Design - Programs

College of the Arts

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art degree is offered as preparation for the student who will eventually seek the Master’s degree or a position as a professional designer. The BFA program is a rigorous and competitive one. One hundred and thirty-two semester units are required for the degree, including 81 units for the major. Portfolio review is required for admission to the professional BFA program. Portfolios are reviewed in the spring semester for fall admission to junior standing and the upper division program.

Option in Interior Design (code ART_BF09) (132 units)

Requirements

Lower Division: AH 111A, 111B; DESN 120A, 120B, 132A, 132B, 141, 142, 151, 232, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246.
Upper Division: DESN 341A, 341B, 342, 343, 346, 367, 369, 440, 441A, 441B; eight units of design/art electives, outside of Interior Design approved by the major adviser. Approved lower and upper division electives to total 132 units.

Students must achieve “C” or better in each required design course to progress in the sequence of study.

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (code DESNBS01) (132 units)

This degree program is concerned with the relationship between technology and the visual arts. It includes background courses in engineering and sciences. Students must achieve “C” or better in each required design course to progress in the sequence of study. A grade of “B” or better in DESN 280 and consent of instructor is required in order to enroll in DESN 331A. Portfolio review is required for admission to the professional BS program. Portfolios are reviewed in the spring semester for fall admission to junior standing and the upper division program.

Prerequisites

Lower Division: PHYS 100A/B.

Requirements

Lower Division: AH 111A, 111B; DESN 120A, 120B, 132A, 132B, 150, 151, 154, 156, 232, 254, 256, 280. A grade of “B” or better in DESN 280 and consent of instructor is required in order to enroll in DESN 331A.
Upper Division: DESN 331A, 331B, 333A, 333B, 368, 431A, 431B; twelve units of design/art electives, nine units of which must be outside of Industrial Design approved by the major adviser. Approved lower and upper division electives to total 132 units.

Students must achieve “C” or better in each required design course to progress in the sequence of study.

Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in Art (code ART_MA01)

The Design Department Master of Arts in Art program provides professional specializations within the degree: Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Display/Exhibition Design.

Prerequisites
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 24 upper division units in design/art comparable to those required of a major in Design at this University;
2. Completion of 16 units minimum of upper division course work in the area of specialization;
3. Completion of 12 units of design/ art history, six units of which must be upper division;
4. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR);
5. Presentation, to the student’s specialization faculty, of a portfolio of representative studio work with emphasis in the area of specialization. Reviews are completed by the first week in October for the following spring semester, by the first week in March for the following fall semester;
6. A GPA of 3.0 or better in upper division design/art course work. Students who do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA within the required 24 units as an undergraduate may count units taken as a post-baccalaureate student to meet this GPA. Course work taken as a graduate to validate undergraduate preparation may not be used to satisfy any requirement in the student’s MA program.

All prerequisites must be fulfilled before a student can become classified in a graduate degree program.

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements
1. Classified graduate standing. Completion of all prerequisites;
2. A graduate program approved by the student’s committee, the Graduate Advisor, the Design Department Chairman, and the Dean of the College of the Arts;
3. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work undertaken for the program;
4. The removal of any Incompletes;
5. Successful completion of the Advancement Review;

Requirements

Completion of all requirements established by the student’s graduate advisory committee, including:
1. A minimum of 33 units of approved upper division and graduate-level courses; a minimum of 15 units at the 500- and 600-level; a minimum of 20 units in the specialization;
2. A studio thesis project. All studio projects must be formally exhibited (DESN 692) with a written Artists Statement.

Master of Fine Arts in Art (code ART_MF01)

The Design Department Master of Fine Arts degree program provides specializations in: interior design and display/exhibition design.

Prerequisites

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of 24 units of upper division design course work comparable to those required for the BFA in Design at this University;
2. Completion of a minimum of 18 units of upper division course work in the area of specialization for the proposed MFA;
3. Completion of a minimum of 12 units of design/art history, six units of which must be upper division;
4. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR);
5. Presentation, to the student’s specialization faculty, of a portfolio of representative studio work with emphasis in the area of specialization. Reviews are completed by the first week in October for the following spring semester, by the first week in March for the following fall semester. (See MA and MFA procedures, “Screening for Acceptance” for details);
6. A GPA of 3.0 or better in upper division design/art course work. Students who do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA within the required 24 units as an undergraduate may count units taken as a post-baccalaureate student to meet this GPA. Course work taken as a graduate to validate undergraduate preparation may not be used to satisfy any requirement in the student’s MA program.

All prerequisites must be fulfilled before a student can become classified in a graduate degree program.

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements

1. Classified Graduate standing. Completion of all prerequisites;
2. A graduate program approved by the student’s committee, the Graduate Advisor, the Design Department Chairman, and the Dean of the College of the Arts;
3. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work undertaken for the program;
4. The removal of any Incompletes;
5. Successful completion of the Advancement Review;

Requirements

A minimum of 60 units of approved coursework, at least 60 percent of which must be at the 500- and 600-levels, including at least:
1. Thirty-six 36 units in the area of specialization. Thirty of these units must be in the 500- and 600-levels and must include 690A, 690B, 692, and 699;
2. Six units of approved upper-division or graduate coursework outside of design;
3. A comprehensive review, administered by the student’s graduate advisory committee, after the completion of 21 units of studio coursework. This review is to determine whether the candidate will continue in the MFA program;
4. A minimum of 6 units of approved upper division or graduate design/ art history beyond that required as prerequisite work;
5. Twelve units of upper division or graduate level elective coursework in design;
6. A studio project DESN 699), exhibited and described in a studio thesis (DESN 692).

MFA Transfer and Residence Policy

1. Transfer credit allowable on the MFA may not exceed 24 units;
2. MFA candidates must complete a minimum of 18 specialized units with graduate numbers in residence;
3. All transferred credit used in the MFA must be determined by the student’s graduate committee and approved by the department Graduate Advisor;
4. The CSULB Master of Arts degree may be counted for a maximum of 24 units (18 in specialization) toward the MFA degree.