Visual Communication Design Major, Bachelor of Design (BDes)
A Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design at EWU prepares students for careers in design-related fields by providing a strong foundation in the creative, conceptual, and technical skills necessary for professional practice. The program emphasizes design thinking and community engagement, as well as the development of a unique personal voice, proficiency in relevant technical skills, and portfolio and resume development.
Grade Requirements: in order to receive a degree in design, students must earn the department requirement of ≥2.5 GPA in all DESN coursework.
| Required Courses | ||
| DESN 100 | DRAWING FOR COMMUNICATION | 5 |
| DESN 200 | VISUAL THINKING + MAKING | 5 |
| DESN 216 | DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS | 5 |
| DESN 243 | TYPOGRAPHY | 5 |
| DESN 263 | VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN 1 | 5 |
| DESN 338 | USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 1 | 5 |
| DESN 359 | HISTORIES OF DESIGN | 5 |
| DESN 363 | VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN 2 | 5 |
| DESN 368 | WEB DESIGN 1 | 5 |
| DESN 463 | VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN 3 | 5 |
| DESN 480 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | 5 |
| DESN 493 | PORTFOLIO PRACTICE (may be repeated) | 2 |
| Media Studies-choose one of the following, other choices may count as electives. | 5 | |
| EMERGENT DESIGN | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION | ||
| DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| MOTION DESIGN | ||
| DIGITAL SOUND | ||
| Electives | 15 | |
| VISUAL STORYTELLING | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| GAME DESIGN | ||
| 3D ANIMATION | ||
| TYPOGRAPHY 2 | ||
| ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| ZINE AND PUBLICATION DESIGN | ||
| MOTION DESIGN 2 | ||
| PRODUCTION DESIGN | ||
| ADVANCED DIGITAL SOUND | ||
| DIRECTED STUDY | ||
| IMAGINARY WORLDS | ||
| 4D ANIMATION | ||
| USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 3 | ||
| WEB DESIGN 3 | ||
| SENIOR PROJECT | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL | ||
| DIRECTED STUDY | ||
| Senior Capstone | ||
| DESN 490 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | 5 |
| Total Credits | 82 | |
Plan of Study
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduation.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| DESN 100 | 5 | DESN 200 (Humanities & Arts BACR 1) | 5 | DESN 216 | 5 |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | Social Science BACR 21 | 5 |
| Social Science BACR 11 | 5 | MATH 107 or 170 | 5 | Natural Science BACR 11 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| DESN 359 (Diversity - graduation requirement) | 5 | DESN 243 | 5 | DESN 325, 326, 350, 355, or 384 (Media Studies elective) | 5 |
| Global Studies - graduation requirement1 | 5 | DESN 263 | 5 | DESN 363 | 5 |
| Natural Science BACR 21 | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 | Design Elective2 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| DESN 338 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Design Elective2 | 5 |
| DESN 368 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| DESN 463 | 5 | DESN 480 | 5 | DESN 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 5 |
| DESN 495 (Design Elective)2 | 5 | DESN 493 | 2 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
- 1
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
- 2
Design Elective - complete 15 credits from the approved list.
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
- Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
- 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
- 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
- Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:
- The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
- The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.
Students who earn a BDes in Visual Communication Design from EWU should be able to:
- achieve fluency in the visual vocabulary of design;
- demonstrate proficiency in the technical skills relevant to design;
- understand and apply design methods including systems thinking, design thinking, and inclusive design;
- practice communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, equity and inclusion, professionalism, and presentation (including portfolio presentation);
- employ principles of well-being to self, others, and the community.