Kansas City Art Institute

Johnson County Community College Transfer Program to the Kansas City Art Institute Advising
816-802-3302
General Education Requirements, BFA
Academic Year 2025-2026 www.kcai.edu

Admissions Requirements

Transfer Student Admissions Requirements:

To be considered for admission to KCAI, the following items must be submitted (unless noted as optional):

  •  Application
  • Personal Statement
  • Portfolio - Students will submit a 10-15 image portfolio that will be assessed for scholarship and studio level placement. Students are encouraged to contact Julia Welles before submitting portfolio.
  • Transcripts - It is the student’s responsibility to have an official copy of the transcript sent to KCAI’s Admissions Office as part of the application process and upon completion of the transfer course: Kansas City Art Institute Admissions Office 4415 Warwick Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri 64111
  • Standardized Test Scores (optional)
  • AP or IB Credit - It is the student’s responsibility to have an official copy of the transcript(s) sent to KCAI’s Admissions Office: Kansas City Art Institute Admissions Office 4415 Warwick Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri 64111 (optional)
  • Letter of Recommendation (optional)

Degree Requirements

  • Total program includes: 120 hours. Liberal arts - 39 hours, Open electives – 6 hours, Studio courses – 75 hours.
  • Kansas City Art Institute will consider transferring a maximum of 63 credit hours in liberal arts and studio courses that meet KCAI’s requirements, with a grade equivalent of “C” or better.
  • Students cannot take the same classes to fulfill more than one liberal arts requirement. Students must take one 3-credit hour liberal arts class not based on the European tradition. 
  • Developmental courses and physical education courses are not transferable.
  • Applicants must understand that the number of transferable studio credit hours and the level of competence as indicated by the portfolio review are used to determine studio level placement. Students who choose to transfer to KCAI are required to complete AT LEAST two full years in a studio department. BFA degree program areas may be selected from Animation, Ceramics, Fiber, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Product Design or Sculpture.
  • Twenty-four of the final 30 credit hours MUST be completed at KCAI.
  • Grades for transferred credit will not be calculated into the KCAI cumulative grade point average.
  • KCAI also accepts credits from CLEP, AP, and IB. Please refer to the website for KCAI equivalencies.

It is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to check for updates to all transfer information. This transfer guide is provided as a service and is updated as needed. Degree requirements at the four-year colleges are subject to change by those institutions. To ensure you have the most accurate information about the program, you must meet with an advisor at the transfer institution. 

KCAI Requirements

Liberal Arts (39 hours)

Lower-Division Required Core Courses: These four lower-division, core courses are prerequisites for upper-division Liberal Arts courses. 

JCCC
KCAI
Course CodeCourse TitleCourse HoursTransfer CodeTransfer TitleTransfer Hours
ARTH 180Art History: Ancient to Medieval3AHS 1001Art Historical Studies I3
ARTH 182Art History: Renaissance to Modern3AHS 1002Art Historical Studies II3
Select one of the following:
ENGL 119
College Composition I with Review * 5WRS 1001Writing Seminar/Amer. Monsters3
ENGL 121
Composition I *3WRS 1001Writing Seminar/Amer. Monsters3
Select one of the following:
HIST 125
Western Civilization: Ancient World to the Renaissance 3CRS 1001Critical Stud/Critics Religion3
HUM 145
World Humanities: Ancient to Medieval 3CRS 1001Critical Stud/Critics Religion3

Upper Division Courses:

Upper division courses are taken during the sophomore, junior, and senior years. At least one of these courses (3 hours) must be a Global/Comparative (non-Eurocentric) Studies course. A minimum of five courses (15 hrs) must be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Art History (9 hours):

Upper division courses at the 3000 level or higher. Must be taken at KCAI.

