Design Arts and Practice: Visual Design Emphasis

Program Overview

Design Arts and Practice: Visual Design Emphasis

Overview

The Design Arts and Practice: Visual Design Emphasis program is a Bachelor of Arts degree offered by the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona. This program focuses on the development of design skills, knowledge, and practices, with an emphasis on visual design.

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 developing 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
• Online - Arizona Online

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:

• Scoring the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona.
• Completion of a two-course sequence beyond the second semester of post-secondary language instruction.
• Completion with a C or higher of a 300- or 400-level language course at the post-secondary level.
• 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.
• An AP, IB, or CLEP language score determined by individual language departments.
• 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: Visual Design Emphasis

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• ART Foundation (2 credits)
• ART Foundation (2 credits)
• ART Foundation (2 credits)
• ART 119 (3 credits)
• ENGL 101 - First Year Writing 1 (GE Foundation Composition) (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Mathematics (3 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)

2nd Semester

• Major Core Emphasis (3 credits)
• Major Core Emphasis (3 credits)
• Major History & Theory Upper-Division (3 credits)
• ENGL 102 - First Year Writing 2 (GE Foundation Composition) (3 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• Major Core Emphasis (3 credits)
• Major Core Emphasis (3 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Minor (3 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

4th Semester

• Major Core Emphasis (3 credits)
• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (First Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Minor (3 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Second Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Minor (3 credits)

6th Semester

• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Third Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Minor (3 credits)
• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• Major Transdisciplinary Elective (3 credits)
• Minor (3 credits)
• GE Foundation Second Language (Fourth Semester) (4 credits)
• GE Core Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)

8th Semester

• Major History & Theory Upper-Division (3 credits)
• ART 498 (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)
• Minor (3 credits)
• General Elective (2 credits)