For Counselors

Learning to Design

Students often have questions about going to college for career-focused learning in design. Design students have a passion for making, a desire to see their ideas made real, and a need to express themselves in ways that make a difference in the world. They’re not always traditional art students, though they might come to design from art programs, as their motivations are often to make socially and commercially viable products or campaigns. Design education develops skills in design problem recognition and solving, design option evaluation and selection, design outcome assessment, and other matters that go beyond taste or even aesthetics.

Graphic designers work with messages and images — posters, brochures, advertisements, books, Web sites, apps, commercials, package design, labeling, sign systems, maps, schedules, menus, catalogs, film and video — anything that engages readers and viewers visually.

Industrial designers work with real objects — cellphones, lamps, cars, tableware, toys, containers and product packaging, clocks, video and audio devices, furniture — almost anything in your environment that’s made by humans is a target for improvement and innovation by industrial designers.

Interior designers work with real space — stores, houses, apartments, offices, restaurants, kiosks, pop-up stores, private interiors and public spaces — enhancing them with fabrics and textures, furniture and color,
light and air, vistas and window treatments that make rooms and spaces pleasant and inviting for individuals and groups.

SASD design programs are built to emphasize the importance of practical, theoretical, and professional activities and practices in the various design fields. Students learn about the fundamentals and details of design; their application to real-world use; design’s impact on the user population; and the various means and methods needed to take their designs from concept to reality.

Careers in Design

There are many career possibilities for your students interested in design. SASD_Careers_in_Design PDF

Applying to SASD at UB

At SASD, we want to be sure all students are informed about the application, admission, and registration processes as well as about the documents needed at each stage so that the processes are smooth and successful.

We can offer modest scholarships after portfolio reviews; the scholarships last while students are design majors.

Students or their counselors can contact us at SASD@bridgeport.edu for more information or clarification of the processes here.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about coming to study design at SASD and UB.

Do I apply through UB or separately through SASD?

What are SASD’s admission requirements?

What are the portfolio requirements?

How can I show my portfolio?

What should I show in my portfolio?

Are there scholarships available? Are they from UB or SASD?

Are there scholarships available for portfolios?

How long is a portfolio scholarship good for?

Can I get a tour of the design program?

How do I apply, get accepted, and register?

When should I apply for the next Fall semester?

What application documents are needed to apply to UB and SASD?

Transcripts

FAFSA

Health Papers

What if I am a US citizen or resident?

What if I am not a US citizen or resident?

How do I transfer to UB and SASD?

I’m a transfer student. Who can look at my transcript and tell me what I’d need to take to get a BFA?

How many credits can I transfer to UB?

I came from a term college. How do my credits transfer?

How do my credits and courses transfer to UB?

Who evaluates my transfer credits for use in the SASD and UB curricula?

UB or SASD?

Applications must be made through the University of Bridgeport Admissions Department and see application documents that are needed, below).

SASD can interview and recommend your application but cannot initiate many of the procedures needed for full admission to the University.

However, you should also let us at SASD know that you will be coming (and see portfolio scholarships, below) so that we can work more closely with Admissions to smooth your entry and registration for classes.

SASD Requirements

Portfolio

SASD is looking for a passion for art and design in a portfolio. We recommend that students choose from the following for inclusion in their portfolio: drawings, paintings, posters, photography or video, sculpture, ceramics, fashion, or work for a school yearbook or class.

If a student does not have art or design work or attends a school that does not provide art or design classes, he or she may contact SASD for an assignment to complete at home.

In these cases, we encourage students to visit SASD so a faculty member can provide both examples and materials.

Showing Your Portfolio

Applicants may arrange a visit to SASD or submit a portfolio by disc (CD, DVD) or by a URL to an online portfolio site.

Portfolio Works

Submissions should contain 10-12 samples of your work. Portfolios may be emailed, mailed in on CD or DVD, posted to a personal website, or hand delivered in hard copy form. Discs should be sent to SASD directly:

SASD, Arnold Bernhard Center
University of Bridgeport
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Do not send originals of your work; send scans, printouts, photos, or CDs/DVDs!

Graphic Design

Sketches, typography, drawing, lettering, painting, photography, Web or screen work, layout, editorial, experimental, packaging, posters, logo and identity, etc.

Industrial Design

Sketches, ideation, rendering, models, photography, concept realization, working drawings, etc.

Interior Design

Sketches, plans, color studies, lighting plans, site studies, furniture designs, etc.

Scholarships

UB has Merit Scholarships that are based on grades in high school or previous colleges. Apply for them when you submit your FAFSA. SASD has a small portfolio scholarship fund that is allocated by portfolio review and on a first-come basis.

