Design / Bachelor of Arts
Total Credit Hours: 128
Major Credit Hours: 69
Grounded in a systematic design process, students utilize critical thinking, technical skills, and formal studio-based foundational skills to solve complex design problems within a creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary environment. Students engage with real-world challenges that require them to work closely with clients and consumers to create human-centered and socially responsible design solutions. The program prepares students for professional practice through advanced courses that provide students with essential leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Upon graduation, students will be nimble, creative problem solvers who have the confidence to flex with a diverse and evolving profession.
Students will choose one of three program concentrations: Graphic Design, Motion Design, and Interaction Design. These concentrations provide focused development of technical skills and discipline-specific knowledge.
The concentration in Graphic Design aims to provide students with a diverse range of skills that will allow them to be adaptable throughout their career to work with both static and dynamic formats, such as interactive media, print, and environmental design. The coursework exposes students to a range of tools and techniques required to design in these different spaces.
The Motion Design concentration exposes students to the theory and practices of motion-based media and animation in both interactive and passive forms. The skills developed in this concentration will allow students to enter careers in marketing/advertising, 3D visualization, game and simulation development, and film and television. Students will learn the principles of animation as they apply to motion graphics design and character animation used in the production of client-based projects. Additionally, students will explore the development of immersive realities through the creation of virtual and augmented experiences. These advanced courses will challenge students to create compelling encounters using new and emerging technologies.
The Interaction Design concentration will teach students to design meaningful interactive experiences though technology, including smartphones, computers, the web and within the real world. Students will learn a variety of design skills, including ideation, prototyping, user research, and design thinking. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to enter the growing field of Interaction Design or pursue additional education. From tech companies to governments and non-profits, our interconnected world needs designers that can translate human needs into
innovation. The interaction program equips you with the tools and mindsets needed to thrive in this rapidly growing profession. All learned through complex, real-world challenges that ensure that you graduate with a full portfolio and the experience needed to jump-start your career.
Majors in Design must earn a grade of “C-” or better in all concentration courses in the program. Courses in which a major has earned less than a grade of “C-” must be repeated.
Degree Requirements
Program: BA-DSGN-4
I. Core Courses (42)
II. Concentration Courses (27)
A. Graphic Design Concentration
Concentration: GDSN
Elective Courses for Graphic Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
B. Motion Design
Concentration: MDSN
Elective Courses for Motion Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
C. Interaction Design
Concentration: INDN
Elective Courses for Interaction Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
III. Advanced Writing Requirement
The advanced writing requirement of the General Education curriculum is satisfied by successful completion of