Design (BADesign)
The design program empowers students with a rich, multi-faceted educational experience that poises graduates for careers in the design professions or entrepreneurial endeavors. Design is about solving a problem and creating new processes, products, and services for people. It is human-centered; the end-user's needs, wants, and limitations are explored at all stages within the design process and development lifecycle.
Students enjoy the extensive offerings of one of the world's great public universities, while receiving individualized instruction from expert, passionate faculty and local industry professionals in small cohorts. Students immerse themselves in various aspects of design and learn to create graphics, objects, interactions, systems, and services.
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| DES 301 | Introduction to Design Thinking | 3 |
| DES 304 | Design Studio I | 3 |
| DES 307 | Design and Culture | 3 |
| Communication (010) | 3 | |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| F A 101F | Steer Your Future in the Arts | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| DES 305 | Design Studio II | 3 |
| DES 306 | Design Studio III | 3 |
| ARH 303 | Survey of Renaissance through Modern Art | 3 |
| Mathematics (020) | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| DES 310T | Topics in Innovative Design | 3 |
| DES 310T | Topics in Innovative Design | 3 |
| DES 310T | Topics in Innovative Design | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| DES 336 or DES 337C |
History of Design or Graphic Design History |
3 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language - Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division DES course | 3 | |
| Communication (010) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division DES course | 3 | |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division DES course | 3 | |
| Additional Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| DES 374 | Capstone Design Project | 3 |
| Additional Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| DES 374P | Senior Portfolio | 3 |
| Additional Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 8 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| Foreign Language - Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Humanities Hours chosen from: AFR, AMS, AHC, AAS, ANS, C C, C L, E, EUS, HIS, J S, LAS, MAS, MES, PHL, R S, REE, RHE, WGS or three hours of additional foreign language | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Hours chosen from: ANT, CIV, CMS, ECO, EDP, GRG, GOV, HDF, LIN, PSY, SOC | 3 | |
| Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Hours chosen from: ADV, ARI, ARC, ARH, AET, CRW, ENS, F A, ITD, LAR, MUS, RTF, ART, T D | 3 | |
| F A 101F | Steer Your Future in the Arts | 1 |
| Major | ||
| Design Foundations | ||
| DES 301 | Introduction to Design Thinking | 3 |
| DES 304 | Design Studio I | 3 |
| DES 305 | Design Studio II | 3 |
| DES 306 | Design Studio III | 3 |
| DES 307 | Design and Culture | 3 |
| or DES 313 | Introduction to Design History | |
| ARH 303 | Survey of Renaissance through Modern Art | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 9 | |
| Topics in Innovative Design | ||
| Subtotal | 43 | |
| Upper-division design | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| History of Design | ||
| Graphic Design History | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Design Theories and Methods | ||
| Design Research and Methods | ||
| Topics in Innovative Design | ||
| Topics in Innovative Design | ||
| Topics in Design | ||
| Topics In Design Theory | ||
| Design Research and Methods II | ||
| Design Writing | ||
| Project Studio | ||
| Design Perspectives | ||
| Service and Systems Design | ||
| Design Issues | ||
| Hours chosen from: Design Studios | 6 | |
| Images in Communication | ||
| Typography I | ||
| Objects and Spaces | ||
| Prototyping Physical Space | ||
| Print and Packaging | ||
| Introduction to Interaction Design | ||
| Interaction Design I | ||
| Typography II | ||
| Design Systems | ||
| Identity Systems | ||
| Brand Storytelling | ||
| Branding and Visual Identity Systems | ||
| Typography III | ||
| Information and Persuasion | ||
| Objects and Spaces II | ||
| Publication Studio | ||
| Information Visualization | ||
| Interaction Design II | ||
| Special Topics in Design | ||
| Advanced Topics in Interaction Design | ||
| Interaction Design III | ||
| Topics in Graphic Design | ||
| Interaction Design III: Experiential and Spaces | ||
| Interaction Design IV: Objects and Media | ||
| Advanced Topics in Industrial Design | ||
| DES 374 | Capstone Design Project (With a grade of at least C-) | 3 |
| DES 374P | Senior Portfolio | 3 |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 17 | |
| Subtotal | 35 | |
| General Education | ||
| Core Curriculum | 42 | |
| Foreign Language - Fine Arts (Note: this requirement may already be fulfilled by high school coursework) | ||
| Subtotal | 42 | |
| College Requirements - Fine Arts | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |