Design and Merchandising Graduate Program Application Process

Your application to the Graduate School at Colorado State University is completed online and requires the submission of an application fee and several supporting materials/documents.

• Some supporting materials can be uploaded directly within the online application.
• For any supporting documents that cannot be uploaded within the online application, please submit official paper copies directly to the CSU Office of Admissions at the following address:
  Graduate Admissions
  Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
  1062 Campus Delivery
  Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
• To submit official transcripts, please contact your previous institutions to request that they submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions at Colorado State University. Electronic or paper transcripts (original or attested copies, only) can be accepted. Official transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at the address above, sent using Colorado State University’s institution code (4075), or emailed to gradadmissions@colostate.edu.
• To submit test scores, please contact the testing agency to request that scores be sent to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075 for sending electronic scores; see address above for sending hard copy scores). Please note that electronic IELTS scores cannot be accepted.

Check the status of your application at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or check on updates.

Visit the required documents page for information about the supporting documents that you will need to include with your application. The Graduate School website also has information about application materials for U.S. Residents and International applicants.

Students who enter the program may select from two areas of emphasis: (a) Apparel and Merchandising and (b) Interior Design. A focus on social responsibility and environmental sustainability permeate our programs. Applicants to the AM specialization need not have earned a bachelor’s degree in the apparel and merchandising area, but students who hold degrees in other fields will be required to take some undergraduate background courses. Applicants to the ID specialization must have earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design.

For admission to the Graduate Program in the Department of Design and Merchandising, a variety of factors are considered, including undergraduate GPA, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, professional experiences (work, leadership, extra-curricular), and design portfolio (required for interior design applicants, optional for apparel design applicants), GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (for international students). All applicants are expected to have strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

GRE requirements:

The Department of Design and Merchandising adheres to the following policies regarding the submission of GRE scores by applicants to the Master of Science program:

• < Five years of relevant professional/industry experience AND cumulative undergraduate GPA > 3.5: GRE not required
• < Five years of relevant professional/industry experience AND cumulative undergraduate GPA < 3.5: GRE required
• > Five years of relevant professional/industry experience: GRE not required
• All international students must submit GRE scores.

Applications to the M.S. in Design and Merchandising are accepted for both fall and spring admission. During the academic year (i.e., Aug. 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 Feb. 1 for fall semester entry and by Oct. 15 for spring semester entry.

International students need to be sure to allow for adequate time to have visas and other travel documents processed after the Graduate Committee’s application decision and prior to the semester of entry. For more information and application deadlines, please visit the Office of International Programs.