Admission Requirements

Admission Policy

Admission to the Master of Fine Arts degree in Communication Design program is selective and designed to identify those applicants who have the ability and commitment to successfully complete the program. Applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.F.A., B.G.D. [Bachelor of Graphic Design] or equivalent) with a major in communication design (i.e., advertising art direction and design, digital media design, graphic design, or illustration) from an accredited university and satisfy specific admission criteria.

Minimum admission (regular) criterion:

Component One: Scholastic testing/performance assessment.
An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 credit hours of work leading to the baccalaureate degree. The GRE performance testing is not required.

Component Two: Portfolio (professional and/or student).
A portfolio consisting of 20 works (minimally) in communication design. The portfolio should be submitted digitally as a PDF via CD. The work should be accompanied by an annotated list indicating communicative message or project mission, media, and publishing information. Assessment factors: (1) Ideation/design/presentation, (2) Role and scope of work, and (3) Peer-review (state, regional, national, or international). Emailed portfolios will not be considered for process.

Component Three: Written communication. Assessment factors: (1) A letter of intent (cover letter) (2) A statement (300-500 words) describing the applicant’s academic and professional goals, and (3) Professional profile or curriculum vitae.

Component Four: Recommendation from three persons capable of evaluating the applicant’s academic and professional ability and potential.

Com Des Application Checklist (DOC, 144.0 KB)

What if I don't have an undergraduate degree in design?

For students who do not have a communication design major in their undergraduate studies: if they can demonstrate (by submission of a portfolio) exemplary work produced within the communication design practice discipline (e.g., advertising art direction, graphic design, editorial design, digital media design, illustration) the 36 undergraduate semester hours in communication design may be partially or entirely waived.

What if I hold a Master of Arts or a Master of Science in the discipline of communication design?

For students who hold a Master of Arts (M.A.) or a Master of Science (M.S.) in the discipline of communication design (i.e., advertising art direction, digital media design, graphic design, or illustration) from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better, course work may have up to 27 graduate credit hours considered for transfer into their M.F.A. program. The student must be accepted unconditionally to the M.F.A. program prior to the requesting the transfer of hours.