Industrial Design - Bachelor of Science

Program Total Credits: 126

After initial coursework to introduce basic design, communication, and collaboration processes, including computer-aided design and model-making, Industrial Design students develop and apply theory, skill, and knowledge to functional design problems, many brought into the studio by industry. Visiting designers also bring knowledge of current design, manufacturing, and professional practices into studio and lecture courses, while visits to industry provide opportunities for direct observation and firsthand knowledge of design and manufacturing processes. Based on this foundation of skill, experience, and information, emphasis in the final semesters shifts to the responsibility for integration of the total design process by the individual student, who works directly with a client/sponsor on a thesis project prior to graduation. During the final semester, the instructional focus shifts to career planning, portfolio preparation, and the development of information-gathering and business communication skills to better prepare the student to enter the profession.