Transferring to the College of Design from Outside the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Thank you for your interest in the College of Design! External transfers are handled centrally at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Office of Admission. To learn more about the transfer admissions process and start your application, please review the Office of Admissions Transfer Admissions Timeline. If you have any questions, please contact the College of Design Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Post-Acceptance Steps
- Confirm Enrollment
- Review Computer Standards
- Initiate Accounts
- Attend Orientation
- Transfer Coursework
- Read Your Transfer Guide
We hope you decide to attend the University of Minnesota and join the College of Design community. Confirm your enrollment today to reserve your spot. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admissions by calling 612-625-2008 or by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Note: Enrollment confirmation is not required for students transferring from a U of M system campus.
Our faculty select computer and software options that are the best fit for the coursework and projects in your major. Requirements and recommendations vary by major. Please review the College of Design's Computer Labs FAQs to learn more about hardware and software recommendations.
U of M email is our official means of communication with you. Be sure to check it often for important information.
Students transferring from outside of the U of M Twin Cities:
- Set up your U of M email account right away.
Students transferring from a U of M system campus:
- You will need to change your campus/email domain to U of M–Twin Cities. If you follow these instructions and do not receive a response within a few business days, check your spam folder.
- Contact the U of M Technology Help Desk if you need assistance.
Transfer orientation is a one-day remote program required of all new transfer students and will include a virtual advising session with our academic advising team and registration for the upcoming term. Orientation details and instructions will be emailed to students who have confirmed their enrollment.
For students entering the U of M for Fall Term, orientation will be held June–August. For students entering for Spring Term, orientation will be held in early January.
Use Transferology to see how transfer courses from other schools may fulfill U of M liberal education (general) requirements. For classes not listed in Transferology or on regional transfer guides, prospective and admitted students can submit course materials on the central University Transfer Credit Evaluation webpage to be reviewed by faculty in our academic departments.
The Office of Admissions reviews your transfer courses to determine transferability of credit to fulfill elective and/or liberal education requirements. You will receive a transfer credit report that outlines the outcome of that course review.
Separately, the College of Design will review your transcript to identify studio coursework taken outside of the U of M–Twin Cities that may possibly fulfill a major requirement(s). If you have such coursework, you will receive an email from design-ao@umn.edu with instructions for submitting the coursework for faculty review. Please submit your coursework as promptly as possible.
If you believe you have transferable studio-based courses but have not received an instructional email within two weeks of your admission notice, please contact design-ao@umn.edu.
Note: It is not common for faculty to approve transfer studio courses to meet upper-division major requirements. Non-studio based major courses may be petitioned through your academic advisor once you begin your courses in the College of Design.
Electronic Transfer Guides for all Colleges/Programs
If you have attended one of the following community or technical colleges in Minnesota, please download and read your transfer guide.
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Anoka Ramsey Community College
Century College
Dakota Country Technical College
Dunwoody College
Inver Hills Community College
Minneapolis College
Normandale Community College
North Hennepin Community College
Rochester Community & Technical College
St. Paul College
Major-specific Information
Apparel Design
The Apparel Design major is planned as a four-year program because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio courses required in the major. Major courses are sequenced over eight consecutive semesters (four years). Note that if you are entering the Apparel Design major in spring term, the length of the program is nine semesters because the major-required studio sequence begins in the fall.
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. You must enroll in major courses in the order in which they appear on your four-year plan. Note that many of the courses required for the major are offered only once a year in either fall or spring semester.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact the Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Architecture
The Architecture major is planned as a three to four-year program because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio courses required in the major. Major courses are sequenced over six to eight consecutive semesters (three to four years). Note that if you are entering the Architecture major in the spring term, the length of the program is seven to nine semesters because the major-required studio sequence begins in the fall.
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. You must enroll in major courses in the order in which they appear in the four-year plan. Note that some of the courses required for your major are not offered every term. They are designated on your four-year plan as fall term only or spring term only.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact your Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Graphic Design
The Graphic Design major is planned as a four-year major because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio major required courses. Major courses are sequenced over eight consecutive semesters (four years).
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. You must enroll in major courses in the order in which they appear in the four-year plan.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact your Transfer Admissions Counselor.
NOTE: If you have completed major-related courses at Minneapolis College or Alexandria Technical and Community College, please consult your admissions counselor.
Interior Design
The Interior Design major is planned as a four-year major because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio major required courses. Major courses are sequenced over eight consecutive semesters (four years). Note that if you are entering the Interior Design major in spring term, the length of the program is nine semesters because the major-required studio sequence begins in the fall.
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. You must enroll in major courses in the order in which they appear on your four-year plan. Note that many of the courses required for the major are offered only once a year in either fall or spring semester.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact the Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Landscape Architecture
The Landscape Architecture major is planned as a four-year major because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio major required courses. Major courses are sequenced over eight consecutive semesters (four years). Note that if you are entering the Landscape Architecture major in the spring term, the length of the program is nine semesters because the major-required studio sequence begins in the fall.
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. Note that many of the courses required for the major are offered only once a year, either in fall semester or spring semester. When planning your courses, pay attention to the prerequisites for courses over the next two terms.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact the Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Product Design
The Product Design major is planned as a four-year major because of the need to sequence studio and non-studio major required courses. Major courses are sequenced over eight consecutive semesters (four years). Note that if you are entering the Product Design major in the spring term, the length of the program is nine semesters because the major-required studio sequence begins in the fall.
Review your four-year plan to ensure timely graduation. You must enroll in major courses in the order in which they appear in the four-year plan. Note that some of the Product Design courses required for your major and some of the Product Design elective course options are not offered every term. They are designated on your four-year plan as fall term only or spring term only.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact the Transfer Admissions Counselor.
Retail Merchandising
Your four-year plan identifies the core courses required for all Retail Merchandising students. Be sure to use your four-year plan to ensure a timely graduation.
In addition to the core requirements, students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of Retail Merchandising Electives.
Please be aware that some of the RM courses required for your major and some RM and ADes elective course options are not offered every term. They are designated on your four-year plan as fall term only or spring term only.
If you have questions about your four-year plan, or other academic information, contact the Transfer Admissions Counselor.