Portfolio Scholarships

SASD has a limited amount of funds for Portfolio Scholarships.

This requires a review of your work in either a personal visit (if you are nearby) or online or by CD or DVD. Discs should be sent to SASD directly:
SASD, Arnold Bernhard Center
University of Bridgeport
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Do not send originals of your work; send scans, printouts, photos, or CDs/DVDs!

Scholarship Duration

Design Scholarships are effective during all semesters the student is at UB as a design major.

Other UB scholarships such as Merit Scholarships require the student to maintain a GPA, usually at or above a B (3.0).

Tours of SASD at UB

You can make arrangements with SASD to have a tour of the design school building during school hours and see the school in operation, or attend one of the many UB open houses.

Call 1-203-576-4222
E-mail sasd@bridgeport.edu

Application, Acceptance, and Registration

Apply early to avoid the registration crunch!

Early acceptance means that new students will be more likely to have access to important design electives. Registration for Fall semester begins in April for new and current UB students.

Although UB has rolling admissions, applications that are received in the Fall previous to the one you will be attending are more likely to be able to take advantage of our portfolio scholarship fund as well as to have access to popular courses University-wide.

Your academic advisor, one of the faculty members of SASD, will help you select and register for correct courses for your semesters.

Official Application Documents

Transcripts

Have your official high school transcripts or official transfer transcripts sent directly to the UB Admissions department. They must have official transcripts in order to admit you into the University.

UB Admissions requires high school transcripts for all new first year freshmen.

For transfer students coming from other colleges or universities, UB Admissions requires proof of HS graduation and official transcripts from all other colleges and universities attended.

Transfer Evaluations

Admissions will make a transfer evaluation of the official higher-ed transcript(s) and send the “eval” to us for verification or correction.

We in SASD can look at your unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning to get an idea of how your transfer credits will fit the SASD curriculum.

FAFSA

Your FAFSA form is used to determine eligibility for financial aid. This document can be filled in and then filed on-line.

Health Papers

To insure that your and other students’ health is secure, all institutions of higher learning require verification of immunizations.

If you were at a previous institution within one or two years, you can sometimes have your health records forwarded to UB Student Health Services.

If you do not have current, up-to-date papers, you need to get papers from your physician or clinic.

Here is a link to a PDF with further info on what you need to get for the health clearance.
Health PDF
Registration might be delayed or prevented if health papers are not provided.

Domestic Admissions (US citizens and most US residents)

Use the link at
the domestic UB Admissions page.

International Admissions (non-US citizens and non-US residents; I-20 visas)

Use the link at
the international UB Admissions page.
Be sure to apply before July of the year you will be attending UB.

Transfer Admissions

Admissions has a general page with essential information for transferring to UB at
the Transfer Admissions page.

Transferring from a Previous College

Transfer Credits

Students coming from 2-year colleges (junior, community, or associates) can bring in up to 66 credits to UB.

Students coming from 4-year colleges (baccalaureate or above) can bring in up to 90 credits to UB.

A student with 60 community college credits and 30 baccalaureate credits can bring all 90 credits to UB.

Counting Credits

UB is a semester-based institution: 16 weeks of courses in two semesters.
Credits from semester-based institutions are applied one-to-one for transfer purposes.

When students come from term-based institutions of 10 weeks of courses in three terms, the credit count is different; one credit from a term-based institution will probably count as 2/3 of a semester credit (10/15 = 2/3).

Applying Credits

Credits must be relevant to the UB curriculum and to the SASD curriculum.

Core academic courses must meet UB standards.

Design courses must meet SASD standards.

Electives can be applied with some flexibility — but courses outside the design fields might be difficult to apply to design degree requirements.

Here are some links to PDFs of the SASD curriculum worksheets:

Graphic Design Worksheet PDF

Graphic Design New Media Worksheet PDF

Industrial Design Worksheet PDF

Interior Design Worksheet PDF

Thes PDF forms are subject to change due to curricular adjustments, scholastic directions, availability, and other circumstances. Every effort is made to ensure that any resulting changes are in accord with the mission of SASD, UB, NASAD, and the CT state charter.

Transfer Evaluations

Have your official transcripts sent directly to the UB Admissions department. They must have official transcripts in order to admit you into the University.

Admissions will make a transfer evaluation of the official higher-ed transcript(s) and send the “eval” to us for verification or correction.

We in SASD can look at your unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning to get an idea of how your transfer credits will fit the SASD curriculum.