If you are transferring to Portland State University to major in graphic design, you may have already completed some computer graphics work at your previous institution, and therefore seek to waive or test out of equivalent courses in our program.

However, our foundation computer graphics courses (Art 120, Art 200, and Art 210) cover essential areas of computer graphics that are not always addressed in courses offered by other institutions.

Therefore, we need to match your current knowledge and experience with specific courses in our program. You may have experience in one or more areas, such as bitmap graphics or page composition, but may lack experience in others, such as vector graphics or photographic color correction. Our program emphasizes experience in all these areas in order to advance in the graphic design major.

It is also critical that transfer students pass the graphic design second-year review. A broad background in computer graphics enables a successful portfolio review.

Therefore, you must demonstrate an appropriate level of computer graphics experience in order to waive any computer graphics courses.

Important: to request any waiver of computer graphics courses, you must first meet with the Department of Art's Academic Advising Coordinator first to determine your major program requirements. Your adviser can then refer you to computer graphics faculty who can review your digital portfolio and experience.

To determine whether one or more courses can be waived, transfer students must meet with the department's computer graphics adviser as early as possible to review your portfolio of computer graphics work. This will help us decide which courses are appropriate for your program.

Courses may be waived if the student shows significant knowledge and experience based on a portfolio. In addition to a portfolio review, students may be required to take a test in computer graphics to gain entrance to Computer Graphics II courses.

For detailed information on how to waive or test out of computer graphics courses, please download and read the following PDF document:

Guidelines for waiving or testing out of courses in computer graphics