B.S./B.A. in Art + Design - Design Studies Track

The Design Studies track is meant for students who seek to become engaged in design but do not intend to become designers (those seeking specialization and professional preparation needed for a career as a designer should consider the Graphic Design or Digital Art and Design concentrations in the BFA degree programs instead). The shorter degree track (42 required units compared with 81 for the BFA) accommodates students who wish to pursue a broader-based liberal arts degree program; the 30-plus structured elective units allow for a customized plan of study, whether applied to a second major, minor or other sequence in consultation with an adviser. The Design Studies track seeks to produce students who combine cross-disciplinary perspectives with excellent research skills, a high level of visual literacy, and the creative thinking and problem solving skills central to design. Toward that end, Design Studies is well suited for students who wish to combine study of design with a major in Mass Communication, Computer Science, Business, Electronic Media and Film, or English.

Art majors in the Design Studies track complete 42 units, including 21 units in first-level foundation courses, 12 units in second-level foundation courses and 9 units in design electives courses. 24 units of ART and ARTH courses must be completed at Towson.

Requirements for All Art + Design Majors

First-Level Foundation
ART 101DIGITAL TOOLS AND CONCEPTS3
ART 1032D PROCESS3
ART 1043D PROCESS3
ART 211DRAWING: OBSERVATION AND INVENTION3
ART 212VISUAL CONCEPTS3
ARTH 221SURVEY OF GLOBAL ART I3
ARTH 222SURVEY OF GLOBAL ART II3
Total Units21

Design Studies Track Requirements

Second-Level Foundation
Select one of the following sets of courses (Set 1 or Set 2) and complete all four courses listed:12
Set 1: Graphic Design 1
DESIGN: CREATIVITY + PROCESS
PHOTO IMAGING - FILM
PHOTO IMAGING - CREATIVE WORKFLOW
GRAPHIC DESIGN I
TYPOGRAPHY
Set 2: Digital Art and Design/Illustration 2
IMAGEMAKING: DIGITAL PROCESS
IMAGEMAKING: CONCEPT AND PRACTICE
ANIMATION: MOTION DESIGN
DIGITAL ART: 2D
Third-Level Electives
Select three of the following courses. Students are advised to select courses from one specialization, but are permitted to select courses across multiple specializations after consulting with their advisor. 9
Print Specialization Electives
DIGITAL OBJECT DESIGN 3
LETTERPRESS & BOOKBINDING
GRAPHIC DESIGN: SOCIAL ISSUES
PACKAGE DESIGN
ARTH 3XX
Art History Elective 4
Web Specialization Electives
ANIMATION: MOTION DESIGN 5
DESIGN FOR THE WWW
INFORMATION, EXPERIENCE, INTERFACE: I
DESIGN FOR THE WWW II
ARTH 3XX
Art History Elective 4
Image Specialization Electives
PAINTING I
PAINTING MEANING: EXPRESSION, NARRATIVE, AND PERSONAL CONTENT
SCREEN PROCESS I
ADVANCED DRAWING I
ILLUSTRATION PRINCIPLES FOR DESIGNERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
ILLUSTRATION CONCEPTS FOR DESIGNERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
ARTH 3XX
Art History Elective 4
Digital Art Specialization Electives
PHOTO IMAGING - CREATIVE WORKFLOW 6
PHOTO IMAGING - ALTERNATIVE PROCESS
NEW DIRECTIONS IN PRINT
NEW DIRECTIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA I
DIGITAL OBJECT DESIGN 3
DIGITAL ART: EXPERIMENTAL
INSTALLATION AND EXPERIMENTATION
DIGITAL ART: ADVANCED
ANIMATION: 2D
ARTH 3XX
Art History Elective 4
Total Units21
1

Courses required for screening into the Graphic Design concentration of the B.F.A. in Art + Design. 

2

Courses required for screening into the Digital Art and Design and Illustration concentrations of the B.F.A. in Art + Design. 

3

ART 361 is not repeatable and may only be applied once toward the Third-Level Electives. 

4

One of the the following Art History (ARTH) electives may be selected: ARTH 324, ARTH 327ARTH 350, ARTH 351ARTH 352, and ARTH 353. Maximum one ARTH elective (3 units) may be applied toward the Third-Level Electives. 

5

ART 322 may be selected as an elective only by students who choose Set 1: Graphic Design as their Second-Level Foundation. 

6

ART 235 may be selected as an elective only by students who choose Set 2: Digital Art and Design/Illustration as their Second-Level Foundation. 

Set 1: Graphic Design Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 1013ART 2113
ART 103 (Core 4)3ART 2123
ART 1043ART 2203
ARTH 221 (Core 5)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 33
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 234 or 2353Third-Level Elective 3
ART 3173Core 74
ART 3553Core 84
ARTH 2223Elective3
Core 64Elective3
Screening occurs at the end of this term. 
 16 17
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Third-Level Elective 3Third-Level Elective 3
Core 93Core 113
Core 103Core 123
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Core 133Core 143
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3 
 15 12
Total Units 120

Set 2: Digital Art and Design / Illustration Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 1013ART 2113
ART 103 (Core 4)3ART 2123
ART 1043ART 2173
ARTH 221 (Core 5)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 33
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 2193Third-Level Elective 3
ART 3223Core 74
ART 3603Core 84
ARTH 2223Elective3
Core 63Elective3
 15 17
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Third-Level Elective 3Third-Level Elective 3
Core 93Core 113
Core 103Core 123
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Core 133Core 143
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective1
 15 13
Total Units 120