The Department of Design Media Arts only accepts freshman and transfer applications for the fall quarter of each academic year. Each applicant must complete the University of California Application AND the Department's Supplemental Application, in addition to submitting a portfolio. The University of California filing period for admission applications is November 1-30 of the year prior to admission. The portfolio and supplemental application materials are due January 21st to the department. Acceptance is based on evidence of creative talent and academic achievement.
Who can apply?
- High school graduates
- Students transferring from California community colleges or other accredited universities
How do I apply?
- You must complete the University of California application. The University of California uses a single online application for all nine undergraduate campuses. The system generally becomes available in late September of each year. Please note that only applicants who indicate Design | Media
Arts as their first choice major on the general application are
considered for admission to the Design | Media Arts major at UCLA. - You must complete the department supplemental materials, a portfolio of student's original work and a supplemental application. (A document detailing portfolio requirements and the supplemental application may be downloaded from the PDF download menu on the right.) Beginning January 4,
2011, applicants to the UCLA Design | Media Arts major who submitted the
UC application during the November filing period will be emailed
detailed instructions about, and a link to, the online Supplemental
Application. The Supplemental Application must then be completed and
submitted online no later than January 21, 2011. - For general questions regarding the admissions process, please refer to the University of California Admissions website or the UCLA Undergraduate Admissions website.
Transfer Students
The Department of Design Media Arts application review process for transfer students is as follows:
- Primary consideration for admission will be given to each applicant's portfolio.
- Overall academic and personal accomplishments will be considered secondary to the creative portfolio.
Once a student is admitted, the department will evaluate which transferring courses from the previous institution may be applied towards the major. Prospective transfer students are encouraged to complete the following design fundamentals equivalent courses at their initial institution prior to application:
- Color Theory
- Drawing
- 2-D, 3-D Form
- Design History
Transfer applicants from California community colleges must ensure their courses are transferable the the University of California system. Students should use the online ASSIST resource to determine whether their courses meet UC transfer requirements. ASSIST is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another.
UCLA only admits transfer students from four-year institutions who are applying at the junior level (minimum 60/90 semester/quarter units; maximum 90/130 semester/quarter units). Prospective transfer students do not have the option of disregarding any previous transferable coursework. Thus, a senior at a four-year institution is not likely to be admitted.
Change of Major
Change of majors applications will be considered only for current UCLA students who have successfully completed one quarter at UCLA and are in good academic standing. The number of accepted applicants is based on the current total enrollment of undergraduates in the department. If there is no additional enrollment space for a specific quarter, change of major applications will not be considered. It is possible that change of majors applications will not be considered every quarter. The next application date will be spring quarter 2012 for consideration of admission for the fall 2012 quarter. Applications are due on April 26, 2012 to the Design Media Arts department in room 2275 Broad Art Center. Students may not apply for admission more than two times during their residency at UCLA. Previous coursework in Design Media Arts does not guarantee admission.
The department prefers that students have fewer than 90 units at the time of application to ensure a normal degree completion time. Students with more than 121 units (excluding AP and Design Media Arts courses) will not be considered. The portfolio is considered most heavily in the admission process and will be reviewed by the senate faculty of the department.
The deadline to apply for a change of majors is the fourth week of the quarter before the change of majors is to begin. More information on the change of majors process, the application cover page, and the portfolio requirements may be downloaded from the PDF download menu on the right side of this page.