The Communication Design B.S. provides students with skills in visual design, web design, game design and interactive media to fulfill the needs of these industries. Our students gain a broad-based understanding of current technologies and applications along with knowledge of design, communication and management skills. Communication Design majors develop a customized educational plan that supports their career goals and the needs of a multicultural global society.

To learn more about the major, visit the School of Computing & Design website.

Required Classes

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your general education and university requirements.

Complete the following core courses:

Complete one additional 300- or 400-level CST course to fulfill the "CST Breadth" requirement.

Select one of the following concentrations to complete the requirements of the Communication Design degree.

Web Design

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete one of the following courses:

Visual Design

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete one of the following courses:

Interactive Media & game Design

Complete all of the following courses:

Complete eight (8) units from the following courses:

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1: Professional Communication & Development

Student will effectively communicate in an academic and professional setting via written documentation and oral presentation.

MLO 2: Interaction Design

Student will apply user-centered design methodology to create an interactive media project emphasizing an event-driven design philosophy.

MLO 3: Design Principles

Student demonstrates the systematic application of aesthetic and design principles to solve a communication design problem.

MLO 4: Programming

Student will use computer programming concepts and skills to solve communication design problems.

MLO 5: Computing & Networking

Student demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of computer technology and its use in solving communication problems.

MLO 6: Ethics

Student will understand the ethical impact of current and future information technologies on society; specifically, economics, education, the environment, governance, industry, health and human communication.

MLO 7: Application & Synthesis

Student demonstrates the integration of the MLOs.

Course Pathways

These pathways are examples of how you might complete all the requirements for your degree in an order that makes sense given prerequisites. They are meant to give you a general sense of what your education will look like.

Your own unique situation and a number of other factors may mean your actual pathway is different. Perhaps you'll need an extra math or language class, or one of the courses we've listed isn't offered in a particular semester. Not a problem - there is flexibility built into the curriculum. You'll want to work closely with an advisor and use the academic advisement report to take all that into account and develop a pathway that's customized for you.

In the meantime, use this example as a starting point for choosing classes or discussing your plans with an advisor. Your advisor is your best resource when it comes to figuring out how to fit all the courses you need, in the right sequence, into your personal academic plan.

General Freshman Pathway

Fall Freshman

Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Any Approved Course
Units: 4
Requirements:

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Course: Language 101
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Math 115
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Fall Sophomore

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Language 102
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Language Proficiency
Course: Any approved course
Units: 6
Requirements:

Spring Sophomore

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C1
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Language 201
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Language Proficiency

Fall Junior

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • A4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #1
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: CD Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Spring Junior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #2
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #3
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Fall Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #4
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major

Spring Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #5
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Free Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:

General Transfer Pathway

Fall Junior

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • A4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #1
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: CD Elective Course
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Spring Junior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #2
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved Upper Division GE course
Units: 4
Requirements:

Fall Senior

Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Concentration Course #3
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration
Course: Concentration Course #4
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration

Spring Senior

Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Units: 2
Requirements:
  • Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: Concentration Course #5
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • Concentration