on average, three to five hours per week in the studio outside of class meeting time.
When a course is offered for a period shorter than or longer than one semester, or when the course is taught in a hybrid or alternative format, the credit hours are calculated on the basis of the norms described above. Since students work at different rates, the amount of time an individual spends preparing the work required for class may differ from the averages on which credit hours are calculated. Credit is only awarded when students complete all course requirements and demonstrate the competencies defined for the course. Ultimately, the amount of credit awarded per course reflects the expectation for students' acquisition of competencies rather than the number of hours required to achieve those competencies.
Advanced courses typically require students to work more independently than introductory courses. Faculty contact for graduate courses may reflect both the expectation of significant independent work and the type of work done during class meetings.
Last updated: March 2024
