Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design

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Course Offerings
Riso Residency
4D Lab
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Turn Creativity Into a Career

Whether you want to become a graphic designer, game designer, animator, UX designer, or explore emerging fields like AI-assisted design and motion graphics, the Bachelor of Design (BDes) program at 51福利社 will give you the skills you need to succeed.

Our degree combines visual communication, user experience, web development, game and interaction design, and cutting-edge technologies to prepare you for a wide range of creative careers.

Most courses in the program are studio-based, offering plenty of hands-on experience. You鈥檒l build skills in drawing, sketching, animation, and visual storytelling, while also learning to use industry-standard digital tools鈥攊ncluding Adobe Creative Cloud, GitHub, and generative AI design assistants.

With each project, you鈥檒l practice collaboration, apply design thinking, and refine your portfolio through feedback from faculty and peers.

Curriculum & Requirements

 

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official , which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Visual Communication Design Major, Bachelor of Design (BDes)

51福利社

Required Courses
DRAWING FOR COMMUNICATION5
VISUAL THINKING + MAKING5
DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS5
TYPOGRAPHY5
VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN5
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 15
HISTORIES OF DESIGN5
WEB DESIGN + CODE 15
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DESIGN5
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE5
Electives40
DESIGN LAB
PHOTOSHOP
ILLUSTRATOR
INDESIGN
FIGMA
VISUAL STORYTELLING
SOCIAL MEDIA DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
EMERGENT DESIGN
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION
BOARD GAME DESIGN
3D ANIMATION
TYPOGRAPHY 2
DIGITAL GAME DESIGN
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 2
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY
MOTION DESIGN
ZINE AND PUBLICATION DESIGN
MOTION DESIGN 2
PRODUCTION DESIGN
WEB DESIGN + CODE 1
WEB DEVELOPMENT 1
APPLIED AI
DIGITAL VIDEO
WEB DESIGN + CODE 2
WEB DEVELOPMENT 2
DIGITAL SOUND
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE
DIRECTED STUDY
IMAGINARY WORLDS
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 3
WEB DESIGN + CODE 3
WEB DEVELOPMENT 3
SENIOR PROJECT
PORTFOLIO PRACTICE
INTERNSHIP
EXPERIMENTAL
WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR
DIRECTED STUDY
Senior Capstone
SENIOR CAPSTONE5
Total Credits95

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits.听Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.听Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduation.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the听.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
5 (Humanities & Arts BACR 1)55
55Social Science BACR 215
Social Science BACR 115 or 5Natural Science BACR 115
听15听15听15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
(Diversity - graduation requirement)55Design Elective25
Global Studies - graduation requirement155Design Elective25
Natural Science BACR 215Humanities & Arts BACR 215Design Elective25
听15听15听15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
5Design Elective25Design Elective25
5Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
Design Elective25Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
听15听15听15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
55 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
(Design Elective)25Design Elective25Elective - minor, or general elective5
Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
听15听15听15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.听 Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Design Elective - complete 40 credits from the approved list.听

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Classroom-based applied learning/simulation: Practice real-world decision-making through case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
  • Community-based projects: Team up with local organizations on real-world projects that allow you to solve problems and make a difference.
  • Internships: Get real-world experience by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Service-learning experiences: Work on important issues鈥攕uch as food security, poverty, or climate change鈥攖hat connect community service with what you鈥檙e learning in class.
  • Student employment and leadership: Gain skills, connections, and confidence through on-campus jobs and leadership roles in student government, departments, athletics, or clubs.
  • Study abroad: Travel, learn, and experience new cultures while earning credit and building communication skills that help you thrive anywhere.
  • Undergraduate research: Collaborate with professors on real-world research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.
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