Program Overview

Program Overview

The Design program at Carnegie Mellon University introduces students to the discipline of design, providing a foundation of skills and a clear idea of what to expect from a college-level accredited program. Students will have the opportunity to attend classes taught by full-time Carnegie Mellon faculty, where they are given an introduction to the design principles and practices that are the cornerstones of the undergraduate School of Design program.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes:

• Studio Design for Products, Communications, & Environments: Studio courses allow students to experience the iterative process designers use when developing their best solutions.
• Design Drawing: Design Drawing is a different way of drawing than fine art drawing, used by designers to work through their ideas and effectively share their thinking with others.
• Design Photography: In addition to the mechanics of using a camera, Design Photography teaches students how to effectively capture images that convey meaning and tell a story.
• Design Research & Problem-Solving Methods: This course serves as an introduction to the way designers gather meaningful data and to the tools required to apply that data to their design solutions.

Faculty Bio

Wayne Chung is a Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, with research and work spanning medical systems and devices, robot design, consumer, and industrial products.

Program Length

The program runs from June 20 to August 1, 2026, for a duration of 6 weeks.

Application Details

• Early Deadline: Scholarship and International applications must be submitted by this deadline, with decisions sent on March 15.
• Final Deadline: Fixed admissions, with decisions sent on April 15.
• Housing Options: Resident or Commuter, with commuters required to have a permanent residence within approximately 30 miles of the Pittsburgh campus or within Allegheny County.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be eligible, students must:

• Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
• Be a current sophomore or junior in high school at the time of application submission.
• Have an academic average of B (3.0/4.0) or better. The complete application consists of:
  • Completed online application
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Standardized test scores (optional)
  • One letter of recommendation
  • Responses to the essay prompts
  • Portfolio (optional, but highly recommended)

Application Essay Prompts

Responses to the following essay prompts are required (300-500 words each):

• What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs?
• Why are you interested in studying design?

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there an opportunity for portfolio development? Yes, work created in this program may be excellent material to package for a student portfolio.
• Does the program have a three-week option? No, there is no three-week option for Pre-College Design.
• Do I need to bring my own computer? A laptop capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud software is required.
• Will I earn college credit from this program? No, Pre-College Design students do not earn college credit.
• What supplies will I need for the program? Students receive a Design Kit from the CMU Art Store upon arrival, and are asked to bring a camera.