Program Overview

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Design Arts and Practice: Spatial Design Emphasis

Overview

Design studies with a focus on works that 'take place', including human scale environments, situated events, interiors, exhibitions, urban spaces, and more.

Learning Outcomes

• Design Research: Students will demonstrate a knowledge of design history, apply design thinking and fundamentals, and develop iterative design processes for solving problems and develop digital visual communications.
• Process: Students will integrate and apply a range of media or materials, technical processes, prototyping and creative strategies to problem solving and seeking for the screen, user experiences, interfaces, print projects and stories.
• Context: Students will synthesize a breadth of knowledge concerning the history of design, contemporary practices and social issues.
• Manage Complex Problems: Students will develop the ability to coordinate and sequence multiple tasks and synthesize complex parameters and systems.
• Engagement: Students will employ collaborative skills and demonstrate cultural awareness and empathy to engage with society in meaningful ways to projects.
• Professional Practice: Students will formulate their design portfolio and demonstrate communication skills.

Program Details

Coursework Location(s)

• Main/Tucson

Areas of Interest

• Arts & Media

Level of Math

• General Knowledge

This strand involves the general understanding and appreciation of how mathematics is used to solve problems in everyday life. The G-strand does not prepare a student for any further work grounded in mathematics and assumes the student will not proceed beyond the basic Foundations level noted above. Thus only those students whose major requires the most general knowledge of mathematics should take this strand.

Level of Second Language

• 4th Semester Proficiency

Fourth-semester skill level in a second language is required. B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:

1. Scoring the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona.
2. Completion of a two-course sequence beyond the second semester of post-secondary language instruction.
3. Completion with a C or higher of a 300- or 400-level language course at the post-secondary level.
4. Completion of one course beyond the third semester in combination with an AP (Advanced Placement) score, IB (International Baccalaureate) score or a CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) score determined by the individual language department.
5. An AP, IB, or CLEP language score determined by individual language departments
6. A minimum of one semester study abroad in a language program approved by the appropriate language department as the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level.

Pre-major Required?

• No

This Major's College

• College of Fine Arts

Degree

• Bachelor of Arts

Sample Plans

2025, Design Arts and Practice: Spatial Design Emphasis

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• Why Design Matters (1 credit)
• Foundation Studio IA (2 credits)
• Foundation Studio IB (2 credits)
• MATH (GE Foundation Math) (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (First Semester) (4 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)
• ENGL 101 (3 credits)

2nd Semester

• Design and the Environment I (1 credit)
• ARC 131A - Design and the Environment II (1 credit)
• Contemporary Art and Theory (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Second Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives: Artist (3 credits)
• ENGL 102 (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• Foundation Studio II (4 credits)
• Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Third Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives: Humanist (3 credits)

4th Semester

• Introduction to Design Thinking (3 credits)
• Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Fourth Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives: Natural Scientist (3 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• Spatial Design Emphasis (3 credits)
• Transdisciplinary Electives (3 credits)
• History of Modern Architecture (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives: Social Scientist (3 credits)

6th Semester

• Spatial Design Emphasis (3 credits)
• Transdisciplinary Electives (3 credits)
• Upper Division History and Theory (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• GE Core Building Connections (3 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• Spatial Design Emphasis (3 credits)
• Transdisciplinary Electives (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• GE Core Building Connections (3 credits)

8th Semester

• Capstone (3 credits)
• GE Core Building Connections (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)