First Year Students

Foundation student drawing a still life.

Application Checklist

High School seniors and those with less than 12 college credits should apply as first-year students. If you have not completed high school, you must earn a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) for admissions consideration. 

The checklist below shows the items required for admissions consideration. You may submit them together, or separately as they become available.  

  1. Completed application 

  2. Official High School transcripts 

  3. SAT or ACT (optional) 

  4. Portfolio of 8-12 pieces of original artwork

At least one letter of recommendation from your high school art teacher or school counselor is suggested but not required. If English is not your first language, proof of English language proficiency is required (view the International Students page for details).

Fall Priority Deadline 

First-year students who submit all required application materials and are admitted by December 11 are eligible for the Foundation Year Scholarship. The benefits of the Foundation Year Scholarship include a $1,000 one-time scholarship for your first year at Moore, as well as priority financial aid. 

Spring/Summer

This is an accelerated option for either first-year students or transfers that need to complete the Foundation Program. It allows students to start in January (spring semester), and complete the two Foundation semesters by the end of July.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT 

  • Moore College of Art & Design may award a maximum of six (6) credits towards the Creative & Critical Studies (liberal arts) electives for any CEEB Advanced Placement Examination with a score of four (4) or better in subjects including: Art History, History, English, Science, Math, etc. 

  • Students who place out of WRIT101 and/or WRIT102 may use AP test scores of four (4) or higher on English Comp or English Lit exams to replace the credits from the Moore First-Year Writing Courses. This credit can be additional to the six (6) credits in Creative & Critical Studies electives. 

  • Additional AP credit will not be transferred into Creative & Critical Studies requirements but may be considered in determining placement into required courses. 

  • Students who place into the Accelerated Foundation Drawing Program may use AP studio work with a score of four (4) or better in their foundation requirements, to replace FN111: Foundation Drawing I. 

  • A maximum of six (6) credits from AP studio work with a score of four (4) or better may be transferred into the College as studio electives. 

  • A maximum of six (6) credits from additional AP exams with a score of four (4) or better may be transferred into the College as open electives. 

  • An official report of scores must be submitted to Moore directly from the College Board, Advanced Placement Program, Princeton, NJ. Students are notified of AP credits awarded prior to registration. Students who do not secure AP scores and have them reviewed prior to matriculation may not be eligible to transfer them in. 

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) CREDIT 

  • Moore College of Art & Design may award a maximum of 3.0 studio elective IB credits and a maximum of 9.0 Creative & Critical Studies (liberal art) IB credits. 

  • Regarding studio credits, the College may award 3.0 credits if a student receives a score of 7 on the Standard Level examination, or 3.0 credits for a score of 4 or better on the Higher Level examination. 

  • Regarding Creative & Critical Studies credits, the College may award 3.0 credits per applicable exam if a student receives a score of 4 or better on a Higher Level examination. 

  • No Standard Level examinations will be considered for Creative & Critical Studies transfer 

ADMISSION WITHOUT HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION 

If you have not completed high school, you must earn a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) for admissions consideration.