Program Overview

Interdisciplinary Design (BA) Program

The Interdisciplinary Design (BA) program is a limited enrollment program that requires departmental admissions approval. Interested students should declare their pre-major intent, complete either DESGD 145, DESIL 101, DESPH 116, or DESPX 115, and submit an online portfolio of work to obtain pre-BA status.

Program Requirements

To be admitted to the program, students must complete the following requirements:

• Requirement 1: Complete one of three options:
  • Option 1.1: Complete one of two courses: DESGD 145 - Design 1 or DESIL 101 - Drawing & Composition
  • Option 1.2: Complete one of two courses: DESGD 145 - Design 1 or DESPH 116 - Introduction to Photography
  • Option 1.3: Complete one of two courses: DESGD 145 - Design 1 or DESPX 115 - Product & UX Design 1
• Requirement 2: Complete one of three options:
  • Option 2.1: Complete two requirements: DESIL 130 - Illustration Fundamentals and DESGD 243 - Typography 1
  • Option 2.2: Complete two requirements: DESPH 120 - Intro to Digital Imaging and DESGD 243 - Typography 1
  • Option 2.3: Complete two requirements: DESGD 243 - Typography 1 and DESPX 220 - Intro to Physical Product
• Requirement 3: Complete one course: DES 198 - Intro to Interdisc. Design
• Requirement 4: Complete three courses: ARTHC 201 - World Civilization to 1500, ARTHC 202 - World Civilization Since 1500, and DES 390 - Design Theory
• Requirement 5: Complete one of three options:
  • Option 5.1: Complete two courses: DESGD 349 - History of Graphic Desgn and DESIL 354 - Survey of Illustration History
  • Option 5.2: Complete two courses: DESGD 349 - History of Graphic Desgn and DESPH 379 - History of Photography
  • Option 5.3: Complete two courses: DESGD 349 - History of Graphic Desgn and IP&T 420 - Design Psychology
• Requirement 6: Complete one hour: DES 111R - Design Lecture Series (complete twice)
• Requirement 7: Complete one of three options:
  • Option 7.1: Complete 15 hours: DES 280 - Motion Concepts, DESGD 243 - Typography 1, DESGD 245 - Design 2, DESGD 248R - Letterpress Studio, DESGD 346R - Practicum in Graphic Design, DESIL 130 - Illustration Fundamentals, DESIL 140 - Intro to Digital Illustration, and DESIL 240 - Intermed. Digital Illustration
  • Option 7.2: Complete 15 hours: DES 280 - Motion Concepts, DESGD 243 - Typography 1, DESGD 245 - Design 2, DESPH 120 - Intro to Digital Imaging, DESPH 240 - Lighting 1, DESPH 260 - Filmmaking 01, and DESPH 276 - Visual Storytelling
  • Option 7.3: Complete three requirements: DESGD 260 - Interface & Usability, DESGD 243 - Typography 1, and three of four courses: DESPX 210 - 3D Modeling Principles, DESPX 214 - Materials & Processes, DESPX 230 - Product Studio 1, and DESPX 310 - Adv. 3D Modeling
• Requirement 8: Complete one of three options:
  • Option 8.1: Complete 12 hours: DES 383 - Analog Motion, DES 394R - Special Topics, DES 480 - 3D Motion, DESGD 380 - Motion Design, DESGD 394R - Special Topics, and DESIL 394R - Special Topics
  • Option 8.2: Complete 12 hours: DES 394R - Special Topics, DES 480 - Interdisciplinary Motion 2, DESGD 380 - Motion Design, DESGD 394R - Special Topics, TMA 241 - Screenwriting 1, TMA 277 - New Media Conceptualization, and TMA 384R - Practicum: Cinematic Skills
  • Option 8.3: Complete 12 hours: DES 394R - Special Topics, DES 480 - 3D Motion, DESGD 341 - 3-Dimensional Design, DESGD 380 - Motion Design, DESGD 394R - Special Topics, DESPX 230 - Product Studio 1, and DESPX 310 - Adv. 3D Modeling
• Requirement 9: Complete one course: DES 498R - Directed Studies
• Requirement 10: Complete one of four courses: ENT 101 - Intro to Entrepreneurship, MKTG 201 - Marketing Management, MSB 491R - Topics in Social Impact, or STDEV 317 - Career Strategies

Learning Outcomes

The program has the following learning outcomes:

• Communication Through Design: Students will be able to understand the basic principles of design, including composition, color, and visual form.
• Visual Culture: Students will be able to identify international design artifacts throughout history and recognize their influence on contemporary visual culture.
• Career Survey: Students will be able to survey the potential career paths within their chosen emphasis and identify the current challenges in the fields.
• Technical Skill Development: Students will be able to demonstrate the basic skills of their chosen emphasis, including representational drawing, principles of motion, photography, and graphic design.

Minimum and Maximum Credit Hours

The program requires a minimum of 55.5 credit hours and a maximum of 57.5 credit hours.