Undergraduate Admissions

Unsure of where you stand with your portfolio? Show us your work and get constructive feedback. Request an Informal Review 

Portfolio Requirements

The art work submitted in the application should demonstrate original thinking and should be a reflection of yourself and how you view the world. Edit your work. Quality is more important than quantity. Work completed within the last two years is usually the strongest.

Freshman Applicants
8
Minimum pieces of original work
Transfer Applicants
8
Minimum pieces of original work
Once you have been admitted, additional work may be requested for our consideration and placement of transfer credit.
Concept Design Applicants
15
Minimum pieces of original work following the guidelines provided.

Portfolio Submission

Portfolios should be submitted at ccs.slideroom.com, separately from your online application. (Note there is a $10 fee)

If it is not possible for you to upload your work, you may request an online portfolio review.

Early Action Deadline

December 1

Priority Deadline

February 1

Rolling Admissions will occur

After February 1

Portfolio Requirements by Program

View All Portfolio Examples Here 

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • The portfolio you submit should showcase your strong drawing ability - include a minimum of 5 drawings from direct observation and/or imagination, in any medium. 
  • The additional pieces you submit can be of any genre of visual art in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

The portfolio you submit for Entertainment Arts: Concept Design should show your interest in storytelling and your ability to visualize it.

Choose an existing story or create your own. Use that story to create original design ideas and present  the following requirements: 

  • Submit 15-20 pieces digitally. Use landscape orientation. Save all files into a multi-page PDF.
  • Include your original ideas for each of these four Subject Areas:
    • Environments
    • Characters
    • Architecture
    • Hardware (i.e. vehicles, accessories, props, weapons, etc.) 
  • Include the following for each subject area: early concept sketches, development and inspiration photos along with finished renderings of your design ideas for each subject area. It is important to show your thinking process from rough to finish. This presentation of your process should flow in this order: Inspiration photos-Rough sketches-Value studies or Silhouettes-Final Rendering.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • The portfolio you submit should showcase your strong drawing ability - include a minimum of 5 drawings from direct observation and/or imagination, in any medium. 
  • The additional pieces you submit can be of any genre of visual art in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • The portfolio you submit should showcase your strong drawing ability - include a minimum of 5 drawings from direct observation and/or imagination, in any medium. 
  • The additional pieces you submit can be of any genre of visual art in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • The portfolio you submit should showcase your strong drawing ability - include a minimum of 5 drawings from direct observation and/or imagination, in any medium. 
  • The additional pieces you submit can be of any genre of visual art in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to relate to your intended major but they should show your strongest skills and work.

  • Submit any genre of visual art, in any medium — including, but not limited to: digital design, video/film, photography, sculpture, jewelry, painting, drawing, installation, performance, design plans or orthographics, prints, ceramics, fashion, etc.
  • Portfolio pieces do not need to reflect any one area of specialty but they should show your strongest skills and work.

Additional Portfolio Tips & Recommendations

We encourage you to seek valuable feedback by sharing your work with us at any time. Connect with us here.

Guidelines for Observational Drawing

  • Draw from observation of objects, scenes, still lives, landscapes and people. Include descriptive or representational drawings of your surrounding environment.
  • Include accurate line drawings and examples of fully rendered compositions using a complete range of light, middle and dark values.
  • Any medium is acceptable for these drawings, including but not limited to: charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, paint, pastel, colored pencil and digital rendering.

Guidelines for Imagination Drawing

  • When submitting original character drawings, include the surrounding environment you envision them working, playing and living in.
  • Character development should incorporate your own unique style as opposed to copying a pre-existing style (i.e. anime or manga).
  • You may combine one or more reference sources in combination when creating your own unique image. Copied images are not acceptable.
  • If submitting your own original inventions or concept design (i.e. products, fashion, transportation or furniture) you may include sketches, background research and inspiration used to develop them. Show us your thinking process!

Suggested assignments for those with little to no art background or portfolio for admission

A minimum of 8 to 12 pieces are still required for admission. You may complete any of these suggested assignments multiple times.

  • 2 Dimensional Design project:Use a camera to create the following:
  • A portrait of how you see yourself.
  • A portrait of how others (or “the world”) sees you.
  • Documentation of your environment and how you interpret your environment.
  • Three Dimensional Design project:
    • Create a 3D sculpture from a variety of found objects or materials that you are drawn to. Explore color, texture, form and message. Photograph it in its environment.
    • Create a mask that transforms the wearer into a whole new character, creature or world.
  • Written project: Create a distress / “SOS” or “message in a bottle” letter. Contact the Admissions Office for more suggestions.