Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires satisfactory completion (grades of C+ or better) of the following foundation courses: 

GDES-200 Introduction to Graphic Design (3) 

GDES-210 Introduction to Typography (3) 

GDES-220 Computer Literacy for Design (3) 

COMM-330 Principles of Photography (3) 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas 
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline 

Major Requirements

• 54 credit hours with grades of C or better 

24 of the last 30 credit hours in the major program must be taken in residence, of which 18 credit hours must be in design and 3 credit hours in art history or studio. 

All students will submit a portfolio for departmental evaluation prior to beginning their senior year. The department may issue formal warnings to students performing at marginal levels. 

Tracks

Print Media or Experience Design and Multimedia 

Course Requirements

• ARTH-105Art: The Historical Experience 1:1 (3) 
• COMM-330 Principles of Photography (3) 
• GDES-200 Introduction to Graphic Design (3) 
• GDES-210 Introduction to Typography (3) 
• GDES-220 Computer Literacy for Design (3) 
• GDES-230 Graphic Design History (3) 
• GDES-300 Intermediate Typography (3) 

Print Media

• GDES-310 Print Design and the Computer (3) 
• GDES-320 Design and Photography (3) 
• GDES-400 Advanced Design I: Systems Design (3) 
• GDES-420 Advanced Design II: Narrative Design (3) 
• 9 credit hours from the following: 

GDES-315 Experience Design and the Computer (3) 

GDES-325 Kinetic and Sequential Graphics (3) 

GDES-350 Illustration (3) 

GDES-405 User Experience Design I (3) 

GDES-425 User Experience Design II (3) 

GDES-450 Packaging Design (3) 

GDES-490 Independent Study Project (1–6) with department approval 

GDES-491 Internship (1–6) with department approval 

• 12 credit hours from the following, with at least 3 credit hours from each set of courses: 

Set One 

ARTS-100 Art: The Studio Experience 1:1 (3) 

ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-210 The Artist’s Perspective: Painting 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-215 The Artist’s Perspective: Sculpture 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-320 Painting Studio (3) 

ARTS-340 Sculpture Studio (3) 

ARTS-344 Ceramics Studio (3) 

ARTS-360 Drawing Studio (3) 

ARTS-363 Relief Printmaking Studio (3) 

ARTS-364 Intaglio Studio (3) 

ARTS-520 Advanced Printmaking (3) 

Set Two 

ARTH-205Art of the Renaissance 2:2 (3) 

ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 1:2 (3) 

ARTH-215Architecture: Washington and the World 1:2 (3) 

Set Three 

COMM-401 Legal Aspects of Communication. (3) 

COMM-523 Intermediate Photography (3) 

COMM-525 Advanced Photography (3) 

COMM-529 Large Format Photography and Studio
Lighting (3) 

Experience Design and Multimedia

• GDES-315 Experience Design and the Computer (3) 
• GDES-325 Kinetic and Sequential Graphics (3) 
• GDES-405 User Experience Design I (3) 
• GDES-425 User Experience Design II (3) 
• 9 credit hours from the following: 

GDES-310 Print Design and the Computer (3) 

GDES-320 Design and Photography (3) 

GDES-350 Illustration (3) 

GDES-400 Advanced Design I: Systems Design (3) 

GDES-420 Advanced Design II: Narrative Design (3) 

GDES-450 Packaging Design (3) 

GDES-490 Independent Study Project (1–6) with department approval 

GDES-491 Internship (1–6) with department approval 

• 12 credit hours from the following, with at least 3 credit hours from each set of courses: 

Set One 

COMM-331 Film and Video Production I (3) (prerequisite: COMM-105 Visual Literacy) 

COMM-352 Web Studio (3) 

COMM-401 Legal Aspects of Communication. (3) 

COMM-435 Introduction to Studio Television (3) (prerequisite: COMM-105 Visual Literacy) 

COMM-520 History of Animation (3) 

COMM-523 Intermediate Photography (3) 

COMM-525 Advanced Photography (3) 

COMM-529 Large Format Photography and Studio Lighting (3) 

Set Two 

ATEC-101 Fundamentals of Audio Technology (3) 

ATEC-102 Audio Technology Laboratory (1) 

CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) 

CSC-281 Introduction to Computer Science II (3) 

CSC-435 Web Programming (3) 

PERF-110 Understanding Music 1:1 (3) 

Set Three 

ARTH-205 Art of the Renaissance 2:2 (3) 

ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 1:2 (3) 

ARTH-215 Architecture: Washington and theWorld 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-100 Art: The Studio Experience 1:1 (3) 

ARTS-205 The Artist’s Perspective: Drawing 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-210 The Artist’s Perspective: Painting 1:2 (3) 

ARTS-215 The Artist’s Perspective: Sculpture 1:2 (3) 

University Honors Program

All University Honors students must complete at least 12 credit hours of advanced-level (300-level and above) Honors courses including a 3 to 6 credit hour Honors Senior Capstone Project. Students may graduate with University Honors in the major if they complete at least 12 advanced-level Honors courses including the Senior Capstone Project in the department. Each department has three levels of University Honors requirements: Level I Options (100-200-level Honors classes); Level II Options (300-level and above Honors classes); and Level III Options (Honors Senior Capstone). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. For more information, go to www.american.edu/academic.depts/honors/ . 

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs.  The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. 

Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and  maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.