Commonwealth Commitment

• Begin at a Massachusetts community college and enroll in the Commonwealth Commitment program before completing 15 credits
• Take equivalent coursework to MassArt’s required Foundation year outlined in our A2B pathways (all MassArt students are required to begin their studies as a first-year student in the Foundation program before beginning in their chosen major)
• Transfer to MassArt after one year*
• Complete their bachelor's degree within 3 years at MassArt
• Maintain full-time, continuous enrollment and a cumulative 3.00+ GPA, in order to stay enrolled in the program

*Because MassArt has a highly sequential curriculum, we have a unique relationship with the Commonwealth Commitment. Students are able to apply to transfer to MassArt after one year because community colleges seldom have the equivalents to MassArt’s specific sophomore major studio requirements. Commonwealth Commitment students typically transfer in as sophomores and spend 3 years earning their BFA at MassArt. Students can transfer their MassArt credits back to the community college to earn their associate degree

1. Start by researching the right community college for you.
   
   Students who are interested in transferring to MassArt will want to ensure their community college offers equivalent coursework to MassArt's Foundation year program. Students will also want to factor in location, student services, elective course offerings, etc. 

2. Connect with a counselor and enroll in Commonwealth Commitment. Students can speak with a transfer counselor at their community college about filling out their Commonwealth Commitment participation form (students must submit their participation form prior to earning 15 college credits at the community college, excluding dual enrollment credits or development courses). 
   
   Once enrolled, you may want to talk to your transfer counselor or an academic advisor to make sure you are enrolling in the right courses to set you up for a smooth transfer. Students should have at least eight out of MassArt’s ten Foundation requirements completed in order to be eligible to transfer at the sophomore level (students can “make up” up to two remaining requirements at MassArt). You can reference MassArt’s Foundation course equivalency chart. For additional support, you can also connect with Shannon Gallagher, Transfer Admissions Counselor at MassArt, at sagallagher@massart.edu.

3. Ace your classes! 
   
   In order for credit to transfer, students must earn a grade of 'C' or higher in courses that are 100-level or higher. Keep in mind that studio credit is evaluated based on your transcripts as well as your portfolio; please document and save your artwork to include in the portfolio portion of your application. Ideally, students should have 3-5 work samples from each studio class. Portfolios should include 20-30 pieces overall. Please review MassArt's portfolio tips.

4. Ready to apply?
   
   Commonwealth Commitment students transferring in at the sophomore level must begin their coursework at MassArt in the Fall (some programs do make exceptions, please inquire). The application deadline for the fall semester is March 1. After the Common Application is submitted you will receive two emails with login information and a link to the MassArt Applicant Portal. It can take up to 24-hours after submitting your Common Application to receive these emails - plan your time accordingly.

   MassArt Transfer Application\

   Once you submit your application and all required materials, the admissions team will review your materials and verify your eligibility for the program. An application fee waiver will be granted once your eligibility has been verified.