FAQ | SDSU LDT

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Spark Page

General1

What is the expected cost of the program for in-state, out-of-state, and foreign students?"

Please see this page for more details about up-to-date program costs: Program Costs

What constitutes a student being an in-state or out-of-state student? How long must someone reside in California to be considered a resident?

To be considered In State, you must have established and maintained permanent residence in California at least one full year prior to the residence determination date. This page has more information: Residency Information

Is this graduate program open to anyone with a 4-year degree, or are there prerequisites or restrictions?"

This program is open to anyone with a B.A. degree in any discipline with a GPA or 2.85 or higher. The GRE is suspended for applicants applying to start in fall 2021. International students will also need to submit TOEFL scores. Otherwise, there are no other prerequisites.

Does the LDT program at SDSU have a minor program for undergrads?

Yes, please visit this page for more information: LDT Minor

Do most people who pursue this degree have a background in design? (Graphic Design, Software Design, User Interface Design etc.)"

No. This program is for beginners to the field or professionals who seek to maintain their competitive edge. Our students come from many different fields such as art, literature, history, training, computer science, etc.

Other than what is listed on the LDT Curriculum page on the website, are there other classes or pre-requisites that need to be taken?"

No. You'll be admitted as long as meeting the admission criteria listed on this page: LDT Admissions Requirements

Will this program be offered exclusively online forever?

LDT programs have always been fully online, even before the pandemic. We don't foresee reverting back to face-to-face instruction. After the pandemic, we might hold optional symposiums and networking events on campus.

Is instruction mainly in the form of text and videos, or is there live interaction with an instructor and classmates via online video conferencing?"

Most of our courses have live meetings in Zoom for at least half of the 16 weeks each semester. Attendance is optional and all sessions are recorded.

Is the program "work-at-your-own-pace," or are there strict deadlines for assignments?"

Most of the courses are in part self-paced, but they do have set due dates for assignments. We do make exceptions if a student is not working on a team project and needs extensions on assignments. Two of the courses are completely self-paced, 775 (Directed Internship in Learning Design and Technology) and 798 (Individual Study). LDT 596 (Consciousness Hacking) is also mostly self-paced.

Is there assistance to move into the career when the program is finished?

Yes, SDSU has career services. Our program has a large robust alumni network. We also have a DesignLab initiative in place, where students can work on real client projects in various classes. We also offer internships with local and global organizations.

How does this program work if someone is working full time? Are the classes held during the day or at night?

99% of our students work full-time. This is a fully online program with flexible courses. All courses meet after 4pm, with live attendance being optional. There will be recordings for sessions that you can't attend.