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 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.
University-Wide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide 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.
Art and Design Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to College | ||
| ARTF 1000 | Art and Design at Northeastern | 1 |
| Art and Design Fundamentals | ||
| ARTF 1122 | Color and Composition (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 |
| ARTF 1124 and ARTF 1125 | Form and Structure and Form and Structure Tools (ARTF 1125) | 5 |
| ARTF 2220 | Movement and Time (with optional ARTF 2221) | 4 |
| ARTF 2223 | Experience and Interaction (with optional ARTF 2224) | 4 |
| Art and Design History | ||
| ARTH 1111 | Global Art and Design History: Renaissance to Modern | 4 |
| ARTH 2210 | Modern Art and Design History | 4 |
| ARTH 2211 | Contemporary Art and Design History | 4 |
Design Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Design Courses | ||
| ARTG 1250 | Design Process Context and Systems | 4 |
| ARTG 2250 | Typography 1 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 |
| ARTG 3350 | Typography 2 | 4 |
| ARTG 3451 | Information Design 1 | 4 |
| Degree Project | ||
| ARTG 4550 | Design Degree Project 1 | 4 |
Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art and Design Elective | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4-6 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Conceptual Drawing | ||
| Narrative Basics | ||
| Contextual and Theoretical Studies 2 | ||
| Art and Design Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
| Design History Elective | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
| Interactive Media and Society | ||
or ARTH 2215 | History of Graphic Design | |
| Media Arts Basics Elective | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 4-6 | |
| Introduction to Photography (with optional ARTD 2361) | ||
| Animation Basics (with optional ARTD 2371) | ||
| Video Basics (with optional ARTD 2381) | ||
| Design Management Electives at University of Arts London | ||
| Students who study abroad at the University of Arts London will receive general elective credit for the following courses: | ||
| Interdisciplinary Projects and Practices | ||
| Marketing Communications and Cultures 2 | ||
Concentrations
Complete one of the concentrations listed below:
Program Requirements
129 total semester hours required
Concentrations
Concentration in Graphic and Information Design
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARTG 2252 | Graphic Design 1 | 4 |
| ARTG 3450 | Graphic Design 2 | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete five of the following. At least one must be at the 4000 level: | 20-21 | |
| Programming Basics | ||
| Interaction Design 1: Responsive (with optional ARTG 2401) | ||
| Identity and Brand Design | ||
| Experience Design 1 | ||
| Interaction Design 2: Mobile | ||
| Typography 3 | ||
| Graphic Design Synthesis | ||
| Information Visualization Principles and Practices (and ARTG 5151) | ||
| Art and Design Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
Concentration in Interaction Design
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARTG 2252 | Graphic Design 1 | 4 |
| ARTG 2260 | Programming Basics | 4 |
| ARTG 2400 | Interaction Design 1: Responsive (with optional ARTG 2401) | 4-5 |
| ARTG 3700 | Interaction Design 2: Mobile | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete three of the following. At least one must be at the 4000 level: | 12 | |
| Physical Computing | ||
| Graphic Design 2 | ||
| Identity and Brand Design | ||
| Experience Design 1 | ||
| Experience Design 2 | ||
| Typography 3 | ||
| Graphic Design Synthesis | ||
| Art and Design Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
Concentration in Experience Design
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARTG 2260 | Programming Basics | 4 |
| ARTG 3462 | Experience Design 1 | 4 |
| ARTG 3463 | Experience Design 2 | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete four of the following. At least one must be at the 4000 level: | 16 | |
| Graphic Design 1 | ||
| Physical Computing | ||
| Graphic Design 2 | ||
| Identity and Brand Design | ||
| Interaction Design 2: Mobile | ||
| Typography 3 | ||
| Graphic Design Synthesis | ||
| Art and Design Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
| Special Topics in Art and Design Studio | ||
Experience Design
Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1 or Summer 2/Fall Plan of Study Optional
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 1000 | 1 | ARTF 1124 (and ARTF 1125) | 4 | ARTG 2260 | 4 | ARTF 2220 or 2223 (with optional ARTF 2220) | 4 |
| ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 | ARTG 2250 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 | Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| ARTG 1250 | 4 | ARTH 2210 | 4 | ||||
| ARTH 1111 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 16 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 2223 or 2220 (with optional ARTF 2224) | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Art + design elective | 4 | ||
| ARTG 3462 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| ARTG 3350 | 4 | ||||||
| Design elective | 4 | ||||||
| EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||||
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTG 3463 | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Elective | 4 | ||
| Design elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Design history elective | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| ARTG 3451 | 4 | ARTG 4550 | 4 | ||||
| ARTH 2211 | 4 | Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Media arts elective | 4 | Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 130 | |||||||
Graphic and Information Design
Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1 or Summer 2/Fall Plan of Study Optional
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 1000 | 1 | ARTF 1124 (and ARTF 1125) | 4 | ARTF 2220 or 2223 (with optional ARTF 2220 ) | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 | ARTG 2250 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 | Art + design elective | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| ARTG 1250 | 4 | ARTH 2210 | 4 | ||||
| ARTH 1111 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 16 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 2223 or 2220 (with optional ARTF 2224) | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Elective | 4 | ||
| ARTG 2252 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| ARTG 3350 | 4 | ||||||
| Media arts elective | 4 | ||||||
| EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||||
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTG 3450 | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Elective | 4 | ||
| Design elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Design elective | 4 | ||||||
| Design history elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| ARTG 3451 | 4 | ARTG 4550 | 4 | ||||
| ARTH 2211 | 4 | Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Design elective | 4 | Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 130 | |||||||
Interaction Design
Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1 or Summer 2/Fall Plan of Study Optional
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 1000 | 1 | ARTF 1124 (and ARTF 1125) | 4 | ARTG 2260 | 4 | ARTF 2220 or 2223 (with optional ARTF 2220) | 4 |
| ARTF 1122 (with optional ARTF 1123) | 4 | ARTG 2250 (with optional ARTG 2251) | 4 | Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 |
| ARTG 1250 | 4 | ARTH 2210 | 4 | ||||
| ARTH 1111 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 17 | 16 | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTF 2223 or 2220 (with optional ARTF 2224) | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Art + design elective | 4 | ||
| ARTG 2400 (with optional ARTG 2401) | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| ARTG 3350 | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| EEAM 2000 | 1 | ||||||
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ARTG 2252 | 4 | Co-op | Co-op | Elective | 4 | ||
| Design elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Design elective | 4 | ||||||
| Media arts elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| ARTG 3451 | 4 | ARTG 4550 | 4 | ||||
| ARTG 3700 | 4 | ARTH 2211 | 4 | ||||
| Design history elective | 4 | Design elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 130 | |||||||
Notes:
Online elective courses are optional while on co-op.
Optional study abroad with University of 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.