Faculty Recognition Award Requirements

Submit your work for the Faculty Recognition Award.

The Faculty Recognition Award is ÒùÆÞÉç's talent-based scholarship program for new, incoming students. Awards range from $500 to full-tuition. Five full-tuition awards are available annually.

You must submit your application to the college prior to uploading portfolio/audition materials. We will notify applicants via email when the submission module is available on .

The Faculty Recognition Award is only available to fall applicants.

This page contains portfolio/audition requirements and guidelines for our Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs. If you are planning to apply for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Music (BMus) program, please see the requirements specific to our BFA and BMus degrees.

Here’s how to submit your digital portfolio or video audition.

After submitting your application, send us your work via the submission link in the “Portfolio” section of  Throughout the application and enrolment process, Columbia Connect will always be the most up-to-date location for information about what we need from you.

What should I submit?

Submit work that adheres to the guidelines for your intended major. Work in other disciplines will not be considered for the award. You can find detailed guidelines by major below.

When should I submit?

The submission deadline for all application materials is 11:59pm (Central U.S.) on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Submissions will not be accepted after this date.

A note for students applying via the Common App

Columbia receives data from the Common Application every 24 hours. If you applied through the Common Application, you should receive an email with instructions for activiating your Columbia Connect account within 24 hours of submitting your Common App. You will not be able to upload your portfolio/audition materials until AFTER you activate your Columbia Connect account. Common App applicants are advised to factor this 24-hour processing period into their Columbia application timeline.

Still undecided about your intended major?

You may choose to submit your work under any of the major-specific guidelines listed; please note you can only select one.

Submission Guidelines by Program of Interest

• Acting for Stage and Screen (BA)
  1. Submit a full resume of theatrical, educational and community activity history.

  2. Submit a video audition of two monologues. The monologues should contrast each other. Each monologue should be between 60 and 90 seconds, and the total video run time should be no more than three minutes. Video must be recorded in a well-lit environment with high-quality sound.
• Animation and Computer Graphics (BA)

  Animation and Computer Graphics, BA:
  Submit one work you have created (short animated clip or film), and a document in which you reflect 
  briefly on the work you are submitting in approximately 500 words. Describe your creative process, 
  ideas and insights about your own work, and current skills, interests, and influences. Any media not 
  created solely by you must be credited.

  Recommended work examples:
  • ANIMATION: a short animated clip, or CG rendered modeling example (five minutes or 
  less). 
  • VFX: A completed VFX Sequence or VFX Sequences illustrating both before and after the 
  application of the work.
  Any links you are providing (such as YouTube or Vimeo), must be public or unlisted. They cannot 
  be private, or we will not be able to view it. Save the URL as your portfolio entry submission.

   

• Arts and Entertainment Management (BA)

  These requirements pertain to the Design Management, Film and Television Business, Live and Events Management, and Visual Arts within the Arts and Entertainment Management, BA. 
   
  Submit an essay of approximately 500 words describing why you would like to study business, entrepreneurship, and management practices in the arts, entertainment, and media fields.  

  Please be sure to address the following:  

  • Which major/area of concentration in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department appeals to you and why?  

  • How will an education in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department help you to achieve your career goals?  

  • How is digital technology (including social media) impacting the arts and entertainment industries? Please be sure to focus on your major or concentration.  

  • Optional: Submit any additional work samples, such as business plans and/or examples of experiences, entrepreneurship, and management in the arts and entertainment fields. You may also feel free to submit a resume that illustrates your experiences.  
• Audio Arts (BA)

  The following guidelines pertain to all concentrations within the Audio Arts BA. Applicants should submit BOTH an essay AND the creative examples.  

   1. ESSAY: Choose one of the following three prompts and write an essay response, no longer than two pages. Don’t tell us about audio, tell us about yourself: 

  •  What makes you uniquely suited for our program? 

  • How does your audio work help others? 

  • Describe an example of someone else’s bad audio that you have experienced. Explain how you could do the job better. 

   2. CREATIVE EXAMPLES: Provide 2-3 examples of your creative work with sound. Experimentation and pushing boundaries is as valuable as technical competence, artistry, and craftsmanship. Submissions may include recordings, videos, or other documentation. 

   Note: Each audio or video submission should be accompanied by a short (half-page) response to the following: What was your contribution to this project? Why do you think this piece best represents your work? 

• Comedy Writing and Performance (BA)
  1. Submit a full resume of theatrical, educational and community activity history.

  2. Submit a video audition of a 60- to 90-second comedic performance of original or existing material and/or up to five pages of comedy writing.
• Creative Writing (BA)
  1. Submit between 5-10 pages of creative writing (in 12-point font, double-spaced for fiction and nonfiction, and single-spaced for poetry) or an audio or video recording of a reading or performance of your creative work (up to 5 minutes in length). Audio files should be saved in MP3 format, and video files in MP4. Alternatively, your audio or visual work can be linked to a YouTube or Vimeo channel. 
  2. Write a 200-300 word explanation of your work in terms of your inspirations and writerly decisions. This brief explanation of your work should be double-spaced and composed in a 12-point font.
• Dance (BA)

  Submit the following two items for scholarship consideration:

  1. A 1–2-minute video of one solo dance piece, choreographed or improvised, in any dance style.  We are interested in seeing what you feel best represents you as a dance artist. Please frame the video so that it shows your entire body.
  2. A one-page essay (200-500 words) that addresses your interest in the Dance program at Columbia. Specifically discuss your areas of interest (such as performance, teaching, choreography, or dance history/dance studies) and the ways you feel prepared to take on the challenges of the program.

   

  A note about course placement: Columbia’s Dance curriculum includes leveled-courses in Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, and West-African styles of dance. Should you choose to attend Columbia, we will need to determine the appropriate level for your first-semester courses in these styles. If you are comfortable being placed in foundational-level courses in each of these styles, there is nothing additional to do. If you would like to be considered for more advanced level-placement, please continue reading for an additional video to submit.

  Course Placement Video

  Submit a 2–3-minute video demonstrating your technical skill in Ballet, Hip-Hop, Modern, and West African. Please frame the video so that it shows your entire body. Only include videos for the forms you wish to have your technique level evaluated.  Don’t worry if you do not have experience in all of the forms: 

  BALLET: include an adagio, a pirouette and a petit allegro

  HIP-HOP: Include a set combination and/or a freestyle. Any of the following skills are encouraged: waving, gliding/floats, isolations, tutting, dime-stopping/robot, animation, freezes, popping/hitting, footwork, and/or power-moves.

  MODERN: include 1 center combination that demonstrates your ability to use your spine, such as in a contraction/release and 1 across the floor combination that demonstrates use of space, as well as moving in and out of the floor.  

  WEST-AFRICAN: Include a combination or freestyle that showcases an understanding of grounded movement, flexibility of the spine, and rhythm based in West African traditions. 
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation (BA)

  Submit an essay of approximately 500 words describing why you would like to study entrepreneurship and innovation. 

  Please be sure to address the following:  

  • Describe what you think it means to be an innovator and entrepreneur.
  • Describe your traits, knowledge, and skills related to being an innovator and entrepreneur, and what knowledge and skills in this area do you hope to improve by studying in this program?
  • How will an education in this program help you to achieve your career goals? 
  • What idea(s) do you have for an entrepreneurial venture, and why are you interested in this idea(s)?
  • Optional: Submit additional work samples, such as business plans or examples of experiences in entrepreneurship or innovation. You may also submit a resume that illustrates your expertise. 
• Fashion Studies (BA)
  The following requirements pertain to the Merchandising and Product Development concentrations within the Fashion Studies BA program.

  Submit a digital portfolio in PDF format of no more than 10 annotated images that demonstrate how you like to engage with fashion as an industry or a creative practice. In the notations, please explain what you hope we will understand about your interests or practice from considering each image.
  
  You are welcome to include a variety of media and subjects in the imagery, and are invited to showcase your process of engagement—that is, how you engage in research and investigation, ideation, development, and getting the word out about your work—in addition to the final product of engagement. The images could include drawings, styling, visual merchandising, product curation, fashion writing, color study work, materials investigation, 2D and 3D design development, construction, illustrations, sketches, paintings, digital media (including website development, photography, or fashion shows), and garments.
  
  In reviewing your portfolio, we value originality, creativity, critical thinking, articulacy about your industry or creative practice engagement, and the demonstration of a clear design aesthetic or consumer target.

