Design BAS Information

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Design BAS Program Information

Embark on your design career at LWTech and gain vital skills for a successful career in various sectors including, design firms, high-tech companies, advertising and branding firms, in-house art departments, and freelance consultancy.

Our Design program prioritizes real-world projects, meeting deadlines, problem-solving, and enhancing the user experiences. You'll learn industry-standard software, refine problem-solving abilities, and adopt best practices for personal expression in design.

Design BAS is evening hybrid program that starts in the Fall. This is a Selective Admission program, meaning it has specific admission criteria and a separate application process. For information on the Selective Admission process, please visit the Selective Admission Page. 

 

Design BAS Information Session

These helpful sessions present an overview of the Design program and explain the admission process. Attendance is highly recommended for all applicants.

All information sessions are in-person at this time. All applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of these information sessions.

Dates & Time

  • Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 4PM
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 4PM
  • Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 4PM

Location

  • All three sessions will be held in the East Building, Room E207.

Please contact Steve Ater for information about upcoming sessions.

 

How to Apply

Design BAS is a Selective Admission Program, meaning it has specific requirements and a separate application process. For detailed information on the Selective Admission process, including applying for admission, paying for college, transferring classes, and more, please visit the Selective Admission homepage. 

Program Application Dates and Deadlines: 

Admission: Fall

Program length: 6 quarters at Full-Time Enrollment

Fall 2026

  • Application opens February 1, 2026
  • Priority Deadline: May 11, 2026
  • Rolling Admission Deadline: August 21, 2026

Apply by the priority deadline for first consideration! Students who apply by the priority deadline will receive a decision by the end of June 2026. Rolling Admission is available until the program fills or August 21, 2026, whichever comes first.. 

 

Apply for Design BAS

You can find the application within the Selective Admission Portal. Simply select "Start a New Application" to begin! You must have a current LWTech email to access this portal. Please visit the Selective Admission Page for details on how to apply. If you have difficulty with the application portal, please contact Selective Admission for assistance.

Apply for Design BAS

 

Application Requirements

In order to apply for the Design BAS program, you need to meet some specific criteria and complete required classes.

  • Completion of an associate degree, or equivalent, from an accredited institution.
    • Equivalent means completing 90+ college credits including college-level English, college-level Math, and college-level Social Science or Humanities 
  • Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA across all college coursework
  • Submit a Design Portfolio featuring 5-7 design pieces
  • Complete the following classes with at least a 2.0 GPA: 
    • ENGL&101 English Composition (or equivalent) - 5 credits
    • College-Level Social Science - 5 credits
    • College-Level Humanities - 10 credits
    • MATH&107 or any college-level math with intermediate algebra as a prerequisite - 5 credits
    • College-Level Lab Science - 5 credits

Portfolio: 

Students must submit a Portfolio containing 5-7 examples of their best design-related work. This can contain pieces from college courses, professionally commissioned designs, or pieces made for this application. The selection committee will not review more than 7 pieces. Portfolios will be scored up to 3 points in each of the following categories, with up to 40 points possible. Applicants must score a minimum of 12 points on the Portfolio to qualify for full admission.

Applicants are scored on the following criteria: 

  • Form Making/Ability to Visualize
  • Communication/Conceptual Ability
  • Problem-Solving
  • Content Depth

Portfolios must be submitted via URL. No document uploads will be allowed on the application. Applicants with Portfolio scores of less than 12 points or who have missing or in-progress classes may qualify for Conditional Admission on a space-available basis. If there are more applicants than spaces available, priority will be given to applicants with the highest portfolio scores and most required classes completed.

 

Program Courses and Catalog Page

Please refer to the Program Catalog Page for a preview of program courses! 

 

Estimated Program Costs

Planning for cost of attendance is essential to success in college! Please visit our Estimated Cost by Program page for the most updated estimates of tuition and fees. Estimated costs do not include pre-requisite coursework. For information on funding for prerequisite and BAS courses, please visit the Pay for College page. 

 

Career Pathways

LWTech prepares students for today's careers and tomorrow's opportunities! To find possible career paths in Design, visit the main Design page, attend an Information Session, or visit Career Services! 

 

Accreditation

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at the associate degree level and at the baccalaureate level.

 

LWTech Policies

In signing and submitting the application, you will be certifying that to the best of your knowledge the statements made are complete and true. This means that failure to disclose and submit official transcripts from all schools, colleges, or universities attended and failure to disclose and submit complete and accurate information may result in the denial of admission or subsequent dismissal from Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Your application will be considered incomplete without the required signatures.

Once your online application is completed, make sure to click the "Review Application" button. Make sure everything looks correct, then click "Verify and Submit," enter your name as your signature, and click "Submit". In the application portal, your application must show 100% complete. If it does not say 100% complete, it will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Please note that 100% complete does not indicate that LWTech has received all required documents. Applications are not considered complete until all required documentation is received. 

Lake Washington Institute of Technology reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity in education regardless of race or ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in accordance with college policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.

LWTech reserves the right to rescind a student's offer of admission wherever:

  1. the student's final academic record has lowered significantly,
  2. the student's application materials are found to contain misrepresentations,
  3. misconduct occurs or is brought to the attention of LWTech after an offer of admission is made, or
  4. an error led to the offer of admission.

The determination to revisit an application and rescind an offer of admission based upon the above factors rests solely with the Enrollment Services Office. Appeals are heard by the Vice President of Student Services.

Students who disagree with selective admission decisions should follow the grievances and appeals procedures as published online.