Our undergraduate plans of study are contained within the larger context of a liberal arts education. This differs from the four-year, pre-professional design programs which are offered at some specialized art schools or private universities (e.g. California College of the Arts). DAI undergraduate programs are open to students with junior standing and take approximately 2.5 years (full time) to complete depending on the specific program of study. At the graduate level, we accept students from diverse backgrounds and we offer the option of conditional status, in which students who do not come from a design background can take additional units in preparation for the master's level courses. SF State's urban location and its comparatively low tuition make it an attractive--and accessible--option for students from a variety of backgrounds.
How does the DAI department differ from other Product Design or Visual Communication Design Programs?
