Sacramento State Design Studies
Transfer Requirements and Classes
The major preparation Sacramento State lists for Design Studies transfers starts with DSGN 4, DSGN 10 and DSGN 20; the full list is below.
114 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with Sac State for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.
Your community college
Which classes count at your community college?
Pick your college to see its class for each Sac State requirement.
Major Requirements
Sacramento State Design Studies Major Preparation
The courses Sacramento State lists as Design Studies major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2025-26 academic year. Course numbers are Sac State's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.
Required lower division courses
Complete all of these
- DSGN 4 Design and Thinking
- DSGN 10 Think Make
- DSGN 20 Design and Society Since 1780
Art history
Complete 1 of these
- ART 1A Art, Religions, and Power before 1400
- ART 1B Art, Empires, and Cross-Cultural Exchange, 1400-1800
- ART 1C Global Modern and Contemporary Art
- ART 2 History of Islamic Art
- ART 3A Traditional Asian Art
- ART 3B Modern and Contemporary Asian Art
- ART 5 Art of the Americas
Design
Complete 1 of these
- ARCH 1A History of Architecture: Prehistory to 1800
- ARCH 1B History of Architecture: 1800 to Today
- GPHD 20 History of Graphic Design
- PHOT 15 Survey of Photography
Lower division studio
Complete 1 of these
- GPHD 25 Visual Basics
- INTD 25 Design Fundamentals
- PHOT 11 Digital Photography I
- PHOT 12 Digital Photography II
- PHOT 40 Darkroom Photography
Also listed by Sac State
Sac State lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.
Elective courses
1 of these
- ANTH 2 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- ENVS 10 Introduction to Environmental Science
- ETHN 11 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
- FASH 30 Fashion and Human Environment
- FASH 31 Textiles
- GEOG 2 Cultural Geography
- HRS 71 Arts and Ideas of Asia: Medieval to Modern
- PHOT 20 The Photographic Self
- SOC 3 Social Problems
- WGS 50 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
- WGS 75 Introduction to Disability Studies
- WGS 85 Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sacramento State have a Design Studies major for transfer students?
Yes. Sacramento State offers Design Studies and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.
What classes do I need to transfer to Sacramento State for Design Studies?
Sacramento State's Design Studies major preparation includes DSGN 4, DSGN 10, DSGN 20, ART 1A, ART 1B and ART 1C, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.
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Related Transfer Requirements
Build your Sac State Design Studies plan
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