Bachelor of Science in Design Studies

A unique interdisciplinary major that sparks knowledge, innovation for the future and cultural awareness, Design Studies is great for creative students who want to be engaged in design but don’t necessarily see themselves as designers. Design is a way of thinking (about what might be better), and a process (of iterative prototyping), as well as the product of that thinking and process. The Design Studies program at West Virginia University provides the opportunity for cross-disciplinary study by pairing design thinking and design process courses with an approved minor or approved area of concentration of your choice. Description of Program Design Studies is a four-year, student-focused curriculum that is open to all freshmen and to students transferring into the program as long as they meet the GPA requirement. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall to enter the program, and must maintain an overall 2.25 GPA throughout their time in the major. Students meet with their academic advisor at the beginning of their program to determine a program of study for their academic major. Each student, as a requirement for graduation, must participate in a minimum of six credit hours of internship. Internships will be allowed only after the student has finished a minimum of 50% of their minor coursework, and completed the required third year design studies coursework. Typically, internships will occur during the summer between the student's third and fourth years. Internship experiences will be unique to each student and will reflect their area of interest in the design fields. Major Learning Goals The primary student learning outcomes for the Design Studies major include preparing students to: Integrate design thinking into the business context provided by their minor course of study, Synthesize knowledge gained through coursework and experiential activities effectively, and explain its application to real work situations within the design profession and selected area(s) of interest in verbal and written formats, Effectively evaluate and use research in the context of a design problem, Share work experience with others and gain a greater understanding of design in a variety of contexts, Understand the daily realities of their professional design area and how those realities relate to the expectations of other design contexts. Careers Sustainable design consulting Design project management Creative marketing specialist Historic preservation Design material sales Disability consulting and compliance Event planning Advertising