Admissions
FRESHMAN APPLICANTS
There is no portfolio requirement for incoming freshman applicants to the Design Department at CSULB. All freshman apply directly through Cal State Apply — online application for admission into any State University.
TRANSFER APPLICANTS
Those wishing to transfer to the Department of Design at CSULB must meet the minimum major-specific requirements and competitive ranking based on the CSULB Supplemental Application.
Industrial Design (BS) & Interior Design (BFA) Transfer Applicants only
Students who apply to the interior or industrial design majors will be invited to submit a portfolio as part of the supplemental application. It is optional to submit. Those who do not submit a portfolio, or whose portfolio is not accepted, will be offered admission to our Design BA major, based on meeting all other admission criteria and as space allows.
Portfolios are competitive and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Interior Design
- Freehand Drawing
- Technical Drawing (software from CAD, REVIT, etc.)
- Physical Constructs (model building, 3D forms, etc.)
- 3D Visualizations (SketchUp w/ enscape, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
- Space Planning
- Design Process
- Misc – (lighting, materials and finishes, etc.)
*Sample portfolios coming soon*
Industrial Design
*Criteria Coming Soon*
*Sample portfolios coming soon*
GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Department of Design now offers a Master of Arts in Human Experience Design Interactions (MA_HXDI).
Students interested in the MA_HXDI program must first apply to, and be accepted by the University. After which, additional application materials will be required to be submitted through an online platform for review by the department graduate admissions committee. Through this competitive process, a cohort of students will be selected based on diversity of skills, experiences and potential to perform successfully in an intensive, full-time, face-to-face design program.
Once admitted into the Department of Design, students will enroll in required graduate courses. Please see the MA_HXDI Flow Chart and the CSULB Catalog for specific course requirements and descriptions. For more detailed information see the MA_HXDI policy statement.
