B.F.A. and B.A. in Design

Exhibition visitors marveling at the 2023 BFA senior design capstone projects

B.F.A. and B.A. in Design

Our undergraduate degrees in Design offer students a rich, multi-faceted educational experience that develops collaborative problem solvers skilled in research, strategy, and craft to innovate for the future. The coursework and mentorship from faculty will help shape your creative process and immerse you in various aspects of design to create graphics, objects, interactions, systems, products, and services for people. You’ll learn to push past obvious solutions and design open-ended solutions with creative confidence.

Design students engage in graphic design, industrial design, and interaction design to solve challenges in health and wellbeing, sustainability, social justice, inclusion and accessibility, education, and technology to create a better future.

Program Focus

An illustration of students working on a project to expand their design practice.

Project-Based Coursework

Expand your own design practice, experiment with new tools in our creative labs, and hone your craft while building a portfolio of work.

An illustration about a student networking with industry partners.

Industry-Oriented Approach

Curriculum is designed alongside industry partners like argodesign and Gensler, who work with us as advisors, instructors, and guest speakers to provide real-world experience opportunities.

An illustration of collaborating with peers and working on a group project.

Experiential Learning

Explore the relationship between design disciplines as you collaborate with peers, engage in research, craft solutions, and acquire the leadership skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.

An illustration of creating course groupings within the major to align with career goals.

Specializations

Create course groupings within the major to align with your career goals and deepen your knowledge across 5 core areas: Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interaction Design, Design Research, and Design History.

B.F.A. vs. B.A. in Design

Whether you pursue a B.F.A. or B.A. in Design, you can choose coursework that aligns with your creative interests and professional pursuits as you progress in your degree plan.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Bachelor of Arts

Pre-professional degree program

Flexibility of a Liberal Arts degree

Foundational Design courses

Foundational Design courses

Advanced studio-intensive Design coursework

World language requirement (12-18 hours)

Must complete a professional internship

Option to pursue a minor, certificate or double major of your choice

Senior Design Capstone including a public exhibition of work

Senior Design Capstone

Total Design Hours: 66 Hours

Total Design Hours: 42 Hours

Degree Plan

Typical 4-year course schedule for Design B.F.A. Majors | 120 Total Hours

SemesterYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4
FallDesign Foundations  
Design Foundations   
Design Foundations  
UT Core  
UT Core  
 
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
UT Core  
UT Core
Upper Division  
Upper Division  
Upper Division  
UT Core  
UT Core  
 
Senior Project  
Upper Division  
UT Core  
UT Core  
Elective  
 
SpringDesign Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
UT Core  
UT Core
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Upper Division  
UT Core  
UT Core
Upper Division  
Upper Division  
Upper Division  
Upper Division  
UT Core
Senior Project  
Elective  
Elective  
Elective  
Elective

Typical 4-year course schedule for Design B.A. Majors | 120 Total Hours

SemesterYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4
FallDesign Foundations  
Design Foundations   
Design Foundations  
UT Core  
UT Core
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
World Language
Upper Division  
World Language  
UT Core  
UT Core  
 
Senior Project  
Elective  
UT Core  
UT Core  
UT Core
SpringDesign Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
UT Core  
UT Core
Design Foundations  
Design Foundations  
Upper Division  
World Language  
 
UT Core  
UT Core  
UT Core  
Elective  
Elective
Senior Project  
Elective  
Elective  
Elective  
Elective