College of DuPage Transfer Pathway – Art + Design

Bachelor of Arts in Art + Design

Students who complete the Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree at the College of DuPage can transfer a minimum of 61 credit hours toward Butler University’s 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in Art + Design through the Jordan College of the Arts. Students will complete approximately 59 additional credit hours at Butler to earn the degree.

What This Agreement Covers

This degree completion pathway is designed for AFA graduates pursuing advanced study in fine arts, design, or related disciplines. It builds on foundational studio, design, and art history coursework completed at the College of DuPage, allowing transfer students to begin upper-level art and design study upon admission to Butler.

Applicants to the Art + Design program must complete a portfolio review as part of the admission process.

What’s Fulfilled

  • First-Year Seminar (FYS 101 & 102) through English Composition I & II
  • Analytic Reasoning through approved Math electives
  • The Natural World through approved Life or Physical Science electives
  • The Social World through Social and Behavioral Science electives
  • Texts and Ideas through approved Humanities electives
  • Core Art History sequence (Art Histories Before 1400, 1400–1950, Since 1950)
  • Introductory Drawing and Design Foundations
  • Graphic Design 1 and Professional Practices (if taken at College of DuPage)

Students will generally enter Butler with junior standing, having satisfied roughly half of the degree requirements.

What Courses Will I Take at Butler?

You’ll complete the remaining 59 credit hours at Butler, focusing on advanced art, design, and studio work. A typical plan includes:

  • Graphic Design
  • Studio Seminars (Social Justice & Diversity integrated)
  • Global & Historical Studies (GHS) electives
  • PWB elective
  • Minor or emphasis courses
  • General electives

Students must also complete Arts Event Attendance each semester per Jordan College of the Arts requirements.

Next Steps

  • Apply to Butler – Include your portfolio for Art + Design admission.
  • Send transcripts – Email gobutler@butler.edu for evaluation.
  • Confirm transfer credits – Work with Butler’s Office of Registration & Records.

Estimated Program Cost

Program costs are based on Butler’s undergraduate tuition and fees, which are updated annually. Your total cost will depend on how many credits you transfer and how many you complete at Butler. For the most current information, visit Butler’s Tuition & Fees page or speak with a financial aid counselor.

Why Butler

  • Small-studio environment with professional faculty mentorship
  • Cross-disciplinary emphasis on art, design, and communication
  • Access to Butler’s arts community and Indianapolis creative scene

Questions?

Email gobutler@butler.edu to talk through how your AFA credits may transfer into the Art + Design program.