• Film and Television (BA)
  1. REQUIRED: Write a brief essay (approximately 250-350 words) discussing your creative process and the work you’ve submitted, whether in film, writing, visual arts, or other areas of creative endeavor. We are most interested in your ideas and gaining insights about your work and aspirations. In your essay, you may address the following topics:

  
  

  • Why was it important for you to make this work?
  • What kinds of stories do you wish to tell in your future projects?
  • Tell us about your creative process in making the work you are submitting.
  • How does your work represent issues of culture or identity that are important to you?

  
  

  2. Submit one portfolio piece (either a short film or video, five minutes maximum; a short script that can be excerpts of larger works, ten pages maximum; or six to ten photographs/drawings) that provides additional perspective on your essay, either by supplementing or illustrating your reflection.
• Game and Interactive Media (BA)

  A. Game Design
  Identify a design problem(s) with an existing game, website, app, or other interactive experience. This 
  should not be an issue with “bad” art or music. It should be related to interactivity—that is, what the 
  user does and how the experience functions and responds to users.

  Create a two-to-five-minute video in which you describe the design issue and then propose a 
  solution. Ideally, in proposing the solution, you can refer to and describe this solution working in 
  other existing examples. Explain why your solution makes sense for fixing this problem. The best 
  videos will include footage or images demonstrating the problem and the solution.

  The video can be in portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) format. Pick what works best for 
  demonstrating the problem and solution you want to discuss. You can use your phone camera and / 
  or use screen recordings to create your video. Feel free to use text and / or text to speech. It is not 
  required to appear in the video yourself, but you can. Sophisticated video editing is not required, but 
  feel free to demonstrate video editing skills if you have them. If you want to stand out, let your 
  personality show through in the video and include your own narration and commentary.

  Upload your video to YouTube (it can be public or unlisted, but it cannot be private or we will not be 
  able to view it!) and share the URL as your portfolio entry submission.

  B. Game Programming and Software Development:

  Submit a document in which you reflect briefly on the work you are submitting (approximately 500 
  words), and three code excerpts from applications and/or games you have created.

  Document: Include three code excerpts with screenshots of the application/game running. Code 
  should be documented in comments to describe functionality and any additional information you 
  wish us to consider.

  Work: We are interested in seeing excerpts of your own original code. For example, an original 
  function or class that you created. The entire application code is not needed. Any programming 
  language is accepted. Include screenshots of the application running with excerpts of your code that 
  you feel best reflect your programming ability. Media in your applications/games not created solely 
  by you must be credited. Submit original code (even if it is simple); don't include excerpts of 
  generated or open-source code.

  Recommendations: Add any additional information you would like to share (such as pseudocode, flowcharts, short video 
  of the application running, etc.).

   

• Graphic Design (BA)
  Submit 10-15 images of representative creative work that showcase your interest and skills in design through typography, applied drawing, information design, branding identity, web graphics, packaging, advertising design, and publication design. Work submitted may include drawings, digital, web, motion graphics, and experimental design. Your work samples may represent classroom assignments as well as independent projects. Please provide a brief description of the (communication) goal of each work and include materials and dimensions.

• Journalism and Communication (BA)
  1. Write a 200- to 300-word self-assessment on why you are inspired to be a journalist or another kind of media communicator. 
  2. Submit two to three samples of your work. These can be articles you wrote that were published in print or online, yearbook stories, photos, illustrations, graphics, visual campaigns, or new videos. You might submit the work you’ve done with or on a TV or radio news programs, podcast episodes (videos and podcasts must be under five minutes), or any other format that reflects the passion and interest you have in communication overall. Also include a brief explanation of your work in general, and the pieces you are submitting.
• Marketing (BA)

  The following requirements pertain to the Advertising and Content Creation, Digital Strategy, Fashion Marketing and Public Relations concentrations with the Marketing BA.      

  Submit an essay of approximately 500 words describing why you would like to study business, entrepreneurship, sports, and management practices in the arts, entertainment, and media fields.  

  Please be sure to address the following:  

  • Which major/area of concentration in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department appeals to you and why?  

  • How will an education in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department help you to achieve your career goals?  

  • How is digital media and technology (including social media) impacting the arts, entertainment and media industries? Please be sure to focus on your major or concentration.  

  • Optional: We strongly suggest submitting any additional work samples, such as business plans and/or examples of experiences, entrepreneurship, and management in the arts, entertainment and media fields. You may also feel free to submit a resume that illustrates your experiences.  
• Music Business (BA)

  Submit an essay of approximately 500 words describing why you would like to study business, entrepreneurship, and management practices in the arts, entertainment, and media fields.  

