Interdisciplinary Design BA Application Information
HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION
While still in high school, you can do the following things to prepare for the Interdisciplinary Design BA program at BYU:
- Take any art courses offered at your high school- AP Art, Photography, Art Foundations, etc. While these courses will not be counted as a pre-requisite to the Interdisciplinary Design BA program, faculty members recommend prospective students to take advantage of any courses offered prior to high school graduation as they can provide valuable practice.
- Apply for a Design Dept Talent Award Scholarship in November. These applications are available 30 days prior to the deadline, Dec 1st, and are available to prospective BYU students. For more information about Talent Awards and Department Scholarships, please visit our Financial Aid page.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Admissions
Prospective BYU students wishing to be admitted into the Interdisciplinary Design BA program must first apply to BYU through BYU Admissions. Admission to BYU does not guarantee admission into the Department of Design degree Programs.
Faculty
Our program has excellent experienced faculty who will work personally with you as you progress through the program. Professors will be mentors, offering advice and direction. Our faculty are all award-winning, established professionals with years of teaching experience. Visit our faculty page to see individual bios, contact information, or work they have completed.
Software/Hardware
Incoming BYU design students are asked to purchase a computer for their own convenience and to maximize their academic experience. Pre-major courses can be completed with the use of university labs; however, most students prefer having their own computer. Certain advanced design course workflows will require specialized software and hardware that is provided in department labs and classrooms.
The Department recommends the following configurations for students: Apple MacBook Pro (or equivalent Windows PC) with sufficient capacity to support Adobe Creative Cloud (including Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, Experience Design). Adobe student subscriptions should also include access to Adobe Fonts (formerly known as Typekit). Minimum recommended specifications include 16 GB RAM, and at least a 500 GB solid state hard drive. The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories, and software subscriptions. Students manage their own data storage and may use the free university storage system named BOX (http://box.byu.edu). In addition to BOX, students are encouraged to have a second automatic cloud backup for all files through Backblaze, iDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive or a similar service. Students completing hybrids involving Photo- and Lens- based design may need a DSLR camera or computers with more processing power and memory for motion design projects. Students completing a hybrid degree including illustration will require a design tablet and stylus, such as a Wacom Intuos Pro or Cintique or iPad Pro with stylus. The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories and discounted software subscriptions.
PRE-MAJOR
As a new student to BYU and prospective Interdisciplinary Design major, you must declare your major as Pre- Interdisciplinary Design. This status does not guarantee admission into the program and can be changed at any time, but gives you access to the pre-requisite courses based upon your hybrid track (ILL+GD or PH+GD), DESGD 145, DESIL 101, or DESPH 116. To declare as a Pre-Interdisciplinary Design student, please visit mymap or contact the advisement center at (801) 422-3777.
After declaring yourself as a Pre-Major, you can register for the pre-requisite courses based upon your hybrid track (ILL+GD or PH+GD). You will have access to DESGD 145, DESIL 101, or DESPH 116.
New: Beginning Fall 2023, the Interdisciplinary Design BA now has a pre-design BA major status, similar to the pre-BFA status in all of the Design Department BFA majors. Students wishing to major in the BA program, will need to participate in a pre-BA status review. These applications will be open three times a year. You will have the opportunity to apply one additional time if unaccepted during your first portfolio review.
If your portfolio review is successful, you will then be granted to Pre-BA status.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Admissions
Prospective BYU students wishing to be admitted into the Interdisciplinary Design BA program must first apply to BYU through BYU Admissions. Admission to BYU does not guarantee admission into the Department of Design degree Programs.
Faculty
Our program has excellent experienced faculty who will work personally with you as you progress through the program. Professors will be mentors, offering advice and direction. Our faculty are all award-winning, established animators with years of teaching professional experience. Visit our faculty page to see individual bios, contact information, or work they have completed.
Software/Hardware
Design majors are required to supply their own computer to complete the majority of their coursework. In certain courses, highly specialized technology is made available in department labs and classrooms.
The Department recommends the following configurations for students: Apple MacBook Pro (or equivalent Windows PC) with sufficient capacity to support Adobe Creative Cloud (including Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, Experience Design). Adobe student subscriptions should also include access to Adobe Fonts (formerly known as Typekit). Minimum recommended specifications include 16 GB RAM, and at least a 500 GB solid state hard drive. The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories, and software subscriptions. Students manage their own data storage and may use the free university storage system named BOX (http://box.byu.edu). In addition to BOX, students are encouraged to have a second automatic cloud backup for all files through Backblaze, iDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive or a similar service. Students completing hybrids involving Photo- and Lens- based design may need a DSLR camera or computers with more processing power and memory for motion design projects. Students completing a hybrid degree including illustration will require a design tablet and stylus, such as a Wacom Intuos Pro or Cintique or iPad Pro with stylus. The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories and discounted software subscriptions.
PRE-BA APPLICATION DEADLINES: 2024: April 16, June 17, December 10
Link to more application information: Interdisciplinary Design Pre-BA Application Information
Information will be available 30 days prior to the application deadline
https://designdept.slideroom.com/#/Login
If you are not accepted into the program after your first application, you have another opportunity to submit your portfolio the next portfolio review. If unaccepted the second time, faculty members will then recommend you to pursue another major.
IF YOU GET INTO THE PRE-BA
After being promoted to Pre-BA status, you will then have access to the foundational courses based upon your hybrid track: DES 198 (2nd term winter semester- all pre-BA students take this course.)
ILL+GD Track: DESGD 243/DESGD 245, DESIL 130/DESIL 140
PH+GD Track: DESGD 243/DESGD 245, DESPH 120/DESPH 260
Complete these courses in any order prior to applying for the Interdisciplinary Design BA program.
BA portfolio reviews and applications are reviewed once a year in June, and more information on the application process will be available as the deadline approaches. You may review the current requirements for the BA application, but keep in mind that it is subject to change.
BA APPLICATION
June 17, 2024
2024 Application Information will be available at the end of winter semester 2024
http://designdept.slideroom.com.
The application will open in SlideRoom 30 days prior to the deadline listed. Applications are submitted online through SlideRoom at
Application Process
Students may apply for the may apply for the Interdisciplinary Design BA degree program only after first obtaining Interdisciplinary Design Pre-BA status.
The BA portfolio review and application is reviewed once a year in June, and more information on the application process will be available as the deadline approaches. You may review the current requirements for the BA application, but keep in mind that it is subject to change.
If you are unaccepted after your first portfolio review and application, you will have the opportunity to apply one additional time. If unaccepted after your second application, you will then be advised to pursue another major.
General Portfolio Information
Students applying to the interdisciplinary design program should submit via SlideRoom (https://designdept.slideroom.com) a portfolio that showcases work from foundational courses taken based upon selected hybrid track- IL+GD or PH+GD.
IF YOU ARE ADMITTED TO THE BA
During your time in the Interdisciplinary Design BA program at BYU, you will have the opportunity to take courses based upon your hybrid track- IL+GD or PH+GD, with studies focused in areas such as Motion & Film Title Design (PH + GD), Lettering or Graphic Illustration (IL + GD), or Product Packaging (PXD + GD)
Graduates from this major may go on to work in various fields within their hybrid program or graduate school.