Second Year Full Review

What is the Second-Year Full Review?

Informed by a century of successfully training designers for an intensely competitive profession, our faculty conduct a holistic review of all students in the second year of each concentration of our Design BFA. Students who pass this review are able to continue in their intended major. Students who do not pass this review will be unable to continue in their intended major.

The Second Year Full Review - sometimes called the "sophomore review" - happens at the end of the spring semester of the second year of the studio sequence for each concentration of the Design BFA. Each concentration features similar criteria, as outlined below:

Illustration & Animation

Students are required to participate in a portfolio review of all course content produced in fall and spring semester ILLU courses. The Illustration & Animation faculty use this review to determine if a student's work is at a satisfactory level. Supplemental to the grade portion of the portfolio review, students are also evaluated on attendance, work habits, attitude and the ability to listen and learn from constructive criticism.

Industrial Design

The portfolio review includes all projects produced in INDD 212, INDD 284 and INDD 302. The Industrial Design faculty use this review to determine if the student's work is at an above satisfactory level. Supplemental to the grade portion of the portfolio review, students are also evaluated on attendance, work habits, attitude, and the ability to listen and learn from constructive criticism.

Photography

The primary component of the review is a photographic portfolio (10-15 images) of work made over the course of the second year of the program. Each portfolio is evaluated by a faculty committee upon the following criteria: originality, treatment of form and composition, engagement with subject matter and medium, quality of ideas, technical ability, and craftsmanship. In addition to their portfolio, students are also evaluated on attendance, work habits, professionalism, participation, and GPA.

Visual Communication Design

The portfolio review is of all projects produced in fall and spring semester VISC courses. The Visual Communication Design faculty use this review to determine if the students’ work is at a satisfactory level. Supplemental to the grade portion of the portfolio review, students are also evaluated on attendance, work habits, attitude, and the ability to listen and learn from constructive criticism.

Questions?

For guidance specific to the process of each program's review, criteria of the review, alternative recommended areas of study, and/or your standing the review, please contact the Program Director for your concentration of the Design BFA:

Illustration & Animation: Barry Fitzgerald, bftiz@ku.edu

Industrial Design: Betsy Barnhart, betsybarhhart@ku.edu

Photography: Elise Kirk, elisekirk@ku.edu

Visual Communication Design: Tim Hossler, hossler@ku.edu

For guidance regarding enrollment planning, alternative recommended areas of study, etc., please contact our academic advisor.