The Bachelor of Arts in Design Program prepares students to think creatively, critically, and divergently about the design process. Students learn to appreciate the universality of design, contextualize design problems, and blend historical and global perspectives with evolving trends as the foundation for inspired design solutions. Students become design innovators by learning to balance conventional design approaches with new, emergent thinking.
What Our Students Learn In our comprehensive program, students apply advanced principles of design, articulate design concepts and solutions, and use global perspectives to develop effective design strategies for their area of specialization.
Why FIDM The Bachelor of Arts in Design Program incorporates advanced practices of design with historical, ethical, and social perspectives. Building upon skills from their A.A. degree, students develop a personal design thesis. During three intensive studio courses, students create a senior thesis project reflecting a creative design philosophy, personal and civic engagement, and an understanding of an existing business model. Through capstone studio courses, students explore design strategies, trends, visual image, and identity, as they articulate design concepts for real-world application and target customers.
REQUIRED CLASSES FOR BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.) (for students with a prior FIDM degree) 3
BDSN 3100 Advanced Practices in Color, Design & 3-D Form
BDSN 3200 Structural Drawing1
BDSN 3400 Drawing the Figure in Context
BDSN 3500 Human Dynamics
BDSN 3600 Creative Design Strategies
BDSN 3700 Digital Photographic Image
BDSN 3800 Digital Asset Management
n B
BDSN 4100 Visual Identity & Image
BDSN 3780 Prototyping 3-D Forms
BDSN 4250D The Studio I — Digital Communication
BDSN 4500D The Studio II — Digital Communication
BDSN 4750D The Studio III — Digital Communication
BDSN 3750 Garment Construction & Detail
BDSN 4250D The Studio I — Digital Communication
BDSN 4500D The Studio II — Digital Communication
BDSN 4750D The Studio III — Digital Communication
BDSN 3780 Prototyping 3-D Forms
BDSN 4250E The Studio I — Environment & Product
BDSN 4500E The Studio II — Environment & Product
BDSN 4750E The Studio III — Environment & Product
BDSN 3780 Prototyping 3-D Forms
BDSN 4250E The Studio I — Environment & Product
BDSN 4500E The Studio II — Environment & Product
BDSN 4750E The Studio III — Environment & Product
BDSN 3750 Garment Construction & Details
BDSN 4250F The Studio I — Fashion Apparel
BDSN 4500F The Studio II — Fashion Apparel
BDSN 4750F The Studio III — Fashion Apparel
BDSN 4950 Design Thesis Presentation
BUMT 3100 Ethics in Business+
GNST 2530 Principles of Kinesiology+
GNST 2530L Principles of Kinesiology Lab+
GNST 2630 Principles of Chemistry+
GNST 3000 World Political History+
GNST 3150 Research on Topics of Design History
GNST 3600 Future Trends in Society
GNST 3700 Multicultural Perspectives Through the Short Story
GNST 3750 Mapping Your World: Introduction to Global Production
GNST 3800 Icons of Culture: The Context of Meaning
GNST 3900 Issues in Contemporary Society+
Total Units of Credit 91
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 91 Graphic Design Students2 (A.A.)
Textile Design Students2 (A.A.)
Interior Design Students2 (A.A.)
Visual Communications Students2 (A.A.)
Fashion Design Students2 (A.A.)
1 Three (3)-hour lab included in 6 hours
2 Students take a series of three studio courses plus either an advanced construction or prototyping course based on their original FIDM A.A. degree.
+Available as online (distance learning) course
3 Prerequisite: FIDM degree in one of the following majors: – Fashion Design – Graphic Design – Interior Design – Textile Design – Visual Communications
This program starts each quarter on the Los Angeles campus and in the fall quarter on the San Francisco campus.
One-on-one advisement is available to students from other FIDM Majors to consider eligibility for special admissions to this program. Contact the appropriate department chairperson.
[top] Annual Bachelor in Design Student exhibition in the FIDM Museum. [bottom left] Student garment Class: The Studio II – Fashion Apparel Student: Danly Wang [bottom right] 3-D prototype Class: Prototyping 3-D Forms Student: Allison Wix