  Please be sure to address the following:  

  • Which major/area of concentration in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department appeals to you and why?  

  • How will an education in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department help you to achieve your career goals?  

  • How is digital technology (including social media) impacting the arts and entertainment industries? Please be sure to focus on your major or concentration.  

  • Optional: Submit any additional work samples, such as business plans and/or examples of experiences, entrepreneurship, and management in the arts and entertainment fields. You may also feel free to submit a resume that illustrates your experiences.  
• Music Composition for Media (BA)
  1. Main Requirements

  Composers submit two samples of their own original compositions, demonstrating work in varying styles and/or instrumentation, as well as provide a copy of scores and/or recordings (both, if possible; however, scores are encouraged). Handwritten scores and MIDI realizations are acceptable. 
   
  2. Optional Performance Submission 

  Optional:  Submit videos of two pieces of your choice (at least one of which was composed by someone other than yourself) that best showcase your abilities as a performer, whether this be instrument, voice, or computer. At least one of your selections should reflect the contemporary music focus of the department, which includes a wide range of popular and contemporary music genres. The two pieces should be in contrasting styles or tempos and should best represent your vocal, instrumental, and/or computer music proficiency. 
   
   
  3. Resume and Personal Statement Requirement 
  All students must submit a brief musical resume, listing experience in musical settings. This resume can include private lessons; school, church, and community ensembles; recordings; professional work; and other relevant formal or informal study and performance experiences. 
   
  All students must also submit a brief statement (500 words maximum) in which they express their motivation for studying music at ÒùÆÞÉç. 

• Music Production (BA)
  1. Main Requirements

  Singer-songwriters submit recordings or video performances of two original productions, songs, or compositions.

  Artist-producers submit two creative samples in varying styles and techniques, produced using any available tools, including analog equipment, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and/or other sound producing/processing software. 
   

  1. Optional Performance Submission

  Optional:  Submit videos of two pieces of your choice (at least one of which was composed by someone other than yourself) that best showcase your abilities as a performer, whether this be instrument, voice, or computer. At least one of your selections should reflect the contemporary music focus of the department, which includes a wide range of popular and contemporary music genres. The two pieces should be in contrasting styles or tempos and should best represent your vocal, instrumental, and/or computer music proficiency. 

  • All students must also submit a brief statement (500 words maximum) in which they express their motivation for studying music at ÒùÆÞÉç. 
• Music Technology (BS)

  The following guidelines pertain to all concentrations within the Music Technology. Applicants should submit BOTH an essay AND the creative examples: 

   1. Write an essay, no longer than two pages, on “Why or how did you get interested and/or involved in audio/music technology.” Don’t tell us about audio, tell us about yourself. 

  2. Submit 2-3 samples of creative work, illustrating the range or diversity of your interests and activities. Experimentation and pushing boundaries is as valuable as technical competence, artistry, and craftsmanship. Examples of work eligible for consideration:

  • A recording, video, or other documentation of audio production/post-production work. Also include a short (half-page) response to the following: What was your contribution to this project, and why do you think this piece best represents your work?
  • Documentation of live sound reinforcement or installation projects you’ve participated in, identifying and describing key challenges you faced.
  • An example of interactive art and/or media. Online media and/or interactive online work may be shown via the web. Upload a screenshot, specify the URL and title, and add a brief description of the work and its relationship to interactive art and/or media.
  • An original short video or film related to interactive media (up to 10 minutes in length).
  • Two original music samples in varying styles and techniques, produced using any available software tools.
• Musical Theatre (BA)
  
  

  Overall

  Each piece can be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media or a continuous video. Please do not exceed five (5) minutes total.

  Slate
  There should not be a separate “slate” video—slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. To slate for a song, share your name, the title, and show in which it appears. To slate for a monologue, share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.

  Songs & Monologues Options
  1 song and monologue OR 2 songs (total of: 2 contrasting songs from the musical theater canon OR 1 song and 1 monologue)

  Songs
  When submitting two (2) songs: these should be contrasting pieces from the musical theatre canon.

