Submit the CalState Apply application by December 1. The application requires a $70 fee that is non-refundable and may not be transferred to another term. Application fee waivers are not available to graduate applicants. If you cannot apply online, contact the Office of Admissions to make special arrangements to apply electronically with campus assistance.

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Within two weeks of submitting your CalState Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University that includes your SDSUid. Your SDSUid is an identifier to securely access many campus IT services, including my.SDSU, the official online portal for student admissions, student records, financial aid, tuition and fee payment, and more. Please follow the instructions provided in the email to activate your SDSUid account.

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Submit transcripts to Graduate Admissions by December 15. Graduate applicants are required to submit transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. Do not send transcripts before submitting the CalState Apply application, as this may result in processing delays.

Submit transcripts and test scores to:

Graduate Admissions
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8225

Transcripts from U.S. Institutions

Submit official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all colleges and universities attended. Transcripts must have been issued within the last year. Transcripts received with print dates older than one year will not be accepted.

Hard copy transcripts for SDSU coursework are not required.

Electronic transcripts are acceptable. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use [email protected].

Test Scores

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.

Transcripts from International Institutions

If you have international coursework, you are required to submit transcripts (academic record) and proof of degree (diploma/degree certificate) both in the original language and an English translation, for all post-secondary schools attended.

Post-Secondary Transcripts—Transcripts/grade reports are required from all post-secondary schools attended. Review the Graduate: Requirements by Country for country-specific information. Failure to submit the required country-specific documents listed will result in your application being canceled.

Diploma/Degree Certificate—For each post-secondary degree completed, submit a copy of your diploma/degree certificate or provisional degree certificate. Review the Graduate: Requirements by Country for country-specific information. Failure to submit the required country-specific documents listed will result in your application being canceled.

English Translation—For each original-language document submit a certified literal English translation. The translation must be from the university or a certified translator and should contain all information shown on the original-language documents and in the same format.

Submit international transcripts and diploma/degree certificate in one of the following options:

Option 1: Evaluation Report (highly recommended)—Submit a foreign evaluation report from one of the following:

• IERF—course by course detailed report with course level identification
• WES—course by course (WES ICAP)
• ECE—course by course

While an evaluation report is not required, it is highly recommended as it will help expedite the processing of your application. The evaluation report must be sent electronically, directly by IERF, WES or ECE to Graduate Admissions. If admitted, additional documents will not be required unless a degree is in progress.

Option 2: Official Documents (recommended/encouraged)—Submitting official international documents is not required but recommended/encouraged. Official documents must arrive in a sealed/unopened envelope (to the mailing address listed below), stamped or signed by the appropriate official from the issuing institution. Please do not send your only original academic record(s) and/or diploma(s)/degree certificate(s). All documents received become property of SDSU and will not be returned. If admitted, additional documents will likely not be required unless a degree is in progress.

Option 3: Unofficial Copies (acceptable for admission purposes)—Scanned copies of the official international documents can be submitted. Please note these must be official documents and not print-outs from online student portals. Copies can be uploaded using my.SDSU. If admitted, official documents will be required prior to enrollment.

Mailing International Documents

If you are mailing international documents to the Graduate Admissions Office, we recommend using a guaranteed delivery services such as Federal Express or DHL. This allows you to track and confirm delivery of your documents to the Graduate Admissions Office. Documents should be mailed to the exact address listed below. Failure to send documents to the Graduate Admissions Office mailing address may result in your documents not being delivered in a timely manner or not being received at all.

Additional information can be found at https://admissions.sdsu.edu/graduate/apply

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All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) applying to SDSU from an international institution where the medium of instruction was not English, must submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency:

• TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT: Score can be sent electronically from Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the SDSU institution code: 4682. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher: Score can be sent electronically from Duolingo, to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• PTE minimum score of 58 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• Transcripts have been received indicating English as the principal language of instruction.
• A copy of your official score report or unofficial transcript can be submitted through your my.SDSU account.

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Complete the program application through Interfolio by January 12.

The program application requires the following:

• A statement of purpose addressing your professional goals and reasons for selecting the School of Art and Design at SDSU for your pursuit of these goals.
• Artist statement which describes the nature or content of the work shown in the portfolio.
• Digital images of your work (15 to 20).
• Current resume.
• Transcripts—one copy of unofficial or official transcripts for all college- and university-level institutions attended.
• Two letters of recommendation from art instructors (or others) who are able to comment on your artistic potential in the area of specialization. Applicant must provide names and email addresses for recommenders. Recommenders will be invited to complete the recommendation electronically.

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