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Applying to the BPMI Program

High School Preparation

Minimum high school preparation must include four years of English, three years of mathematics (including one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra), three years of science (including one year each of two of the following: biology, chemistry, and physics), three years of social studies (including one year of U.S. history and one semester of U.S. government), and three years of a single foreign language. In addition, you are advised to take as many art courses as possible. Students not having this background may still be admitted to the university but will have to take remedial courses.

Students coming to ISU to study BPMI enroll as pre-BPMI majors through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students who have been enrolled at ISU for at least one year, and have taken BPMI 336 may apply for admission as full members of the BPMI Program. Students must have at least 30 credits remaining in their BPMI degree plan to be admitted to the program. Details for full admission to the BPMI Program follow.

Applications are reviewed once each semester, usually in early November and later March. See the BPMI calendar for exact dates. To apply for admission to the BPMI major, you must have completed 30 college credits to include introductory courses in art, biology, and general chemistry with a GPA equal to or greater than 2.00. It is also a good idea to show a portfolio of your work to either Dean Biechler or Arthur Croyle for a preliminary review. Applicants should have taken BPMI 336.

Preparing the BPMI Application

  1. Talk with a BPMI adviser and with either Dean Biechler or Arthur Croyle about applying for entrance into the program. Obtain a current degree audit and make out a semester by semester schedule of classes that you plan to take in order to graduate. Courses required in the BPMI major can be viewed here.
  2. Write a one page essay about why you want to be a BPMI major. Include a description of your career goals.
  3. Choose five to eight pieces of your art work that best illustrate your abilities. At least one of the pieces must be from work that you have done on your own and not for a class. For each piece, attach a short written description describing why it was created and what you were trying to communicate
    Work can be matted or unmatted.
    Drawing ability is considered most important.
    The committee encourages color, value, and black and white works.
    Original computer artwork is acceptable.
    Portfolio should include at least one finished piece.
    The best work will reflect a high level of realism.

    A sample portfolio should contain drawings of objects rendered to show an understanding of light, value, cast shadow and reflected light. The portfolio must contain one pencil or ink drawing. If the portfolio contains renderings developed from photographs the photos should be include:
  4. Enclose in a portfolio, the art work with descriptions, essay, a copy of your most recent ISU degree audit, and a schedule of the classes that you plan to take. Take the portfolio to 201 Bessey before the date specified for the review.

Review of Portfolios

Portfolios are reviewed by the BPMI Advisory Committee. Each student's application is individually discussed. To be admitted students must have at least a CGPA of 2.00 in both science and art courses. The portfolio must demonstrate to the committee members that the applicant has the ability to observe, to render, and to communicate through visual expression.

Students who are not accepted into BPMI will be informed of their deficiencies and may apply at a later time after undertaking study to correct their weaknesses.

Portfolios are returned to students after the review.