UCLA Design|Media Arts versus Parsons Design and Technology

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>Hello, I'm an international student and I was accepted by both of these schools.</p>

<p>I intend to specialise in graphic design in the future. I applied direct-entry to Design and Technology for Parsons and will be majoring in Communication Design in my second year. </p>

<p>My main concern with UCLA's program is that it gives me a BA instead of a BFA, which apparently means that 2/3 of my time there will be spent on liberal arts, and only 1/3 on studio. Whereas my main concern with Parsons is that it seems to be more focused on fashion, although I get the sense that it is more reputable than UCLA internationally when it comes to design in general. </p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone could give any advice when it comes to choosing between them?</p>

2

<p>I don’t care BA or BFA personally but it will be a big issue for some.
Comparing apples to grapefruits, though some people don’t care and go with name recognition or acceptance rate, location, total cost ( how that for internationals?)
Do you like / need more book study or you don’t?
I am in NY and for fashion, everyone say Parsons.
For graphic design, mixed review. Some say not worth the money, every other dept. are back seats of fashion, but some say facility is better than SVA, internship op is better. I don’t know about specifics because my kid is not design kid.
More people should be able to help you.</p>

3

<p>Here is a somewhat related ranking that might be useful (grad school ranking NOT undergrad):
[Rankings</a> - Fine Arts - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/rankings)</p>

<p>The 2 schools have different emphasis: UCLA D|MA is more about digital media (video, web, TV & Movie effects, etc.) and Parsons is more about traditional graphic art (I think - others here will have more info). Both worthy areas of study but somewhat different.</p>

<p>Here’s a link to UCLA’s D|MA description:
[DMA</a> . Education . Education Overview](<a href=“http://dma.ucla.edu/education/overview.php]DMA”>http://dma.ucla.edu/education/overview.php)</p>

<p>Here’s a list of D|MA classes offered for Spring 2010 to get a feel for what they are studying:
[DMA</a> . Education . Undergraduate Classes](<a href=“http://dma.ucla.edu/education/undergradclasses.php]DMA”>http://dma.ucla.edu/education/undergradclasses.php)</p>

<p>BTW, your 1/3 art vs. 2/3 liberal art assumption is wrong. It’s about 50% D|MA classes, 25% G.E. requirements, and 25% electives (double major or minor maybe). Cruise through the general catalog for exact info:
[UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: General Catalog 2009-10](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/)</p>

<p>I hope some of the above helps you in your decision!
Best,
Wheaty</p>

4

<p>Thanks Wheaty & bears and dogs!</p>

<p>Looked through the links and thought about this for awhile, and decided to go to Parsons because I think I’d prefer an art school environment over a big university.</p>

5

<p>Shoot, I wish I could have gotten here earlier.</p>

<p>I’m currently an Art major at UCLA trying to transfer into the DMA major. I’m in love the major. You pretty much get just as much studio time as the Fine Arts major. The teachers are great, the DMA majors are fun people, and I just really like the major in general (in direct opposition the the fine Arts… but it ended up just not being my thing)</p>