May 21, 2026

2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Interaction Design, BFA

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Overview

The Design program is an integrated model, intertwining studio work, critical/historical studies, and humanities/sciences. Students’ placement in the program is dependent on portfolio review and transfer credits.

The first two years of this degree path is a directed model, integrating studio work, critical/historical studies, and humanities/sciences. Courses help students develop form-giving skills, technological proficiency, and explore the potential of design and visual communication for social, economic, and ecological challenges. The second two years present students with opportunities to craft a personal approach to their professional practice, through self-directed studios and projects that encourage research and experimentation, collaboration and interdisciplinarity. Students graduate with a capstone project as well as a portfolio, as part of a strategy for the development and fulfillment of their projected professional life.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the end of their degree, the students of Interaction Design will be able to:

Demonstrate conceptual, contextual, and historical understanding in their work.
Provide evidence of exploration and experimentation and choosing form and content relationships consciously.
Display continuously improving digital craft, hands-on skills and workflows, consistent with current industry standards.
Include Design and Academic research methods in their practice.
Employ racial, gender equity, and accessibility best practices.
Create and maintain a digital portfolio and self-marketing materials centered on self-determined goals and objectives.
Communicate clearly and effectively in person, in writing, and in presentation.

General Education Coursework

Complete ALL of the following Requirement Sets:

First-Year Writing

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

HS 111 - Writing and Analysis I 3 credit hours
HS 112 - Writing and Analysis II 3 credit hours

Writing Intensive

Complete at least 1 courses in the following Course Sets:

AR 433 - Critical + Contextual: Thesis 3 credit hours
DA 335 - Writing About Dance 3 credit hours
DA 440 - Special Topics in Dance History 3 credit hours
FM 335 - Film Forms 3 credit hours
FM 361 - Complex Narrative 3 credit hours
FM 435 - Major Directors 3 credit hours
HS 203 - Intro Creative Writing 3 credit hours
HS 204 - Creative Writing Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 205 - Creative Non-Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 206 - Writing Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 238 - Contemporary American Literature 3 credit hours
HS 239 - Intro to Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 240 - Critical Arts Writing 3 credit hours
HS 241 - Introduction to Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 244 - Introduction to the Novel 3 credit hours
HS 246 - Contemporary Global Literature 3 credit hours
HS 381 - Research Writing 3 credit hours
MU 354 - Topics in Music History 3 credit hours
TH 274 - Playwriting Fundamentals 3 credit hours
TH 361 - Modern Theater History & Theory 3 credit hours
TH 367 - Musical Theater History & Analysis 3 credit hours
TH 386 - Playwriting Practicum 3 credit hours
TH 483 - Playwriting Laboratory 3 credit hours

Humanities

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

AN 333 - Special Topics in Animation History 3 credit hours
AN 233 - Animation in Context 3 credit hours
AR 233 - Global Modern Art History 3 credit hours
AR 234 - Contemporary Art History 3 credit hours
AR 362 - Special Topics in Art History 3 credit hours
DA 142 - Dance & Performance History 3 credit hours
DA 205 - Dance in the Theater: 1890-2010 3 credit hours
DA 440 - Special Topics in Dance History 3 credit hours
DE 140 - Color: Theory + Practice 3 credit hours
DE 333 - Parallel Views:Narratives of Design 3 credit hours
FM 233 - Film Language 3 credit hours
FM 234 - World Cinema Since 1960 3 credit hours
FM 335 - Film Forms 3 credit hours
FN 140 - Intro to Visual Arts Histories 3 credit hours
HS 201 - The Power of Peer Consulting 3 credit hours
HS 203 - Intro Creative Writing 3 credit hours
HS 204 - Creative Writing Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 205 - Creative Non-Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 206 - Writing Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 211 - Illustrating Science 3 credit hours
HS 217 - Curating Nature: Wildlife in Film 3 credit hours
HS 221 - Curating Nature: Taxidermy 3 credit hours
HS 222 - Natural Law and Human Nature 3 credit hours
HS 223 - Ancient Landscapes 3 credit hours
HS 224 - Morals and Manners 3 credit hours
HS 226 - Certainty and Belief 3 credit hours
HS 227 - Stoicism 3 credit hours
HS 228 - Origins of Modern Thought 3 credit hours
HS 229 - Passion and Reason 3 credit hours
HS 232 - Hist of Western Pol Thought 3 credit hours
HS 238 - Contemporary American Literature 3 credit hours
HS 239 - Intro to Poetry 3 credit hours
HS 240 - Critical Arts Writing 3 credit hours
HS 241 - Introduction to Short Fiction 3 credit hours
HS 244 - Introduction to the Novel 3 credit hours
HS 246 - Contemporary Global Literature 3 credit hours
HS 247 - Introduction to World Literature 3 credit hours
HS 248 - Literature: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 250 - Performance Art: History & Theory 3 credit hours
HS 260 - Humanities: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 261 - Art of Living 3 credit hours
HS 282 - Existentialism 3 credit hours
HS 286 - Ethics and Values 3 credit hours
HS 287 - Philosophy in Myth & Story 3 credit hours
HS 288 - Modern Loss of Self 3 credit hours
HS 360 - Humanities: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 361 - Text + Context in the Ancient World 3 credit hours
HS 381 - Research Writing 3 credit hours
IN 233 - Critical & Contextual Studies I 3 credit hours
IN 333 - History of Interior Architecture 3 credit hours
MU 354 - Topics in Music History 3 credit hours
TH 261 - Theater History 3 credit hours
TH 361 - Modern Theater History & Theory 3 credit hours
TH 367 - Musical Theater History & Analysis 3 credit hours

Sciences

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

HS 211 - Illustrating Science 3 credit hours
HS 212 - Evolution by Nature 3 credit hours
HS 217 - Curating Nature: Wildlife in Film 3 credit hours
HS 221 - Curating Nature: Taxidermy 3 credit hours
HS 234 - Anatomy and Physiology 3 credit hours
HS 270 - Sciences: Special Topics 3 credit hours

Social Sciences

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:

DA 142 - Dance & Performance History 3 credit hours
HS 219 - Env. Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 220 - Environmental Sci. & Sustainability 3 credit hours
HS 223 - Ancient Landscapes 3 credit hours
HS 225 - Archaeological Science 3 credit hours
HS 230 - Cultural History of the PNW 3 credit hours
HS 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 232 - Hist of Western Pol Thought 3 credit hours
HS 233 - Biological Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 235 - Anthropology: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 236 - Survey of Anthropology 3 credit hours
HS 237 - Anthropology of Death 3 credit hours
HS 271 - Introduction to Psychology 3 credit hours
HS 272 - Psychology of the Artistic Self 3 credit hours
HS 273 - Cartography 3 credit hours
HS 276 - Psychology: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 280 - Social Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 283 - Geopolitics 3 credit hours
HS 284 - Intro to Sociology 3 credit hours
HS 285 - Political Science: Special Topics 3 credit hours
HS 286 - Ethics and Values 3 credit hours
HS 287 - Philosophy in Myth & Story 3 credit hours
HS 288 - Modern Loss of Self 3 credit hours
HS 384 - Islam in the US 3 credit hours

Floating General Education

Earn at least 6 credits from the following Sections:

Humanities Courses
Sciences Courses
Social Sciences Courses

Electives

Open Electives

Earn at least 12 credits

These can be any courses at the college

College

Earn at least 6 credits

These are courses from outside of your major

In-Major Coursework

Completion requirement

Core Classes

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

IA 150 - The Emerging Artist 3 credit hours
DE 103 - Intro to Visual Communications 3 credit hours
DE 161 - Drawing + Composition 3 credit hours
DE 162 - Form + Structure 3 credit hours
DE 164 - Time + Motion 3 credit hours
DE 223 - Systems 3 credit hours
DE 224 - Meta-Systems 3 credit hours
DE 226 - Publishing Tools for Design 3 credit hours
DE 227 - Digital Tools for Design 3 credit hours
DE 233 - The Western Design Canon 3 credit hours
DE 323 - Immersive Studio 3 credit hours
DE 324 - Collaborative Studio 3 credit hours
DE 333 - Parallel Views:Narratives of Design 3 credit hours
DE 334 - Parallel Views:Narratives of Design 3 credit hours
DE 419 - Design Agency 3 credit hours
DE 423 - Design Research 3 credit hours
DE 424 - BFA Capstone Project 3 credit hours
DE 444 - BFA Exhibition Seminar 3 credit hours

First-Year Studio Elective

Earn at least 3 credits

Junior Studio Electives

Earn at least 6 credits

Senior Studio Electives

Earn at least 6 credits