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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 through a curriculum that integrates design thinking, creative practice, and emerging technologies — including code and AI tools. Students engage in applied, community-minded projects from the start, developing technical fluency, a distinct professional voice, and a portfolio built through real practice.

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 100DRAWING FOR COMMUNICATION5
DESN 200VISUAL THINKING + MAKING5
DESN 216DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS5
DESN 243TYPOGRAPHY5
DESN 263VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN5
DESN 338USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 15
DESN 359HISTORIES OF DESIGN5
DESN 368WEB DESIGN + CODE 15
DESN 463COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DESIGN5
DESN 480PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE5
Electives40
DESIGN LAB
PHOTOSHOP
ILLUSTRATOR
INDESIGN
FIGMA
VISUAL STORYTELLING
SOCIAL MEDIA DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT
EMERGENT DESIGN
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATION
BOARD GAME DESIGN
3D ANIMATION
TYPOGRAPHY 2
DIGITAL GAME DESIGN
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 2
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY
MOTION DESIGN
ZINE AND PUBLICATION DESIGN
MOTION DESIGN 2
PRODUCTION DESIGN
WEB DESIGN + CODE 1
WEB DEVELOPMENT 1
APPLIED AI
DIGITAL VIDEO
WEB DESIGN + CODE 2
WEB DEVELOPMENT 2
DIGITAL SOUND
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE
DIRECTED STUDY
IMAGINARY WORLDS
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 3
WEB DESIGN + CODE 3
WEB DEVELOPMENT 3
SENIOR PROJECT
PORTFOLIO PRACTICE
INTERNSHIP
EXPERIMENTAL
WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR
DIRECTED STUDY
Senior Capstone
DESN 490SENIOR CAPSTONE5
Total Credits95

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 QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
DESN 1005DESN 200 (Humanities & Arts BACR 1)5DESN 2165
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015Social Science BACR 215
Social Science BACR 115MATH 107 or 1705Natural Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
DESN 359 (Diversity - graduation requirement)5DESN 2435Design Elective25
Global Studies - graduation requirement15DESN 2635Design Elective25
Natural Science BACR 215Humanities & Arts BACR 215Design Elective25
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
DESN 3385Design Elective25Design Elective25
DESN 3685Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
Design Elective25Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
DESN 4635DESN 4805DESN 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
DESN 495 (Design Elective)25Design Elective25Elective - minor, or general elective5
Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5Elective - minor, or general elective5
 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 40 credits from the approved list. 

General Education Requirements (GER)
  • Minimum Quarter Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at EWU, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at EWU
  • Minimum Semester Credits—120 cumulative credit hours
    • 40 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 30 credits in residence (attendance) at EWU, with at least 10 upper-division credits in major in residence at EWU
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
University Competencies and Proficiencies

Writing 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning 

Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List 
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)

Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. 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.