  • One song should be a ballad and one song should be up-tempo.
  • One song should be written prior to 1970; the other should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
  • Each song file should be 60-90 seconds. This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece.
  • Songs should be filmed in a ¾ shot, which means the top of the head to your knees should be visible in the frame.

  Monologue
  When submitting one song and one monologue: Prepare one age-appropriate contemporary monologue from a play or musical (no television shows, movies, or dialects) no longer than 60 seconds.

  • This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece.
  • Monologues should be filmed in a “close-up” shot, which means the top of the head to the middle of your chest should be visible in the frame. 

  Dance

  Please record and submit two (2) short dance combinations. Choose between:

  1. BOTH of the combinations linked below.

  -or-

  2. One of the combinations linked below and an additional combination showcasing & celebrating your special style, technique: Hip-Hop, Tap, Acrobatics, West African, African-Caribbean, Bollywood, Latin, Ballroom are some examples. No barre work. Please stick to vocabulary and steps you are familiar with and can execute well. We just want to see where you are in your dance training—show us YOU through your dance.  

  Total running time for the dance portion of your video should be 2 minutes maximum.

  • 
    
    
  •  

  Statement Video
  Thirty (30) second personal artistic statement video. It may address areas of interest (such as performance, teaching, choreography, and/or actor/musicianship) or what makes you unique as an artist that would flourish at Columbia. ANYTHING you want: a special skill, a passionate speech, “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?”
  
  Musical Theatre Portfolio Items

  •  A full resume of theatrical history including name of show, role played, and venue.
  • A full-color headshot.
• Sound Design for Media and Stage (BA)

  Applicants should submit BOTH an essay AND the creative examples. 

   1. Write an essay, no longer than two pages, on “What aspects of sound design interest you and why?” Don’t tell us about audio, tell us about yourself. 

   2. Provide 2-3 examples of your creative work with sound. Experimentation and pushing boundaries is as valuable as technical competence, artistry, and craftsmanship. Submissions may include recordings, videos, or other documentation. 

   Note: Each audio or video submission should be accompanied by a short (half-page) response to the following: What was your contribution to this project? Why do you think this piece best represents your work? 
• Theatre Arts Production and Practice (BA)

  The following requirements pertain to the Theatre Stage Management, Theatre Design & Technology, Theatre Directing, and Theatre Arts concentrations within the Theatre Arts: Production and Practice, BA: 

  1. Submit a full resume of theatrical, educational and community activity history including name of show, your position on the show, and venue.
  2. Submit any of the following examples (4-6 projects) with a written description of the process for each project, including your role in it:

  • PDFs of promptbooks or annotated scripts for plays you've directed, stage managed, or assistant directed.
  • Any original script(s) you've written or co-written, especially if produced. 
  • Portfolio containing: Images, videos, or other media that demonstrate process, realized designs, and/or construction.  
  • Video clips (60 seconds max each) of theatrical productions for which you were the playwright, director, stage manager, assistant director, or designer. 

  3. Submit a short introductory statement of goals you wish to achieve as a Theatre Arts: Production and Practice major.

   

• Visual Arts (BA)
  Interruption

  Create one original work of art in response to the idea of “interruption.”
  You may interpret this concept in any way that is meaningful to you — as a visual, emotional, physical, or conceptual interruption. Consider how interruptions might appear in time, space, thought, routines, systems, conversations, images, or even in your own creative process.

  There is no wrong way to approach this prompt. You can use any medium you like, including (but not limited to):

  • Drawing or painting
  • Photography
  • Illustration (digital or traditional)
  • Collage, mixed media, or sculpture
  • A short video or animation
  • Any other format that feels right for your idea

  What to Submit:

  • 1 completed artwork
  • A short, written explanation (250–500 words)
    In your writing, tell us about your idea, how you interpreted the theme, the materials you used, and the choices you made during the process. We’re not looking for a polished essay — we just want to understand your thinking and creative approach.

  What We’re Looking For:

  • Your ability to think creatively and conceptually
  • Your willingness to experiment or take risks
  • Your skill in working with your chosen materials
  • Your voice as a visual thinker and maker

  Alternate Portfolio Option: 

  If you are applying without a traditional portfolio, you may choose to complete this creative promptinstead. This is an opportunity to show us how you think, how you make, and how you communicate ideas through visual art.

• Undecided Students
  You may choose to submit your work under any of the major-specific guidelines listed on this page; please note you can only select one and you should follow them exactly as written.