BFA IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
2023-2024 | Curriculum | 4-year program
The program begins sophomore year with skill-based exposure to both traditional and state-of-the-art techniques for visualization. Through the manipulation of wood, metal, paper and plastic, students begin to understand the unique properties of these materials and the design possibilities inherent in them.
Junior year builds on the skills learned the first year by encouraging students to focus on projects dealing with technology as it applies to products, form and human factors, mechanics and movement, and more.
During senior year, students take advanced design studios, learn more about legal and business practices in the profession and undertake projects that emphasize innovation and the ability to refine formal design issues.
FOUNDATION YEAR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 3 | 15 | ||||||
SOPHOMORE | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Design Principles I | 6 | Liberal Arts [f] or Non-major Elective [c] | 3 | Design Principles II | ||||
or | Wood I or Metal I | 3 | or | Wood I or Metal I | 3 | |||
or | Designing w/ Solid Works or History of Industrial Design [a] | 3 | or | Designing w/ Solid Works or History of Industrial Design [a] | 3 | |||
Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | |||||
Total CREDITS | 15 | Total CREDITS | 3 | Total CREDITS | 15 | |||
JUNIOR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Special Topic Studio [d] (take two) | 6 | Liberal Arts [f] or Non-major Elective [c] | 3 | Advanced Design: Studio | 6 | |||
Manufacturing Techniques or Non-major Elective | 3 | Manufacturing Techniques or Non-major Elective | 3 | |||||
or | Metal II [b] or Wood II [b] | 3 | or | Metal II [b] or Wood II [b] | 3 | |||
Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | |||||
Total CREDITS | 15 | Total CREDITS | 3 | Total CREDITS | 15 | |||
SENIOR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Advanced Design: Studio | 6 | Liberal Arts [f] or Non-major Elective [c] | 3 | Advanced Design: Studio | 6 | |||
Advanced CAD [e] or Non-major Elective | 3 | Advanced CAD [e] or Non-major Elective | 3 | |||||
Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | Liberal Arts [f] | 3 | |||||
total credits | 12 | total credits | 3 | total credits | 12 | |||
Total Credits: 126 | ||||||||
Notes:
[a] Industrial Design majors receive art history credit for course: History of Industrial Design.
[b] Wood II and Metal II (one of which is required for the BFA) or an Advanced CAD course may be taken any semester during junior or senior year, as scheduling and interest permits.
[c] Six-credit courses taken during Wintersession or Summer cannot fulfill an Advanced Design: Studio requirement. Students may take only one 6-credit studio per semester.
[c] Project, Internship, or non-major elective cannot replace the Special Topic Studio requirement.
[e] The Advanced CAD requirement is fulfilled by taking an advanced CAD offering within the department or in a comparable course offered outside the department with department approval.
[f] Choose a Liberal Arts, Major or Non-Major Elective, depending on unfulfilled degree requirements and class availability.
The Liberal Arts requirement is 42 credits and the non-major elective requirement is 12 credits. Non-major electives are courses that are offered by other departments, not Industrial Design. Elective courses are to be selected in consultation with your Academic Advisor. Although Liberal Arts courses are listed for Wintersession, they may be taken during the Fall or Spring semester. Similarly, the non-major electives shown for Fall or Spring, may be taken during Wintersession, as scheduling and interest permit. Consult the Liberal Arts Office or the Registrar for additional information.
All students entering the Industrial Design program must participate in the department’s required Academic Laptop Program. Detailed information will be available in early summer. Students should direct questions to the Computer Technician in the Industrial Design Department. Technical support is available only to those who participate in the laptop program.