History – select one course:

Select any JCCC course below:

HIST 120Local and Kansas History (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 128Medieval History (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 129Early Modern Europe 1500-1789 (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 130European History Since 1789 (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 132History of Africa (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 135Eastern Civilization (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 140U.S. History to 1877 (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 141U.S. History Since 1877 (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 143Ancient Greece, the Near East and Egypt (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 145History of Ancient Rome (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 149History of India (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 150Islam: Religion and Civilization (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 151World History: Traditional (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 152World History: Modern World (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 160Modern Russian History (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 162Modern Latin America (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 165History of China (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 167Introduction to History: Japan3
HIST 180North American Indian History (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 195History of the Middle East (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 200Empires of the Silk Road (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 210Environmental History of North America (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 250American West (SGE060) (SGE070)3
HIST 260Women in U.S. History (SGE060) (SGE070)3

Literature – select one (3-hour) course:

ENGL 214Environmental Literature* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 215U.S. Latino and Latina Literature* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 216African-American Literature* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 217Literature by Women* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 230Introduction to Fiction* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 235Drama as Literature* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 236British Literature to 1800* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 237British Literature after 1800* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 251World Literature to 1620* 3
ENGL 252Introduction to Shakespeare* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 254Masterpieces of the Cinema* (SGE060) (SGE070)3

Philosophy – select one (3-hour) course:

PHIL 121Introduction to Philosophy (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHIL 124Logic and Critical Thinking (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHIL 130Food Ethics (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHIL 143Ethics (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHIL 154History of Ancient Philosophy (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHIL 176Philosophy of Religion (SGE060) (SGE070)3
REL 120Exploring World Religions (SGE060) (SGE070)3
REL 125Asian Religions (SGE060) (SGE070)3
REL 126Religions of the West (SGE060) (SGE070)3

 

The Sciences (Science or Social Science) - select one (3-hour) course:

Select any JCCC course from below:

ANTH 125Cultural Anthropology (SGE050) (SGE070)3
ANTH 126Physical Anthropology (SGE050) (SGE070)3
ANTH 130World Cultures (SGE050) (SGE070)3
ASTR 120Fundamentals of Astronomy (SGE070)3
ASTR 122Astronomy (SGE040) (SGE070)4
BIOL 125General Botany (SGE040) (SGE070)5
BIOL 127General Zoology (SGE040) (SGE070)5
BIOL 140Human Anatomy (SGE040) (SGE070)4
BIOL 144Human Anatomy and Physiology (SGE040) (SGE070)5
BIOL 150Biology of Organisms* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
BIOL 225Human Physiology* (SGE040) (SGE070)4
BIOL 230
& BIOL 231		Microbiology* (SGE040) (SGE070)
and Microbiology Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)		5
CHEM 120Chemistry in Society (SGE040) (SGE070)4
CHEM 122Principles of Chemistry (SGE040) (SGE070)5
CHEM 124
& CHEM 125		General Chemistry I Lecture* (SGE040) (SGE070)
and General Chemistry I Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)		5
CHEM 131
& CHEM 132		General Chemistry II Lecture* (SGE040) (SGE070)
and General Chemistry II Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)		5
CHEM 140Principles of Organic & Biological Chemistry* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
ECON 132Survey of Economics (SGE050) (SGE070)3
ECON 230Principles of Macroeconomics 3
ECON 231Principles of Microeconomics 3
EVRN 130
& EVRN 132		Environmental Science (SGE040) (SGE070)
and Environmental Science Laboratory* (SGE040) (SGE070)		5
EVRN 250Bioethics in Science and Research* (SGE070)3
EVRN 255Freshwater Ecology 4
EVRN 275Nature, Law, and Environmental Protection* (SGE070)3
GEOS 130General Geology (SGE040) (SGE070)5
GEOS 140
& GEOS 141		Physical Geography (SGE040) (SGE070)
and Physical Geography Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)		5
GEOS 145World Regional Geography (SGE050) (SGE070)3
GEOS 155Human Geography (SGE050) (SGE070)3
GEOS 160Introduction to Meteorology (SGE040) (SGE070)5
PHYS 130College Physics I* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
PHYS 131College Physics II* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
PHYS 220Engineering Physics I* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
PHYS 221Engineering Physics II* (SGE040) (SGE070)5
POLS 122Political Science (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 124American National Government (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 126State and Local Government (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 132Introduction to Comparative Government (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 135International Relations (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 200Model United Nations (SGE050) (SGE070)3
POLS 245Introduction to Public Administration (SGE050) (SGE070)3
PSCI 120Physical Science (SGE040) (SGE070)4
PSYC 121Applied Psychology (SGE050) (SGE070)3
PSYC 130Introduction to Psychology (SGE050) (SGE070)3
PSYC 215Child Development* (SGE050) (SGE070)3
PSYC 218Human Development* (SGE050) (SGE070)3
SOC 122Introduction to Sociology (SGE050) (SGE070)3
SOC 125Social Problems (SGE050) (SGE070)3
SOC 131Sociology of Families (SGE050) (SGE070)3
SOC 146Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (SGE050) (SGE070)3
SOC 220Food and Society 3

