Visual Arts and Design Portfolio Requirements
Show Us What You Can Do
A portfolio is required for admission to the four concentrations in the Department of Visual Arts and Design: Film, Graphic Design, Interactive and Game Design, and Studio Art. Students pursuing Art Education may submit a Graphic Design or Studio Art portfolio for scholarship consideration.
Your portfolio does double duty: it’s part of your admission review, and it’s automatically considered for scholarship. You must have applied to Florida Southern before submitting your portfolio, though you do not need to be admitted yet.
Portfolio submission deadline: March 31
How to Submit: All Concentrations
- Upload your work to a folder on Google Drive or Dropbox and share the single link on your registration form.
- Do not mail physical artwork or film. Digital submissions only.
- Select your best work; quality matters more than quantity.
- Prefer a conversation? You can request a virtual portfolio review with one or more of our professors, who will walk through your work with you.
Per-Concentration Requirements
Film has the most distinct requirements, including a written personal statement.
Personal Statement (750 words max). The BFA in Film aims to cultivate the next generation of responsible and unique storytellers. Choose one prompt:
- Share your background and how it influences the stories you tell and want to tell.
- Briefly describe how you’ll contribute to the culture of storytelling at Florida Southern.
- Which area of film interests you most, and how will a BFA in Film at Florida Southern help fulfill your career aspirations?
Portfolio - Submit at least two of the following:
- Video/film work: one project or a collection, noting the role(s) you served on set (15 minutes total runtime).
- Creative written work: screenplay, short story, or similar (25 pages max).
- Other visual work: painting, drawing, photography, and the like.
You may combine categories, but submit only your best for each.
Submit 15 to 20 of your best images. We like to see variety and quality across these areas (include as many as you can from your existing work; no need to create new pieces to fill categories):
- General: painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, digital media
- Drawing: contour line, modeling/value drawing, perspective, still life, figure drawing, self-portrait
- Design: compositional studies, color theory, value theory, form/counter-form, linear mark-making
Submit 15 to 20 of your best creative works, including as many as you can from these areas:
- General: digital media, modeling/value drawing, perspective, painting, ceramics, photography
- Interactive and game elements: prototype or wireframe samples, 3-D models, motion graphics, character design or concept work, game development narratives, creative coding examples, stop-motion samples.
Homeschool Applicant Requirements
Florida Southern evaluates homeschooled students based on the strength of their applications, essays, high school curricula, and GPAs, just like all other first-year applicants.
Required materials:
- Completed application
- Official high school transcript
One of the following:
- Official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores
- Official college transcript demonstrating a minimum of 12 transferable college credit hours (earned or in progress through dual enrollment)
The admissions committee also considers extracurricular involvement and personal achievements. Applicants are encouraged to highlight work experience, volunteer service, and other activities.
Get in Touch
Questions about your portfolio or a virtual review? Our admissions team and Visual Arts faculty are happy to help.
