Design BFA Pre-major Application
The 2026-2027 BFA Pre-Major application closed on March 25 at 4pm. Please check back in September 2026 for the 2027-2028 application dates.
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Design. Admission to the Design BFA Pre-Major is highly competitive and takes place every winter quarter for the following fall start. All application materials must be submitted online; mailed, emailed, or late submissions will not be considered.
The Design faculty carefully reviews each application, evaluating applicants on their understanding of visual communication, technical proficiency, creativity, and problem-solving skills. All applications are reviewed simultaneously, regardless of when they are submitted, so whether you apply early or closer to the deadline, your application will receive equal consideration.
The pre-major courses follow a sequential structure starting in the fall quarter, with most courses offered only once a year as prerequisites for winter courses. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to plan for fall admission.
Thank you for considering WWU’s Department of Design for your academic pursuits. We look forward to reviewing your application and wish you the best throughout the admission process.
Design BFA pre-major important application dates:
- Admission application opens - Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Admission application deadline - Wednesday, March 25, 2026 4pm
- Notification of admission - applicants will be notified of admission decisions on April 15, 2026
Portfolio
The portfolio should consist of seven specific assignments – see link below – plus three projects of your choice. These additional three projects can be of any media such as drawings, paintings, photography, graphics, printmaking, etc. They can also consist of documentation of your design process for any of the seven assignments (sketches, thumbnails, iterations, etc.), demonstrating your conceptual and visual potential in the design field.
Candidate Statement
A short, typed statement (150 words, maximum) detailing your interest in the program as well as your long-term goals within the design field.
Portfolio Format
- PDF file, 8.5 x 11 inches, letter-size, portrait orientation
- Photos and scans of any work should be a minimum of 1080 px (width or height) and 150 px/inch resolution. Save portfolio document as a PDF file; must not exceed 16mb
- Use the defined number of pages for each provided assignment and one page for each personal project
- Titles or captions are optional
- The first page should be your candidate statement
- Your name should not appear on any of the portfolio pages including the candidate statement so portfolios can be reviewed anonymously
- Name your portfolio file lastname_firstname_year.pdf
Link to 2026-2027 Pre-Major Portfolio Assignments
File size and format
The format for all attached files must be .pdf and not exceed a combined total of 16 MB. Check for proper functioning of files and links, and proofread for spelling/grammatical errors.
Note: First-Year student WWU admissions decisions occur beginning in March 2026. You have until May 1 to confirm your intent to enroll.
If you have any questions while submitting your material for review, please email design@wwu.edu.