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)

ARTS-10000Drawing

3

ARTS-11000Painting

3

ARTS-130002-D Design Fundamentals

3

ARTS-133003-D Design

3

ARTS-18100Digital Photography

3

ARTS-23100Introduction to Graphic Design

3

ARTS-23500Social Responsibility for Graphic Designers

3

ARTS-25100Collaborative Design Studio: Jr. Graphic Designer

3

ARTS-33200Typography

3

ARTS-39400History of Graphic Design

3

ARTS-39100Art History 1

3

-
OR

ARTS-39200Art History 2

3

ARTS-40100Senior Project/Seminar

3

ARTS-43100Graphic Design Entrepreneurship

3

ARTS-47000Art Internship

3

II. Concentration Courses (27)

A. Graphic Design Concentration

Concentration: GDSN

ARTS-23300Motion Graphics

3

ARTS-23400Interaction Design

3

ARTS-33100Collaborative Design Studio: Graphic Designer

3

ARTS-45100Collaborative Design Studio: Art Director

3

ARTS-333003-D Modeling and Motion Graphics

3

COMM-11400Communication Design Principles

3

COMM-30300Advanced Communication Design Principles

3

-
OR

ARTS-33400Web Design

3

Elective Courses for Graphic Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
MKTG-20000Principles of Marketing

3

MKTG-30000Consumer Behavior

3

MKTG-30500Introduction to Digital Marketing

3

MKTG-31500Advertising

3

MKTG-46500Marketing Research

3

MKTG-37600Digital Marketing Strategy

3

MKTG-40200Public Relations

3

COMM-20600Social Media and Online Audiences

3

COMM-20800Strategic Communication

3

COMM-37200Blogging and Opinion Writing

3

PHIL-11000Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHIL-21500Ethics

3

B. Motion Design

Concentration: MDSN
ARTS-22000Concept Development and Storyboarding

3

ARTS-23300Motion Graphics

3

ARTS-333003-D Modeling and Motion Graphics

3

ARTS-36000Visual and Interactive Storytelling

3

ARTS-37000Interactive Motion Design

3

ARTS-42000Experiential Design

3

ARTS-46000Emerging Technologies in Motion Design

3

Elective Courses for Motion Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
ENGL-25000Introduction to English Studies

3

ENGL-27000Introduction to Film Studies

3

ENGL-31100Introduction to Creative Writing

3

ENGL-43000Film Analysis

3

COMM-23000Digital Filmmaking

3

COMM-35300Field Production

3

COMM-31900Audio Production

3

THTR-25100Stage Technology 1

3

THTR-27100Acting 1

3

THTR-37100Acting 2

3

MUSC-29900Introduction to Recording and Computer Music

3

MUSC-30000Music Production and Recording

3

CPSC-20000Introduction to Computer Science

3

CPSC-21000Programming Fundamentals

3

CPSC-24500Object-Oriented Programming

3

CPSC-41000Video Game Programming 1

3

PHIL-11000Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHIL-21500Ethics

3

C. Interaction Design

Concentration: INDN
ARTS-23400Interaction Design

3

ARTS-23600Prototyping for Interactive Design

3

ARTS-27000Design Research Methods

3

ARTS-30200Human-Centered Design

3

ARTS-33400Web Design

3

ARTS-36000Visual and Interactive Storytelling

3

ARTS-40300Project Management for Interactive Design

3

Elective Courses for Interaction Design
Choose two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course:
MKTG-20000Principles of Marketing

3

MKTG-30000Consumer Behavior

3

MKTG-46500Marketing Research

3

MKTG-47000Marketing Strategy

3

PSYC-10000General Psychology

3

PSYC-10100Psychology Lab

1

CPSC-20000Introduction to Computer Science

3

CPSC-21000Programming Fundamentals

3

CPSC-24500Object-Oriented Programming

3

CPSC-41700Mobile Application Development

3

BSAD-21000Introduction to International Business

3

BSAD-42000International Business

3

FINA-44000International Finance

3

MKTG-46800International Marketing

3

COMM-38000Corporate Media Design and Development

3

COMM-41900Advanced Radio

3

PHIL-11000Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHIL-21500Ethics

3

III. Advanced Writing Requirement

The advanced writing requirement of the General Education curriculum is satisfied by successful completion of
ARTS-39100Art History 1

3