For the full Academic Catalog, go https://uad.education/coursecatalog/
ADMISSIONS POLICIES AND INFORMATION
Non-Discrimination Statement: The University of Arts & Design does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age in admitting students to its programs or in administering its educational policies, scholarships, or other University programs. Admissions policies are based on inclusiveness.
General Admissions Requirements: The University of Arts & Design accepts applications throughout the year and students can begin courses at the start of every 15-week term. Students can enroll in the master’s degree program or complete focused courses as part of its undergraduate certificate programs.
In determining whether an applicant possesses the necessary readiness and qualification to be admitted to one of the programs offered, the University reserves the right to consider and evaluate a wide range of factors and information including the applicant’s background and public information. This information, generally available through public records, is used for screening in conformity with all federal and state laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The University does not enroll students below the compulsory age of secondary school attendance.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
The University of Arts & Design offers students the opportunity to enroll in undergraduate certificate programs or a Master of Arts in Design Business with an emphasis in either Digital Technology or Visual Arts. To be admitted to one of the programs offered applicants must meet the following admissions criteria by submitting requested documentation:
- Application for Admission (online)
- Application Fee ($75)
- All students must submit a copy of a valid government-issued photo identification (military IDs will not be accepted). Providing false or altered identification is grounds for denial of admission, or dismissal from the University.
In addition to the documentation listed above, students must also submit the following based on the program of interest.
Undergraduate Certificate Programs
- Submit evidence of completed high school education or its international equivalent.
Examples of Acceptable Documentation
- Copy of a high school diploma or transcript.
- Copy of GED or state certificate awarded after passing an authorized test that the state recognizes as equivalent to a high school diploma.
- Official transcript indicating a qualifying associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree awarded from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or foreign equivalent.
- Official transcripts of completed semester credit hours from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or foreign equivalent.
- If a prospective student earned an international high school diploma, a copy of an approved Foreign Evaluation Services (www.naces.org) report showing an equivalent to a completed US high school education.
- Self-certification (subject to the University’s review and approval).
Master’s Degree Programs
- Submit evidence of an earned bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent.
Examples of Acceptable Documentation
- Official transcripts (in English) demonstrating an earned bachelor’s degree awarded from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or international equivalent. To be considered official, the transcripts must be received by the University directly from the sending institution.
- GPA higher than 2.0.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts or similar
Pre-Requisite Courses: For students who have not previously earned a bachelor of fine arts or similar, they may be required to take prerequisite courses to ensure an adequate academic foundation to be successful in either the Master of Arts in Design Business or Master of Fine Arts in Digital Design. Pre-requisite courses include A201: Design Foundations on Fire, A202: Introduction to Photoshop & InDesign, and A203: Introduction to Illustrator.
Individual Courses: Students may enroll in and take individual courses for academic credit. Students interested in completing individual courses must meet all admissions requirements, pay tuition and fees, and adhere to all institutional policies. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, adhere to code of conduct expectations, and pay all applicable tuition and fees.
Audit Courses: Students may enroll in and audit individual courses. Students approved to audit courses do not earn academic credit. Students auditing courses do not participate in threaded discussions, submit coursework for grading, or receive feedback. The University provides support services to audit students for navigating the learning management system and accessing course instructional materials. Students must adhere to code of conduct expectations and pay all applicable tuition and fees.
Provisional Enrollment: Applicants may be provisionally enrolled in a program pending the University’s receipt of official transcripts. To be provisionally enrolled, students must submit unofficial transcripts and ensure the University receives official transcripts by the end of the first 15-week term. If official transcripts are not received, provisionally enrolled students will be administratively withdrawn until the requested documents have been submitted.
Notification of Acceptance or Denial: The Admissions Team notifies students of their acceptance or reasons for denial within 10 days following verification of the application and corresponding admissions documentation.
English Language Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree from an appropriately accredited institution where English is the principal language of instruction must demonstrate college-level proficiency in English by achieving the minimum scores through one of the tests listed below or by providing proof that the language of instruction for their secondary or postsecondary institution was English. Transcript evaluations must be completed for official transcripts; however, unofficial documentation may be reviewed for the purpose of admission.
| Accepted Test | Minimum Score (Undergraduate Applicants) |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | 57 on the paper-delivered test (PBT) or 61 on the Internet Based Test (iBT) |
| International English Language Test (IELTS) | 6.0 |
| Pearson Test of English | 44 |
| Duolingo English Test | 95 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 53 |
| Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) | 650/LP |
| Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) | 650/LP |
| Accepted Test | Minimum Score (Graduate Applicants) |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | 60 on the paper-delivered test (PBT) or 71 on the Internet Based Test (iBT) |
| International English Language Test (IELTS) | 6.5 |
| Pearson Test of English | 50 |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 55 |
| Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) | 650/LP |
| Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) | 650/LP |
International Transcripts: Students who attended or completed their education outside of the United States must have their official transcripts evaluated by a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) to demonstrate it is equivalent and meets the University’s admissions criteria. Students are responsible for the costs of this evaluation. The University must receive official transcripts and an official copy of the evaluation results.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The University of Arts & Design provides limited technical support for course-related software applications and online resources. The listed computer hardware requirements are expected to be sufficient for students under most conditions to access the programs offered. There could be situations where hardware limitations or software compatibility issues might prevent technical support from addressing students’ issues. In these cases, it is up to students to obtain third-party assistance in handling any technical issues. There are courses that have additional technical requirements and those will supersede the specifications listed in this section.
The online learning environment at the University of Arts & Design is composed of multiple technologies working together. This requires that computer hardware meet the following minimum technical requirements. Further, depending on various combinations of operating systems, different versions of software may be required to provide an optimal learning experience.
Computer Hardware Requirements
- One of the following operating systems with sufficient rights on the device to install software:
- Windows 10 (or higher)
- Mac OS 11 (or higher)
- One of the following web browsers with the ability to allow popups:
- Google Chrome (preferred) – most recent stable version or two preceding versions
- Mozilla Firefox – most recent stable version or two preceding versions
- Apple Safari – two most recent major versions
- Microsoft Edge – most recent stable version or two preceding versions
- Broadband internet connection 1Mbps required, 25 Mbps or faster preferred
- Acrobat Reader version 2020 (or higher)
- Webcam
- Art Supplies (course specific)
Identity Verification: The University of Arts & Design follows established processes to verify that students who enrolled and registered for a course or program are the same students who participate in and complete the course or program and receive academic credit. This policy applies to all students beginning with the application for admission and continuing through graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from the University.
Identity Verification Methods: During the admissions process, the Registrar verifies all documentation submitted by applicants to verify their identity using a government-issued photo identification. Students receive a username and initial password that they must change upon initial login to access their courses on the learning management system.
Recorded Presentations: Students must submit recorded video presentations to critique their projects or conduct a defense of their written paper at the midterm and end of every course. The University uses these recorded presentations to assess student learning and achievement of the course outcomes and verify student identity.
Re-Admission: The University encourages students who withdraw to return and complete their certificate or degree program. When returning to the same program of study, returning students will be enrolled into the program curriculum in place at the time of re-admission. The Admissions Department will guide students’ re-admission to determine the appropriate term and ensure alignment with course availability.
Students who wish to return to the University to enroll in a different program will be considered for re-admission and are subject to the tuition, policies, and program curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.
Programs and courses may remain unchanged, be removed, or added as needed to meet current curriculum requirements or enhance the student learning experience.