Fall 2025 Transfer Major-Specific Degree Requirements - College of the Arts (COTA)

• Except for highly impacted majors, CSU eligible applicants who are considered local based on their high school of graduation or their military veteran status will be offered admission if they meet the major-specific minimum cumulative GPA and required lower-division preparation.
• For local applicants who apply to a highly impacted major, their cumulative grade point average (GPA) will be increased by 0.1 during the admissions process. This calculated GPA will be applied to the competitive ranking and departmental review for admissibility to a highly impacted program.
• Other CSU-eligible applicants who have met the major-specific minimum cumulative GPA and the minimum required lower-division preparation will be admitted on a space available basis based on their cumulative GPA and the additional preparation courses completed if specified in the criteria.
• If space is available after all students meeting the minimum major GPA and preparation have been accommodated, then CSU-eligible students without the minimum major preparation may be considered.
• Students admitted to the major who have not completed the additional recommended transfer requirements or the additional CSULB requirements must complete them during their first year at CSULB.

The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) curriculum is used in lieu of the major-specific degree requirements. We strongly encourage students to complete both the recommended and required courses because CSULB remains highly competitive in our admissions process. Under current CSU guidelines, the cumulative GPA will be increased by 0.1 and this calculated GPA will be applied in the ranking of applicants. Please refer to Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) for a complete list of requirements and additional information on how the ADT will be used in the competitive ranking process.

B.F.A. Option in Ceramics

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in Drawing & Painting and Illustration/Animation

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in Photography

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

​Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in Printmaking

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

​Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in Sculpture

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

​Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in 3-D Media

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

​Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.A. Option in Studio Art

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. 

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

• The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A. Option in Graphic Design

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following. Applicants to BFA Options must also receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant. Contact department for details of portfolio submission and review process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required)

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

• ​The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.A. in Art Education

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

B.A. in Art History

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Art Department for more information on this major.

Cinematic Arts, B.A. 

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.75
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

• The Cinematic Arts Department for more information on this major.

Dance B.A. & B.F.A.

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following an audition and demonstrate the following.  Contact department for details of the audition process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Dance Department for more information on this major.

Dance Science B.S.

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following an audition and demonstrate the following.  Contact department for details of the audition process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Dance Department for more information on this major.

Design B.A. or Industrial Design B.S.

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following.  Applicants to the BFA or BS programs must also receive a positive recommendation from a panel of faculty jurors following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant.  Applicants do NOT submit portfolios until all lower-division Design coursework (100 and 200 level) has been completed.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Design Department for more information on this major.

B.F.A in Interior Design 

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following.  Applicants to the BFA or BS programs must also receive a positive recommendation from a panel of faculty jurors following review of a portfolio submitted by the applicant.  Applicants do NOT submit portfolios until all lower-division Design coursework (100 and 200 level) has been completed.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Design Department for more information on this major.

Music is a highly impacted major.

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must receive a positive recommendation from the faculty following an audition and demonstrate the following.  Contact department for details of the audition process.

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•  The Music Department for more information on this major.

BA with Options in Theatre Arts, Performance, & Technical Theatre

To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
• Minimum lower-division preparation (grade of C or better required):

Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking
• Oral Communication
• Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

Explore:

•   The Theatre Department for more information on this major.