Liberal Arts Electives (6 hours): 

Additional coursework done in the above coursework and/or courses below: 

Open Electives (6 hours):

Can be filled from a large variety of coursework including liberal arts and studio classes. Any class(es) from the above categories plus JCCC course(s) from  below: 

ARTH 188History of Photography (SGE060) (SGE070)3
BIOL 231Microbiology Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)2
CHEM 125General Chemistry I Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)1
CHEM 132General Chemistry II Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)1
COMS 120Interpersonal Communication (SGE020) (SGE070)3
COMS 121Public Speaking (SGE020) (SGE070)3
COMS 125Personal Communication (SGE020) (SGE070)3
COMS 180Intercultural Communication (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ENGL 122Composition II* (SGE010) (SGE070)3
EVRN 132Environmental Science Laboratory* (SGE040) (SGE070)2
FL 182Intermediate Japanese I* (SGE060) (SGE070)5
FL 183Intermediate Japanese II* (SGE060) (SGE070)5
FL 220Intermediate German I* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 221Intermediate German II* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 230Intermediate Spanish I* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 231Intermediate Spanish II* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 240Intermediate French I* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 241Intermediate French II* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 265Intermediate Chinese I* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FL 266Intermediate Chinese II* (SGE060) (SGE070)3
GEOS 141Physical Geography Lab* (SGE040) (SGE070)2
HUM 122Introduction to Humanities (SGE060) (SGE070)3
MATH 171College Algebra* (SGE030) (SGE070)3
MATH 172Trigonometry* (SGE070)3
MATH 173Precalculus* (SGE070)5
MATH 175Discrete Mathematics and its Applications3
MATH 201Statistics* (SGE070)3
MATH 231Business and Applied Calculus I* (SGE070)3
MATH 232Business and Applied Calculus II* (SGE070)3
MATH 241Calculus I* (SGE070)5
MATH 242Calculus II* (SGE070)5
MATH 243Calculus III* (SGE070)5
MATH 254Differential Equations* (SGE070)4

Foundation Studio (18 hours):

This requirement can be met by 18 hours of studio coursework, if certain standards are met. It is recommended that Drawing and Design be included in the 18 hours of coursework. Select JCCC courses from  below:

ART 124Design 2D 3
ART 127Design 3D*^ (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ART 129Design Color^ 3
ART 130Drawing I^ (SGE060) (SGE070)3
ART 131Drawing II* 3
ART 135Painting I^ 3
ART 136Painting II* 3
ART 142Ceramics I 3
ART 143Ceramics II* 3
ART 145Sculpture I 3
ART 146Sculpture II* 3
ART 148Metal and Silversmithing I 3
ART 149Metal and Silversmithing II* 3
ART 172Watercolor Painting 3
ART 231Life Drawing I*^ 3
ART 244Ceramics Workshop I* 3
ART 292Special Topics: 1-3
FMS 100Intro to Film (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FMS 200Intro to Filmmaking and Media Aesthetics (SGE060) (SGE070)3
FMS 275Introduction to Film and Media Production* 3
PHOT 124Digital Photography 3
PHOT 200Foundations in Photography (SGE060) (SGE070)3
PHOT 223Studio and Lighting Photography* 3

Upper Division Studio (57 hours): 

It is recommended that students include courses that are geared toward their studio concentration area that include animation, ceramics, fiber, filmmaking, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, product design or sculpture. Contact Julia Welles at KCAI for options. 

*

JCCC course has a prerequisite or corequisite.

^

These courses are strongly recommended to be completed in the year of coursework taken at JCCC.

Last Approved 2/20/2026, 11:04:05 AM