How to Apply

Choose your student type:

High School Graduate

High School Graduate 4+ Years Ago / No College

High School Graduate / Some College

College Graduate / Second Degree Student

International Student

Special Status Student / Dual Enrollment

High School GraduaTE

Please note: Both the Application Form and the Program Excercises are required in addtion to the rest of the items listed below for your application to be considered complete and ready for review.

• Application Form: The Application Form.
• Program Application Excercises:
  Each program requires different exercises and essays that need to be completed as part of the application process. Applications are considered incomplete without these items. These requirements can be found on the application.
• Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application form. Payment can be made by check (payable to Watkins College of Art, Design & Film) or by credit or debit card. If you wish to use a card, please call the Admissions Office. Cash is only acceptable in person.
• Transcripts: Official copies of transcripts of all previous education must be sent by the issuing institution directly to the Admissions Office at Watkins. Copies accompanying applications are not acceptable.
• Advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLE).  Please refer to the section under "Prospective Students" for specific information on receiving credit for these tests
• GED Applicants: Applicants who complete the GED must have an official verification of their score sent directly to the Admission Office by the issuing organization.
• Home-Schooled Graduates: Home-schooled graduates must submit an official transcript showing credits and date of graduation from an affiliated organization as defined by state law (T.C.A. 49-50-801) or the application must be accompanied by a certification of registration with the superintendent of the local education agency which the student would otherwise attend. Applicants who cannot provide a satisfactory secondary school credential may substitute an acceptable score on the GED examination.
• Test Scores: Official ACT or SAT scores current within the last fiProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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  years are required from all applicants who have not earned at least 12 hours of college credit, excluding remedial work. Scores should be sent directly from the issuing organization to Watkins. Watkins College ACT code is 4027; the SAT code is 4927.
• Letter of Reference: The Reference Form must be completed by a person (e.g. a teacher, employer, art instructor, or counselor; not a friend or a family member) who can evaluate the applicant's potential for success at the college level. The completed form should be returned to the applicant in a sealed envelope to accompany the application or can be mailed directly to the Admissions Office.
  
• PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION

High School Graduate 4+ Years Ago / No College

• Application Form: The Application Form.
• Application Fee:
  A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application
  form. Payment can be made by check (payable to Watkins College of
  Art, Design & Film) or by credit or debit card. If you wish to use a card,
  please call the Admissions Office. Cash is only acceptable in person.
• Program Application Requirements: Each program requires different exercises and essays that need to be
  completed as part of the application process. Applications are
  considered incomplete without these items. These requirements can be
  found on the application.
• Transcripts:
  Official copies of transcripts of all previous education must be sent
  by the issuing institution directly to the Admissions Office at
  Watkins. Copies accompanying applications are not acceptable.
• Advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLE).  Please refer to the section under "Prospective Students" for specific information on receiving credit for these tests
• GED Applicants: Applicants
  who complete the GED must have an official verification of their score
  sent directly to the Admission Office by the issuing organization.
• Home-Schooled Graduates:
  Home-schooled graduates must submit an official transcript showing
  credits and date of graduation from an affiliated organization as
  defined by state law (T.C.A. 49-50-801) or the application must be
  accompanied by a certification of registration with the superintendent
  of the local education agency which the student would otherwise attend.
  Applicants who cannot provide a satisfactory secondary school
  credential may substitute an acceptable score on the GED examination.
• Test Scores:
  Official ACT or SAT scores current within the last five years are
  required from all applicants who have not earned at least 12 hours of
  college credit, excluding remedial work. Scores should be sent directly
  from the issuing organization to Watkins. Watkins College ACT code is 4027; the SAT code is 4927.
  Applicants who have not taken the ACT or SAT within the last five years must schedule
  a critical thinking entrance exam with the Admissions Office.
• Letter of Reference: The Reference Form must be completed by a person (e.g. a
  teacher, employer, art instructor, or counselor; not a friend or a
  family member) who can evaluate the applicant's potential for success
  at the college level. The completed form should be returned to the
  applicant in a sealed envelope to accompany the application or can be
  mailed directly to the Admissions Office.
  
• PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION

High School Graduate / Some College

• Application Form: The Application Form
• Application Fee:
  A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application
  form. Payment can be made by check (payable to Watkins College of
  Art, Design & Film) or by credit or debit card. If you wish to use a card,
  please call the Admissions Office. Cash is only acceptable in person.
• Program Application Requirements:Each program requires different exercises and essays that need to be
  completed as part of the application process. Applications are
  considered incomplete without these items. These requirements can be
  found on the application. 
• Transcripts:
  Official copies of transcripts of all previous education must be sent
  by the issuing institution directly to the Admissions Office at
  Watkins. Copies accompanying applications are not acceptable. High
  school transcripts are required for all applicants who have completed
  twelve or less credits of college work, excluding remedial or
  developmental work. Transcripts from any college where the applicant
  has attended are required.
• Advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLE).  If you have credit on your college transcripts for any of these tests, we must receive official verification from the testing agency.  Notation on college transcripts is not acceptable.
• GED Applicants: Applicants
  who complete the GED must have an official verification of their score
  sent directly to the Admission Office by the issuing organization.
• Home-Schooled Graduates:
  Home-schooled graduates must submit an official transcript showing
  credits and date of graduation from an affiliated organization as
  defined by state law (T.C.A. 49-50-801) or the application must be
  accompanied by a certification of registration with the superintendent
  of the local education agency which the student would otherwise attend.
  Applicants who cannot provide a satisfactory secondary school
  credential may substitute an acceptable score on the GED examination.
• Test Scores:
  Official ACT or SAT scores current within the last five years are
  required from all applicants who have not earned at least 12 hours of
  college credit, excluding remedial work. Scores should be sent directly
  from the issuing organization to Watkins. Watkins College ACT code is 4027; the SAT code is 4927.
  Applicants who have not earned 12 or more hours of college credit and
  have not taken the ACT or SAT within the last five years must schedule
  a critical thinking entrance exam with the Admissions Office.
• Letter of Reference: The Reference Form must be completed by a person (e.g. a
  teacher, employer, art instructor, or counselor; not a friend or a
  family member) who can evaluate the applicant's potential for success
  at the college level. The completed form should be returned to the
  applicant in a sealed envelope to accompany the application or can be
  mailed directly to the Admissions Office.
  
• PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION

College Graduate / Second Degree Student

• Application Form: The Application Form 
• Application Fee:
  A non-refundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application
  form. Payment can be made by check (payable to Watkins College of
  Art, Design & Film) or by credit or debit card. If you wish to use a card,
  please call the Admissions Office. Cash is only acceptable in person.
• Program Application Requirements: Each program requires different exercises and essays that need to be
  completed as part of the application process. Applications are
  considered incomplete without these items. These requirements can be
  found on the application.
• Transcripts:
  Official copies of transcripts of all previous education must be sent
  by the issuing institution directly to the Admissions Office at
  Watkins. Copies accompanying applications are not acceptable. Transcripts from any college where the applicant
  has attended are required.
• Letter of Reference: The
  Reference Form must be completed by a person (e.g. a
  teacher, employer, art instructor, or counselor; not a friend or a
  family member) who can evaluate the applicant's potential for success
  at the college level. The completed form should be returned to the
  applicant in a sealed envelope to accompany the application or can be
  mailed directly to the Admissions Office.
  
• PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION

International Student

Watkins College of Art, Design & Film welcomes applications from international students, however specific requirements must be met concerning their application. Students who wish to be admitted into the U.S on a student (F-1) visa to attend Watkins must complete the following:

• Application Form:The Application Form must be made to one of the Degree programs only, and all application requirements and deadlines must be met as stated in the regular procedures for admission above.
• Application Fee: A fee of $50 must accompany the application.
• Program Application Requirements: Each program requires different exercises and essays that need to be
  completed as part of the application process. Applications are
  considered incomplete without these items. These requirements can be
  found on the application.
• Applicant must provide official verification of current scores for either ACT or SAT test AND official verification of current scores from TOEFL test.
• Applicant must verify sponsorship by providing a statement of support which shows that all expenses will be provided including tuition, fees, textbooks, other school related expenses and living expenses. An example of a statement of support would be a bank statement.
• If accepted in admission, an enrollment deposit of $2,000 must be paid, which is applied to the student's first semester's tuition. If the student in unable to enroll, this money is refundable; however, a $100 administrative fee is excluded from the refund.

• Once a student if accepted to the college and the enrollment deposit is received, a form I-20AB is completed by the college and sent to the student so that she may apply for an F-1 Visa.

Note: Students admitted under F-1 status must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credit hours per Fall and Spring term) and may not be employed off campus.

Special Status Student

Application may be made to the college for entry as a Special Status Student, either credit or non-credit. All Special Status students are limited to a total of 12 credit hours.

There are four Special Status categories:

Special Status/Credit
Special Status/Credit students receive academic credit for classes satisfactorily completed. These credits are available for transfer or may be used toward the requirements for any of the degree programs at Watkins, provided the student applies and is accepted as a degree-seeking student into the program. Students are required to complete the same attendance and class work requirements as degree-seeking students and will receive a grade.

Special Status/Non-Credit (audit)
Students wishing to take non-credit courses must apply under the Special Status/Non-Credit category. Non-credit students are required to complete the same attendance and class work requirements as credit students to receive a grade of P. Students not meeting these requirements will receive a grade of F.

Special Status/Transient
Students who are currently enrolled at another college or university and who wish to take a course at Watkins College for transfer credit may apply for admission as a Special Status/Transient student. Students should contact the Admissions Office to request this application. Applicants in this category are required to provide an official transcript or letter of good standing from their college or university as well as proof of prerequisite fulfillment. Transfer credit evaluation remains with the institution where the student is enrolled. Students are advised to contact their home institution prior to pursuing this status.

Special Status/Dual Enrollment
Watkins will offer for credit certain fundamental college-level courses to secondary school (high school) students in excellent academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or better). Secondary school students who have not yet received their high school diploma must complete a special admissions form, pay an application fee, provide their high school transcript, and have the recommendation of at least two of their high school teachers who have taught classes they have completed. Secondary school students who enroll in credit courses at Watkins College with the intention of transferring those course credits to other institutions must understand before they enroll at Watkins that each institution determines on its own what credits it will accept from other institutions. Officials at Watkins College, when requested, will assist students in determining in advance if Watkins credits will be accepted at other specific colleges and universities. Secondary school students who enroll in courses for credit at Watkins will be governed by the same academic rules and regulations that apply to regular undergraduate students at Watkins. They will be charged the same tuition and fees as regular undergraduate students. Additional information concerning Dual Enrollment, including a list of courses available under this program, may be obtained from the Admissions Office.

All Special Status Applicants must:

• Complete the Special Status Application.
• Submit an official transcript directly from the issuing institution to the Admissions Office showing any prerequisites necessary have been fulfilled.
• If the Special Status application is for transient credit, students must provide an official transcript or letter of good standing from their current institution.
• Submit a brief statement of purpose explaining their goal in taking the class(es).
• Once the complete application has been received, it will be submitted to the chair of the department involved for final approval.

Important: Special status students register on a space available basis only and are not eligible to receive financial aid.

Download Special Status Application