I’m currently a WA state CC student entering my 2nd year, considering a design major (such as visual communication design) as a creative but more secure alternative to an art major. Unfortunately, it seems like the design coursework is laid out for 4 year students, in other words not transfer friendly. Any transfers in design majors here? Or other creative-type majors? Any suggestions for me?
A BFA program in a design field is not going to be transfer-friendly. But depending on your CC coursework, you might be able to transfer into a BA program if you have some classes under your belt and a portfolio to submit when you apply. At least, this program mentions transfer students, which implies that it’s a possibility. https://catalog.wwu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=14&poid=6501 Will you be able to take some design classes this year, where you are?
Completing a design minor as a transfer might be more realistic, https://catalog.wwu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=6257 , and that could still be enough to get you started in the field - perhaps combined with a major like communication studies?
@aquapt Thanks for your reply. I’m more interested in UW though. Do you know if UW Art Students are allowed to take design courses like Typography? Also, is a design major absolutely necessary for jobs in that field?
Not sure. From what I know of UW, “allowed” to take a class and “able to secure a spot” in said class can be two rather different things.
I checked WWU because I know they have a lot of very cool design stuff, including a great Industrial Design program. Sorry, got here from the “latest posts” link and missed that it was UW thread.
Looks like UW Visual Communication Design only takes sophomore transfers. Would you be willing to spend an extra year to do that program? You would have to vie for a spot in the program at this summer workshop, in addition to getting accepted to the university. https://art.washington.edu/design/undergraduate-entrance-workshop Sounds kind of intense!
You might want to post in the major-specific forum for advice on entry to the field: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/
@aquapt I was kind of confused reading that page, as I hardly ever hear abut sophomore transfers. However, that deadline came and went without me knowing about it yet. I’m an entering sophomore this year. Do you happen to know about other creative majors or major/minor combinations?
Edit: I would be willing to do a 5th year, but only if I double major or have another good reason to do so. I’m just now looking into design as a curiosity.
Visual Communications Design is an art degree on the transfer worksheet page.
The worksheet shows using your two years at CC to get foreign language and general education out of the way. When you can’t get much for your major at the community colleges, you may very well need more than two years. But, with all your gen-eds out of the way, you can really focus on your art!
https://admit.washington.edu/apply/transfer/tools/academic-planning-worksheets/
There are other options besides a fifth year – you could do a summer quarter or two, for example. You also don’t have to stay for a full fifth year if you just need one more quarter to finish your degree. If you don’t have a lot of gen-eds done, you could also stay an extra quarter at community college where the tuition is cheaper.
For more detailed information, check with the department at UW.
@AroundHere I’m facing a credit overload at CC within two years. All my English/Math/VLPA/I&S/NW requirements will be done by the end of Fall Quarter.
As for foreign language, I took 2 years in HS. Language I took in HS (French) isn’t offered at CC to take a third quarter. I’m thinking I’ll self study and do the testing option if I need to satisfy 3rd year level. Any experience with this?
The tests are hard! UW is “two to get in, three to get out” so you satisfy minimum admissions requirements, but not minimum graduation requirements for an Arts and Sciences major with 2 years of a high school foreign language. You can test when you get to UW and maybe get out of a quarter of foreign language if you really remember your high school French. It is unlikely you’d get 2 quarters of credit without a tutor just because the tests are hard. You can find a tutor by going to FIUTS (international student community) on the 2nd floor of the HUB at UW. They can match you with a native speaker of French who will trade French practice for English practice. Good luck!
@AroundHere That sounds like a neat program, except it would be too far for me go to Seattle regularly to do it. Do you know of any other ways to satisfy this requirement?
Hi! I recently got into the design program at UW, and I’m available to answer your questions. As a transfer student, you have to take the design entrance workshop in June. During that workshop, you have to answer a bunch of design problems (more of an exam actually) and have an interview with faculty members. You also have to do a write up as to why you want to do UW design, and show your portfolio. The program itself has a really small cohort (20 in each specific design major), so our schedule is tight, and the design curriculum is fixed. We graduate with a Bachelor of Design instead of a BFA. Other creative related majors are Informatics (HCI track), HCDE, marketing, communications and IVA. I strongly recommend IVA due to its similarity with the design program. Unfortunately, classes in the design major are restricted for majors only. I’m not sure if you can audit the class but if you would love to join, I’m sure you can email the prof 
@voteforknope Hi! Thanks for this info – I think IVA is my top choice at the moment, though one that people seem to think is not a good one (“what are you going to do with that?”)
Follow up Q: Do you know of any filmmaking classes at UW?
Tutoring and taking a language test is not a requirement – it’s an option.
It’s “two to get in, three to get out” – with two years of high school foreign language you can get in to UW Seattle (assuming all the other admissions standards met). Once you get in, you’ll be there for at least two years until graduation. Get tutoring through FIUTS after you move to Seattle, then try to pass the language test. If you can’t pass the language test at least a year before graduation, you should just start taking the classes so you can graduate on time.
Check places like your community college bulletin boards or craigslist for local tutors if you can pay for tutoring.
Hmmm, I have a couple of friends taking IVA and they really enjoy it. Simply cause they enjoy doing art and you get to explore different mediums of art.
As for filmmaking classes, I’m not sure what classes there are since we don’t have a film major /-: I know DXARTS classes may offer some sort of filmmaking class. Also, there are Art classes in the Photomedia major that focuses on photography, although photomedia is pretty broad though, I’ve seen them do videos and animations for class
@voteforknope Hi, sorry I never replied to this. My first application (to an out of state school) is due this week and it’s finally hitting me that I’m actually going to be applying as a major in the arts. I feel surprisingly ashamed, like I’ll regret that choice or I should have picked something more “useful” in the future… anyway, the kinds of jobs I’m looking at post-graduation are titles like “visual designer” “product designer” “creative director” etc. – Many of these job postings include art majors as an acceptable degree, though titles like this aren’t often mentioned in connection to art majors. Do you know of anyone in IVA or a similar program that was able to get a job like this (that was more in the design category)?
Posting to this thread again because I’m applying now – still unsure whether to select Design or IVA as a first choice. If I do Design will I have to stay an extra year? Will I get to Study Abroad?
@voteforknope How is design going for you now? I applied w/Design as my first choice, though I will transfer out if I’m unable to complete in less than 3 years. I don’t want to stay an extra year. I’m willing to do summer work though.
If you get the opportunity to study abroad I definitely would, the two top design schools in the world are in London (The Royal College of Art and UAL: University of the Arts, London). Germany also some very strong design schools and I imagine that UDub would send students to both locations as it is considered prestigious Internationally.
@GreenwichPark Thanks. Unfortunately, a department rep told me that Design majors aren’t allowed to Study Abroad during the school year or for core courses. Also, the program must be completed over 3 years. Both of these things are serious negatives for me, but it still looks like this is where I’ll end up 
That’s a pity but did you know it is (almost) free for international students to attend college Germany? When I say almost free that are usually a few costs that come to a few hundred rather than thousands of dollars. Also many course are taught in English. If you get on a design course I would contact schools in Germany and see if they have summer courses that are free. Although of course the German language is very helpful most people under 40 speak fluent English so you can usually manage much better than you would think. The standard of living for ordinary people in much higher in Germany than in the US, I have lived in both nations.