Learn More and ApplyIndustrial Design (BFA)

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The BFA in Industrial Design integrates drawing, graphic design, and experience design with courses in science, math, computer science, physics and computer-aided design/manufacturing/engineering. Unique to the program are required classes in marketing, management and sustainability. Students create under the constraints of what is possible and practical using established manufacturing techniques. Graduates of the program learn to design, make and scale through an iterative process from prototyping to manufacturing.

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Program 52
Required Courses 134
Major Electives 12
Open Electives 10
Total hours required 208

Students will be able to:

  • Analyze a system through reconfiguration and sensory awareness.
  • Design objects through the intentional use of template systems and geometric principles.
  • Evaluate the generative nature of material as it informs design.
  • Utilize principles of interconnectedness and modularity in the design of objects.
  • Create objects or systems that explore extreme scales.
  • Determine the broader impact of an object within its environment.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 4
Senior Year
Capstone
Required 1 4
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  •  2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 1 Course Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 Lab Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 1 Course Required 

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Course Title Quarter Hours
ID 100INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN4
ID 101METAPHYSICS OF OBJECTS4
ID 104HAPTICS4
ID 105DIGITAL MANUFACTURING4
ID 210PROCESSES AND MATERIALS (This is a 2 hour course that must be taken 5 times for 10 hours total)10
ID 250DRAWING TECHNIQUES FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN4
ID 300HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN4
ID 391INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STUDIO I (This course must be taken three times for 12 hours total)12
ID 392INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STUDIO II (This course must be taken three times for 12 hours total)12
ID 395SPECIAL TOPICS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN4
Select twelve (12) credit hours of Major Electives12
Select eight (8) hours of Open Electives 8

Math and Science

Course Title Quarter Hours
MAT 130FUNCTIONS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS4
MAT 131PRECALCULUS AND TRIGONOMETRY4
PHY 110BASIC ELECTRONICS: PRINCIPLES & TECHNIQUES4
PHY 120HOW THINGS WORK4

Art and Design

Course Title Quarter Hours
ART 105TWO-DIMENSIONAL FOUNDATIONS4
or GD 105 INTRO TO VISUAL DESIGN
ART 106BEGINNING DRAWING4
or ART 206 INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
or ILL 200 ILLUSTRATION FOUNDATIONS
ART 113THREE DIMENSIONAL FOUNDATIONS4
or ART 115 BEGINNING SCULPTURE
or ART 117 INTRODUCTION TO 3D PRINTING
or ANI 230 3D DESIGN & MODELING
EXP 210DESIGN AND FABRICATION FOR PHYSICAL SPACE WORKSHOP2
GD 200GRAPHIC DESIGN: FORM4
UXD 101DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN4
UXD 210INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN4

Computer Software and Hardware

Course Title Quarter Hours
CSC 241INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I4
CSC 242INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE II4
EXP 250HARDWARE DESIGN BASICS WORKSHOP2
EXP 350DESIGNING FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS4

Business

Course Title Quarter Hours
MGT 300PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT4
or MKT 301 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING
MGT 370BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT4
or MGT 373 CREATIVITY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
or MGT 390 INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
or MKT 352 NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Sustainability

Course Title Quarter Hours
ENV 151INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY4

Major Electives

Any ID, EXP, PHY, ANI, or ART class can be taken for major elective credit.

Senior Capstone Requirement

ID 396 INDUSTRIAL DESIGN SENIOR CAPSTONE

Program Combination Restrictions

Students pursuing the BFA in Industrial Design are forbidden from pursuing a Minor in Industrial Design.