Applying for admission to the Master of Science in Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University

Thank you for your interest in pursuing graduate study in Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. We are the only institution within the state of Colorado to offer graduate specializations in: apparel and merchandising and interior design. Our excellent graduate program has much to offer students with undergraduate degrees in these emphasis areas as well as those who are interested in changing careers. Within each area of specialization, there are several strong, student-oriented faculty members who are actively pursuing research and/or design work.

All of the materials that you will need to apply are available on the Colorado State University website. To complete the graduate application (GS1 or GSF1) form, please visit the following website at http://graduateschool.colostate.edu/index.asp?url=apply. Please click here for information about the supporting documents that you will need to include with your application. You also may wish to visit the website for the Colorado State University Graduate School, http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Grad/.

For Admission to the Graduate Program in Department of Design and Merchandising, a variety of factors are considered, including design portfolio (for students interested in interior design), GPA, GRE, TOEFL (for international students)letters of recommendation, professional experiences (work, leadership, extra-curricular), and a statement of purpose (which also serves as a writing sample).

All students are expected to have or develop strong written and spoken English skills. International students must demonstrate proficiency by submitting TOEFL scores.

As noted below, admissions policies differ for students in the apparel and merchandising and interior design areas.

Applicants in Apparel and Merchandising: During the academic year (i.e., August 15- May 15), the Department Graduate Selection Committee considers applications on a rolling basis. To be considered for assistantships and fellowships, however, complete application materials should be submitted by February 15 for fall semester entry and by October 15 for spring semester entry.

Applicants in Interior Design: Effective fall 2004, the Department Graduate Committee will review applicants for fall admission, only (i.e., students will not be allowed to begin the program in the spring semester). To be considered for fall admission in the interior design program, application materials should be submitted by May 1. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, applications must be submitted by February 15.

International students need to be sure to allow for adequate time to have visas and other travel documents processed after the Committee's application decision and prior to the semester of entry. For more information and application deadlines, please visit the website for the Office of International Programs at http://www.international.colostate.edu/.

If you have further questions, you can reach us by phone at (970) 491-7890 or nancy.melvin@colostate.edu. We hope you will find that our program meets your needs and that the campus and City of Fort Collins, located near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, have much to offer you.