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
All courses that count toward the major must be completed with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| First-Level Foundation | ||
| ART 101 | DIGITAL TOOLS AND CONCEPTS | 3 |
| ART 103 | 2D PROCESS | 3 |
| ART 104 | 3D PROCESS | 3 |
| ART 211 | DRAWING: OBSERVATION AND INVENTION | 3 |
| ART 212 | VISUAL CONCEPTS | 3 |
| ARTH 221 | SURVEY OF WESTERN ART I | 3 |
| ARTH 222 | SURVEY OF WESTERN ART II | 3 |
| Total Units | 21 | |
Design Studies Track Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
or ART 235 | 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 | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTIONS | ||
| DIGITAL ART: ADVANCED | ||
| ANIMATION: 2D | ||
ARTH 3XX | Art History Elective 4 | |
| Total Units | 21 | |
- 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 327, ARTH 350, ARTH 351, ARTH 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 Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ART 101 | 3 | ART 211 | 3 |
| ART 103 (Core 4) | 3 | ART 212 | 3 |
| ART 104 | 3 | ART 220 | 3 |
| ARTH 221 (Core 5) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 3 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ART 234 or 235 | 3 | Third-Level Elective | 3 |
| ART 317 | 3 | Core 7 | 4 |
| ART 355 | 3 | Core 8 | 3-4 |
| ARTH 222 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 6 | 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Screening occurs at the end of this term. | |||
| 16 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Third-Level Elective | 3 | Third-Level Elective | 3 |
| Core 9 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Core 13 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 122-123 | |||
Set 2: Digital Art and Design / Illustration Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ART 101 | 3 | ART 211 | 3 |
| ART 103 (Core 4) | 3 | ART 212 | 3 |
| ART 104 | 3 | ART 217 | 3 |
| ARTH 221 (Core 5) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 3 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ART 219 | 3 | Third-Level Elective | 3 |
| ART 322 | 3 | Core 7 | 3-4 |
| ART 360 | 3 | Core 8 | 4 |
| ARTH 222 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Third-Level Elective | 3 | Third-Level Elective | 3 |
| Core 9 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 10 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Core 13 | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 121-122 | |||