The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Design is a 122.5-credit non-professional undergraduate degree program that combines design studios and the liberal arts in a four-year curriculum focused on educating students to use design and critical thinking skills to generate ideas, solve complex problems and be creative and innovative makers. The program focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of design and its methodologies. The core of the degree program is a series of forums, seminars, workshops, and studios intended to connect history, theory, and practice. Students have hands-on experiences grappling with design challenges that vary in complexity and scale. Courses are taught by faculty from multiple design disciplines. Seniors complete a capstone project and a portfolio course in preparation for graduate school or the job market. The program works well with a second major or a minor, can be completed on a part-time schedule, and is transfer-friendly. Students with transfer credit should speak to academic adviser about how these credits can apply to degree requirements.
The curriculum developed out of a shared philosophy across the college's disciplines that designers have the capacity to think strategically and creatively about society's increasing economic, social and environmental challenges. Innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged and valued. Our graduates pursue a wide range of professional career paths in design practice, digital media and entrepreneurship. Upon completion, students may enter graduate programs in the design professions or other fields in which design thinking, skills in making, and critical analysis are valued.
Curriculum for Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary design
Total Degree Requirement: 122.5 cr.
Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 6 cr. in Design History/Theory/Criticism and 6 cr. in Design Skills credit; 16 technical cr.; 21 P-NP cr. of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA average; completion of all requirements listed below.
International Perspective: 3 cr.
U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.
Communications: 13 cr.
(C or Better in ENGL 150 and ENGL 250)
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| SP CM 212 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| 3 credits selected from: | 3 | |
| Business Communication | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 13 | |
*Mathematics/Physical Sciences/Biological Sciences: 9 cr.
9 cr. from approved list
*Social Sciences: 9 cr.
9 cr. from approved list
*Humanities: 9 cr.
9 cr. from approved list
*At least 3 credits in Mathematics/Physical Sciences/Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, or Humanities must be above 300-level.
Design Core Program: 11.5 cr.
| DSN S 102 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSN S 115 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 0.5 |
| or DSN S 110 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSN S 131 | Design Representation | 4 |
| DSN S 183 | Design Cultures | 3 |
| Total Credits | 11.5 | |
Interdisciplinary Design Concentration: 32 cr.
| DES 230 | Design Thinking | 3 |
| DES 241X | Interdisciplinary Foundation Studio I | 4 |
| DES 242X | Interdisciplinary Foundation Studio II | 4 |
| 6 credits: | 6 | |
| DES 250 | Design Forum (*) | 2 |
| DES 330 | Visual Literacy for Design Critique | 3 |
| 4 credits: | ||
| DES 340 | Design Studio II | 4 |
| DES 491 | Portfolio and Professional Preparation | 4 |
| DES 495 | Capstone Experience | 4 |
| *2 cr. of DES 250 can be substituted with approved equivalent. | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Design Skills: 12 cr.
| DSN S 232 | Digital Design Communications | 3 |
| Select 9 credits from approved list | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Design History/Theory/Criticism: 9 cr.
9 cr. selected from approved list.
Minor and/or Electives: 21 cr.
Interdisciplinary Design, B.A.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DSN S 102 or 131 | 4 | DSN S 131 or 102 | 4 |
| DSN S 115 or 110 | 0.5-1 | DSN S 183 | 3 |
| DSN S 183 | 3 | or Minor/Elective | |
or Minor/Elective | ENGL 150 | 3 | |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | or General Education | |
or General Education | General Education | 3 | |
| General Education | 3 | PSYCH 101. PSYCH 230, or SOC 134 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 14.5-15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DES 230 | 3 | DES 242X | 4 |
| DES 241X | 4 | DES 250 | 2 |
| DSN S 232 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | History/Theory/Criticism | 3 |
| History/Theory/Criticism | 3 | MATH, PHYS 101, STAT 101, or STAT 104 | 3-4 |
| 16 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DES 340 | 2 | DES 250 | 2 |
| DES 250 | 2 | DES 330 | 3 |
| SP CM 212 | 3 | DES 340 | 2 |
| ENGL 302, 309 or 314 | 3 | DES 333X | 3 |
| History/Theory/Criticism | 3 | General Education | 6 |
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| DES 491 | 4 | DES 495 | 4 |
| Design Skills | 3 | Design Skills | 3 |
| Minor/Elective | 9 | Minor/Elective | 9 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Introduction to the phenomenon of design thinking as it appears in various design fields, including methodologies of reasoning and problem solving; patterns of creativity and individual style; and the interaction of art, science, and technology.
Cr. R. Repeatable.
Prereq: Enrollment in or 2 credits of DES 240.
Off-campus tours of areas of interest within the design professions such as design offices, museums, buildings, and neighborhoods.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: DSN S 102 or DSN S 183 or 3 credits of ART H or equivalent.
Students will learn to interpret, analyze and evaluate visual materials, use images and text effectively to communicate ideas, and understand issues surrounding the creation and use of images and visual media for design critique. Precedent study and critique of sample student design work to understand principles of visual literacy and how to apply them to the presentation of design work. Emphasis on peer-to-peer discussion and in-class participation. Lecture and discussion format.
(0-8) Cr. 2. Repeatable.
Prereq: 4 credits of DES 240 or equivalent.
Half-semester course. Studio projects of increasing complexity requiring interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary challenges and opportunities. Continued development of students' abilities to generate ideas and communicate those ideas visually, orally, and through writing. Field trip.
(2-4) Cr. 4. F.
Prereq: classification as DES major; 4 credits of DES 240
Preparation of printed and online portfolio of student work and materials for job search and/or graduate school applications. Guidance for interviewing, professional networking, business etiquette, and resume writing. Workshops and lectures.
(1-6) Cr. 4. S.
Prereq: classification as DES major; 2 credits of DES 340
Individual projects designed by students in consultation with faculty instructor and mentor. Demonstration of student skill sets and knowledge of project planning and development.