Communication Design B.S.

The Communication Design B.S. provides students with skills in visual design, web 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 courses

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

Complete the following core courses:

• CST 201: Media Tools OR CST 205: Multimedia Design and Programming
• CST 227: Introduction to Digital Graphic Design
• CST 221: Scripting for Multimedia OR CST 231: Problm-Solving/Programng
• CST 236: Computing for Digital Artists OR CST 337: Computer Architecture
• CST 300: Major ProSeminar
• CST 373: Ethics in Comm & Tech
• CST 461S: Communication Design Service Learning OR CST 361S: Technology Tutors
• CST 400: Senior Capstone Project Planning
• CST 401: Capstone Lab
• CST 496: Directed Study must be taken twice; once concurrently with CST 400: Senior Capstone Project Planning: and once concurrently with CST 401: Capstone Lab

Complete ONE "CST Breadth" course (4 credits) of upper-division CST courses from outside your emphasis:

• Any 300- or 400-level CST course not used to fulfill another major requirement may be completed to fulfill the CST 'breadth' requirement.

Select an EMPHASIS in Visual Design, Web Design, or Interactive Media, and complete 5 courses (20 credits) in that emphasis. An emphasis is an informal grouping of courses desgined to prepare students for particular careers. Emphases do not appear on final transcripts.

web design

Complete all of the following courses:

• CST 251: Web Tools
• CST 351: Web Design
• CST 352: Web Scripting
• CST 451: Web Production

Complete one of the following courses:

• CST 321: Multimedia I
• CST 428: Digital Art Workshop
• CST 336: Internet Programming
• CST 341: Intro Instructional Design
• CST 363: Introduction to Database Systems
• CST 421: Multimedia II
• CST 436: Human-Computer Interaction
• CST 441: Advanced Instructional Design
• CST 551: Web Databases and Services
• CST 395: Special Topics
• CST 495: Special Topics

visual design

Complete all of the following courses:

• CST 304: Publication Design
• CST 404: Publication Workshop
• CST 251: Web Tools
• CST 351: Web Design

Complete one of the following courses:

• CST 341: Intro Instructional Design
• CST 428: Digital Art Workshop
• CART 315: Visual Design
• HCOM 389: Otter Realm Workshop
• VPA 307: Diverse History of Contemporary Art
• VPA 310: Mixed Media
• VPA 316: Photography as Art

interactive media & game design

Complete all of the following courses:

• CST 321: Multimedia I
• CST 421: Multimedia II
• CST 436: Human-Computer Interaction

Complete 8 (eight) units from the following courses:

• CST 304: Publication Design
• CST 328: Digital Art and Design
• CST 331: Computer Graphics
• CST 336: Internet Programming
• CST 338: Software Design
• CST 351: Web Design
• CST 352: Web Scripting
• CST 363: Introduction to Database Systems
• CST 351: Web Design

learning outcomes

MLO 1: Professional Communication and 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 and 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 and 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

* 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

fall sophomore

spring sophomore

fall junior

spring junior

fall senior

spring senior

general transfer pathway

fall junior

spring junior

fall senior

spring senior

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