Art BA, BFA

Entry Requirements

No one item will guarantee admission, rather WMU uses a few pieces of information to make our decision:

Official High School Transcripts 

Your transcript is the most important piece of information.  It shows what courses you’ve taken and your grades, which allows us to assess:

Academic Preparation.  Successful students are prepared students and we want to make sure you’re ready for the rigors of college-level work.  We recommend*:

-  4 years of English

-  3-4 years of math (through second year algebra or pre-calculus)

-  3 years of natural sciences (two or more with a lab component)

-  2 years of the same foreign language

• Grade Point Average.  

• Grade Trend.  How well you’ve done in your most recent courses.

Students whose high school is not submitting official high school transcripts can scan and submit unofficial transcripts for an admission decision.  Official final high school transcripts will be needed otherwise financial aid cannot be distributed (federal policy) and/or a spring registration hold will be placed on the student’s account. 

English Requirements

Students may demonstrate English proficiency in any of the following ways: 

1. Minimum English proficiency test scores (for most programs)*:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 71 iBT undergraduate, 

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6.0 undergraduate,

• Pearson Test of English, Academic Module (PTE): 48 undergraduate,   

• Duolingo: 95 undergraduate,                                                                                                

2. International Baccalaureate, grade of 5 in English at the Higher Level

3. General Certificate of Education: A grade of A, B, or C in English from one of the five British-based examining boards undergraduate, a grade of A or B in English from one of the five British-based examining boards graduate

4. Successful completion of ELS level 112

5. Successful completion of either four years of upper secondary school or one year of full-time tertiary (university-level) education from select countries meets WMU English language proficiency requirements

6. Successful completion of a WMU Pathway II or the final level in the WMU Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS)

7. Completion of a WMU degree 

8. Cambridge Advanced English Certificate: A grade of A, B, or C undergraduate,

9. SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing Subscore (EBRW): 500 (for most programs)*

10. Michigan English Test (MET): 48 undergraduate, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): B2 undergraduate,

Other Requirements

Western Michigan University asks all students to complete an online application. International applicants will need the following to successfully complete this application: 

1. Copy of passport identification page

2. Proof of English language proficiency*

3. Transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended or are attending, including diplomas, examination results, mark sheets and certificates* 

4. $100 non-refundable application fee

5. Proof of sufficient funds for the first academic year of study at WMU according to estimated cost of attendance

*Official documents are those sent directly to International & Student Scholar Services (I3S) from the issuing institution or testing agency. Hand-carried transcripts will be accepted if in a sealed envelope from the institution. Documents sent by the student cannot be accepted as official.

If any documents are not issued in English, also provide an official English translation of each document.