Admission Requirements

To begin course work in the field of design, you initially need to be admitted to Missouri State. Before completing 75 credit hours, you must also be admitted to a degree program.

The admission process

To gain full admittance into the design program, follow the steps below:

  1. Declare or change your major to design by visiting the Academic Advising and Transfer Center.
  2. Meet with your assigned advisor to discuss admission requirements and to develop a plan of study.
  3. Complete the program’s admission requirements.
  4. Work with the art and design department to complete the Application to a Degree Program form to update your record.

When you declare your major, you will be listed as a pre-major until you satisfy all admission requirements.

Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Admission requirements

In addition to completing Foundations courses (ART 100, 101, 110, 115) students must have a GPA of 2.50 or higher in the major and a Missouri State cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 to pass the Advisory Review administered by the Design Program Coordinator in the spring of the freshman year for provisional admission to the program.

In the spring of the sophomore year students must apply for Candidacy Review. A committee of Design faculty will administer this review. A student must submit a portfolio consisting of 12-20 pieces selected from Foundations and Design Core courses including: ART 115 or 215, ART 202, DES 202, 210, 301, 303 and may include additional work chosen with faculty advisement. Students must choose an option at this time: Graphic Design, Illustration, or Graphic Design and Illustration. This is a competitive program—if students are not accepted into the program they may consider repeating courses and/or doing additional work and reapplying for admission the following spring, but acceptance is not guaranteed. Students must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher in the major and an Missouri State cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 to be admitted to candidacy.

Transfer students choosing the BFA in Design must apply for admission to the program. The application with portfolio and transcript must be made to the Design Program Coordinator in the spring semester for admission to the program in the fall. (Students are not encouraged to apply for spring admission.) The Design Program Coordinator in consultation with the Design faculty will review the application with portfolio and transcript. Students must receive permission from the Design Coordinator before enrolling in any Design course. To be admitted to the Design Program transfer students must have a GPA of 2.50 or higher in the major if transferring 12 hours or less in the major, or a GPA of 3.00 or higher in the major if transferring more than 12 hours in the major. All transfer students must have a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of at least 2.50 to be admitted to the program.

Design internships

DES 499, Design Internship, may be arranged through the Office of Cooperative Education, and may be used to fulfill 1-credit hour. Permission to take an internship for credit must be obtained from the Design Program Coordinator before the work is done. For more information on how to enroll in DES 499 contact the Design Program Coordinator.

Major requirements (79-94 hours):

Major core (61 hours):
  1. Foundations (12 hours): ART 100(3), 101(3), 110(3), 115(3).
  2. Design core (18 hours): ART 202(3), 215(3); DES 202(3), 210(3), 301(3), 303(3).
  3. Art History (15 hours):
    1. ART 271(3), 272(3); ART 273(3) or 274(3); ART 377(3).
    2. One additional 300- or 400- level Art History course from: ART 387(3), 471(3), 472(3), 475(3), 476(3), 478(3), 480(3), 483(3), 484(3), 485(3), 486(3), 487(3), 496(3).
  4. Studio Art (12 hours): ART 225(3); 254(3) or 255(3); 315(3); ART 235(3) or 242(3).
  5. Professional Design Practicum (4 hours): DES 490(4).
  6. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of DES 490(4).
Complete one of the following options:
Graphic Design option (18 hours):
  1. DES 330(3), 331(3), 332(3), 340(3), 430(3).
  2. Three hours in Design from: DES 345(3), 440(3), 497(3).
Illustration option (18 hours):
  1. DES 250(3), 350(3), 452(3).
  2. Six hours of DES 497(3) Special Topics in Illustration-may not repeat the same topic.
  3. Three hours from:
    1. Computer Animation: ART 230(3); or
    2. Design: DES 345(3), 497(3)-may not be same topic; or
    3. Digital Imaging: ART 310(3), 410(3); or
    4. Drawing and Painting: ART 315(3)*, 316(3), 325(3); or
    5. Photography: ART 354(3), 355(3), 356(3), 357(3), 358(3), 359(3), 454(3); or
    6. Printmaking: ART 242(3)*, 243(3), 342(3), 343(3).

      * ART 315 and ART 242 cannot be counted both here and toward the Studio Art core requirement, however, ART 315 may be repeated.
Sequential Art option (18 hours):
  1. Sequential art (9 hours): DES 220(3), 320(3), 420(3).
  2. Graphic literature and writing theory (6 hours): ENG 216(3), DES 323(3).
  3. Three hours of electives from:
    1. any creative writing or literature course with approval of advisor (3); or
    2. Computer Animation: ART 230(3); or
    3. Design: DES 345(3), 497(3)-may not be same topic; or
    4. Digital Imaging: ART 310(3), 410(3); or
    5. Drawing and Painting: ART 315(3)*, 316(3), 325(3); or
    6. Photography: ART 354(3), 355(3), 356(3), 357(3), 358(3), 359(3), 454(3); or
    7. Printmaking: ART 242(3)*, 243(3), 342(3), 343(3).

      *ART 315 and ART 242 cannot be counted both here and toward the Studio Art core requirement.
Graphic Design and Illustration option (33 hours):
  1. 15 hours in graphic design: DES 330(3), 331(3), 332(3), 340(3), 430(3).
  2. Nine hours in illustration: DES 250(3), 350(3), 452(3).
  3. Six hours of DES 497(3)-Special Topics in Illustration-may not repeat the same topic.
  4. Three hours of design electives: DES 345(3), 440(3), 497(3)-Special Topics in Illustration-may not repeat the same topic.

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements