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Academic Catalog 2022-2023

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Design, BFA

2022-2023 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • Financial Information
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
      • School of Architecture
      • Art + Design
        • Art, BA
        • Design, BFA
        • Game Design, BFA
        • Media Arts, BFA
        • Studio Art, BFA
        • Behavioral Neuroscience and Design, BS
        • Business Administration and Design, BS
        • Computer Science and Design, BS
        • Computer Science and Game Development, BS
        • Computer Science and Media Arts, BS
        • Communication Studies and Graphic and Information Design, BA
        • English and Graphic and Information Design, BA
        • Game Art and Animation, BFA
        • Architectural Studies and Design, BS
        • Game Design and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Graphic and Information Design and Mathematics, BS
        • Journalism and Interaction Design, BS
        • Media and Screen Studies and Media Arts, BA
        • Media Arts and Communication Studies, BA
        • Theatre and Interaction Design, BA
        • Theatre and Interaction Design, BS
        • Mechanical Engineering and Design, BSME
        • Animation, Minor
        • Art, Minor
        • Art History, Minor
        • Creative Computing, Minor
        • Creative Fabrication, Minor
        • Experience Design, Minor
        • Game Art, Minor
        • Game Design, Minor
        • Graphic and Information Design, Minor
        • Immersive Media, Minor
        • Interaction Design, Minor
        • Photography, Minor
        • Photojournalism, Minor
        • Video Arts, Minor
      • Communication Studies
      • School of Journalism
      • Music
      • Theatre
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

Design is the practice-based discipline that poses important questions about—and provides significant answers to—how we live. Designers are needed when we don’t know what is needed as well as when we think we do. Designers propose alternative futures and create new choices using principles and processes to create, compose, and construct meaning in diverse knowledge fields. Designers seek a broad understanding of principles and systems of perception, communication, and action. Concentrations in design practices are graphic and information design, interaction design, and experience design.

Graphic designers make messages and meaning using visual form and the integration of text and image. Their work often has a persuasive intent and uses rules of visual composition, form, and pattern to enable storytelling or to create attention and an ambiance for consideration. Information designers visualize concepts and data to enhance human understanding of complex and vital knowledge. Their work has an enlightening or instructive intent and is based on factual content.

Interaction designers focus on the creation of navigable interfaces and systems that allow audiences to take an active role to achieve meaningful goals. Their work connects people to people and people to information and environments.

Experience designers take a holistic and integrative approach that focuses on the quality of the human experience in concrete situations. They employ research, analysis, creativity, and technology as tools to understand human goals, needs, and desires. Their work examines and improves contexts, systems, services, or events.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design is offered with the following concentration options: graphic and information design, interaction design, or experience design.

The major offers optional study abroad with University of the Arts London, based in the heart of one of the world's creative capitals, London. Students from this program will have the opportunity to spend their second spring semester in London studying fine art at Central Saint Martins.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI), Interpreting Culture (IC), and Societies and Institutions (SI) are met through the major course requirements. All other NUpath requirements must be met through electives.

Students interested in design PlusOne programs should consult with faculty coordinator and advisor during sophomore year to register for 5000-level courses in junior and senior years. 

Art and Design Core

Course List
Code Title Hours
Introduction to College
ARTF 1000Art and Design at Northeastern1
Art and Design Fundamentals
ARTF 1122Color and Composition (with optional ARTF 1123)4
ARTF 1124
and ARTF 1125
Form and Structure
and Form and Structure Tools
5
ARTF 2220
and ARTF 2221
Movement and Time
and Movement and Time Tools
5
ARTF 2223
and ARTF 2224
Experience and Interaction
and Experience and Interaction Tools
5
Art and Design History
ARTH 1001
and ARTH 1002
Visual Intelligence
and Seminar in Visual Intelligence
4
ARTH 3000Topics in Visual Studies4
ARTH 4000Topics in Visual Studies4

Design Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Design Courses
ARTG 1001
and ARTG 1002
Design Perspectives: An Introduction to Design in the World
and Seminar for Design Perspectives
4
ARTG 1250Design Process Context and Systems4
ARTG 2250
and ARTG 2251
Typography 1
and Type Tools
5
ARTG 2260Programming Basics4
Degree Project
ARTG 4550Design Degree Project4

Design Electives or Concentration

Complete one of the options listed below:

  • Design Major (No Concentration)

  • Design Major with Concentration in Experience Design

  • Design Major with Concentration in Graphic Design

  • Design  Major  with Concentration in Information Design

  • Design Major with Concentration in Interaction Design

Program Requirements

129 total semester hours required 


Design Electives or Concentration Options

Design Major (No Concentration)

Course List
Code Title Hours
Art and Design Elective
Complete one ARTE, ARTD, ARTF, ARTS, or GAME course not already required and as long as prerequisites have been met. If ARTG 5000 (or any other topics course in the subjects listed) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be applied toward the electives.4-6
Art and Design History and Theory Elective
Complete one of the following:4
ARTH 1100
Interactive Media and Society
ARTH 2212
Survey of the Still and Moving Image
ARTH 2215
History of Graphic Design
ARTG 3510
Contextual and Theoretical Studies 2
ARTG 5110
Information Design History
Media Arts Elective
Complete one of the following:4-6
ARTD 2360
and ARTD 2361
Introduction to Photography
and Photo Tools
ARTD 2370
and ARTD 2371
Animation Basics
and Animation Tools
ARTD 2380
and ARTD 2381
Video Basics
and Video Tools
ARTD 3000
Topics in Media Arts
Design Management Electives at University of the Arts London
Students who study abroad at the University of the Arts London will receive general elective credit for the following:
ARTG 3530
Interdisciplinary Projects and Practices
ARTG 3520
Marketing Communications and Cultures 2
Design Electives
Complete three ARTG design electives as long as prerequisites have been met. If ARTG 5000 (or any other topics course in the subject listed) is completed more than once, the additional completions may be allowed toward the electives. 12

 Design Major with Concentration in Experience Design

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
ARTG 3462Experience Design 14
ARTG 3463Experience Design 24
ARTG 5000Topics in Design1-4
Elective
Complete one of the following:
ARTG 3100
Physical and Digital Fabrication
ARTG 5640
Prototyping for Experience Design

Design Major with Concentration in Graphic Design

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
ARTG 2252Graphic Design 14
ARTG 3450Graphic Design 24
ARTG 5000Topics in Design1-4
Elective
Complete one of the following:
ARTG 3350
Typography 2
ARTG 4554
Typography 3

Design Major with Concentration in Information Design

Course List
Code Title Hours
ARTG 3451Information Design 14
ARTG 4552Information Design 24
ARTG 5000Topics in Design1-4
Complete one of the following:
ARTG 5320
Statistics for Design
ARTG 5150
and ARTG 5151
Information Visualization Principles and Practices
and Information Design Critique Seminar

 Design Major with Concentration in Interaction Design

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
ARTG 2400Interaction Design 1: Responsive (with optional ARTG 2401)4-5
ARTG 3700Interaction Design 2: Mobile4
ARTG 5000Topics in Design1-4
Elective
Complete one of the following:
ARTG 3250
Physical Computing
ARTG 5640
Prototyping for Experience Design

Sample Four Years, One Co-op in Spring/Summer1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 10001ARTG 12504A+D fundamentals or ARTG 2260 Programming Basics4Vacation
ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123)4ARTG 2250
and ARTG 2251
5Elective4 
ARTG 1001
and ARTG 1002
4A+D fundamentals4  
ARTH 1001
and ARTH 1002
4Elective4  
Elective (Writing NUpath)4   
 17 17 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
A+D fundamentals or ARTG 2260 Programming Basics4A+D history elective4A+D elective4Co-op
A+D fundamentals4Design concentration course 2 or design elective4Elective4 
A+D history 2000 level4Design elective4  
Design concentration course 1 or design elective4Elective4  
 16 16 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
EEAM 20001Co-opCo-opVacation
Design concentration course 3 or design elective4   
Design elective4   
Media arts elective4   
Elective4   
 17 0 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Design concentration course 4 or design elective4ARTG 45504  
Design elective4Media arts elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 131

Sample Four Years, One Co-op in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTF 10001ARTG 12504A+D fundamentals or ARTG 2260 Programming Basics4Vacation
ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123)4ARTG 2250
and ARTG 2251
5Elective4 
ARTG 1001
and ARTG 1002
4A+D fundamentals4  
ARTH 1001
and ARTH 1002
4Elective4  
Elective (Writing NUpath)4   
 17 17 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
A+D fundamentals or ARTG 2260 Progamming Basics4EEAM 20001A+D elective4Co-op
A+D fundamentals4A+D history elective4Elective4 
A+D history 2000 level4Design concentration course 2 or design elective4  
Design concentration course 1 or design elective4Design elective4  
 Elective4  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opA+D history 3000 level4VacationVacation
 Design concentration course 3 or design elective4  
 Design elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Design concentration course 4 or design elective4ARTG 45504  
Design elective4Media arts elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 131

Notes: 

Online elective courses are optional while on co-op. 

Optional study abroad with University of the Arts London, based in the heart of one of the world's creative capitals, London. Students from this program will have the opportunity to spend their second year spring semester in London studying design management at London College of Communication.

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