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SJSU ARTICULATION AGREEMENT
Lower Division Requirements
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

BA - Design Studies

San José State University Transfer Planning Guide

Community College students should meet with a counselor as soon as possible to determine the equivalent courses offered at that institution. Students should complete as many as possible of the lower division requirements listed below, prior to transfer.

Lower Division Course Requirements

Second Course in English Composition:

ENGL 002 Critical Thinking and Writing
or
ENGL 001B Argument and Analysis

Core Requirement for the Major:

ARTH 072 Design in Society

Art History - Complete one course from:

ARTH 070A Art History, Prehistoric to Medieval
   OR
ARTH 070B Art History, Renaissance to Modern
   OR
ARTH 070C Arts of Asia

Design Drawing - Complete one course from:

ANI 011 Illustration Fundamentals I
   OR
ART 024 Drawing I
   OR
DSID 021 Visualization I
   OR
DSIT 010 Sketching, Drawing + Modeling

Design Foundation I - Complete one course from:

ANI 010 Light and Optics
   OR
DSGD 063 Fundamental Graphic Visualization
   OR
DSID 022 Visualization II
   OR
DSIT 005 Introduction of Interior Design and Architecture

Design Foundation II - Complete one course from:

ANI 071 Visual Principles
   OR
DSGD 083 Digital Applications: Basics
   OR
DSID 031 Industrial Design Foundation I
   OR
DSIT 029 Design Process

Design Methods I - Complete one course from:

ANI 031 2D Animation I
   OR
DSIT 033 Architectural Presentation

Design Methods II - Complete one course from:

DSGD 099 Introduction to Typography
   OR
DSID 032 Industrial Design Foundation II
   OR
DSIT 083 Visual Communication I

Area Specialization - Complete one of the three Specialization Areas below (Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or Interior Design):

Graphic Design: (Courses for this specialization must be completed at SJSU, not at the community college.)

Industrial Design:

DSID 041 Materials and Processes I

Interior Design:

DSIT 034 Interior Architecture Foundation Studio

Major Electives:

TA 005 Acting

IMPORTANT TRANSFER INFORMATION:

Admission to San Jose State is competitive in all majors. SJSU continues to have more qualified applicants than available new student spaces. Because of this, SJSU is an impacted campus with impacted programs. For the most current information regarding admission impaction at SJSU please visit our website SJSU Impaction Information page.

Prior to transferring to San Jose State University all transfers must earn at least 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter), including the CSU four basic skill courses required for CSU admission eligibility (except majors which have an approved CSU GE A3 waiver). Within those 60 semester/90 quarter units, students are strongly encouraged to complete the following:

1. Lower Division Major Course Requirements (especially for STEM Majors):
Complete as many of the lower division courses required for the major as possible. Many of these courses may be double counted as part of the CSU GE-Breadth 39 semester unit requirements. The lower division major courses for this major are shown above.

2. General Education Requirements:
Complete all the CSU GE Breadth requirements at the community college (39 semester units/58 quarter units). The approved courses for each area can be found at www.assist.org under the link "CSU GE-Breadth Certification Courses" for your college. Many of these courses may be double counted to meet the major requirements shown above, so choose your courses wisely. Some SJSU majors which meet GE requirements within the majors are noted on the Major Exceptions and Modifications page in our catalog. Please see your college counselor/advisor to review your general education in order to receive FULL OR PARTIAL CERTIFICATION PRIOR TO TRANSFER to San Jose State University.

3. Second Course in English Composition highly recommended:
All students are strongly encouraged to complete a second English composition course as part of their lower division GE prior to transferring to SJSU (either to meet CSU GE Area A3 or C2) for the greatest success in passing the Writing Skills Test (WST) at SJSU. Complete this course with a grade of "C" or better prior to registering for the WST at SJSU to avoid delays in enrollment for other SJSU courses. To register for the WST contact our Testing office at: testing.sjsu.edu.

4. American Institutions Requirement (US 1, US 2, and US 3 must be completed):
This requirement is normally 2 courses and can be taken as part of your CSU GE-Breadth 39 semester unit requirements (GE Area D and sometimes Area C). The approved courses can be found at www.assist.org under the link "CSU U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals Courses" for your college.

5. Graduation Requirement - Physical Education (PE):
All undergraduate students who matriculate at SJSU are required to complete two units of physical education from Kinesiology/Dance activity courses, unless the major program has an approved PE waiver. Majors which have approved PE waivers are noted on the Major Exceptions and Modifications page in our catalog.


(page last modified: 05/20/2025)