Communication Design & Strategy Curriculum
Communication Design students enrolling at CCS will be required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SLP 007 | CCS First Year Experience | 1 |
| DFN 119 | Digital Techniques | 3 |
| DFN 137 | 2D & 3D Integrated Design Studio | 3 |
| DFN 139 | Color & Light Studies | 3 |
| CDS 151 | Typography I | 3 |
| DVC 100 | Introduction to Material Culture | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DFN 138 | 4D Design Studio | 3 |
| DFN 142 | Performative Spaces | 3 |
| CDS 152 | Typography II | 3 |
| CDS 124 | Motion Essentials | 3 |
| DEN 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 251 | Typography III | 3 |
| CDS 263 | UI Design | 3 |
| CDS 211 | Design Semiotics | 3 |
| DEN 102 | Composition II | 3 |
| DAH 201 DAH 202 DAH 200 | Visual Narration: Africa Visual Narration: Asia Western Art History/Visual Culture | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 264 | UX Design | 3 |
| CDS 212 | Design Research | 3 |
| CDS 224 | Motion Narratives | |
| DAH 247 | History of Communication Design I | 3 |
| DHU --- | Humanities Course | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 311 | Brand Strategies | 3 |
| CDS 317 | Professional Studio Practice I | 3 |
| CDS 365 | XR Design | 3 |
| DAH 361 | History of Communication Design II | 3 |
| D--- 200-400 | General Education Elective | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 312 | Campaign Strategies | 3 |
| CDS - - - | CDS Elective | 3 |
| D--- 200-400 | General Education Elective | 3 |
| DNS 200-400 | Natural Science | 3 |
| D--- 100-400 | Open Elective | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 411 | Integrated Brand Strategies | 3 |
| CDS 418 | Professional Studio Practice II | 3 |
| CDS - - - | CDS Elective | 3 |
| DAH or DVC 200-400 level | Art History Elective or Visual Culture Elective | 3 |
| D--- 200-400 | General Education Elective | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CDS 412 | Design Theory | 3 |
| CDS --- | CDS Elective | 3 |
| CDS --- | CDS Elective | 3 |
| D--- 200-400 | General Education Elective | 3 |
| D--- 100-400 | Open Elective | 3 |
​Catalog Year 24/25 Total Credits 120-121
*International students that require ELS-101 (4.0 cr); Total Credits = 121/122
First Year Experience=1; Foundations=15; Major=60; Gen Ed=39; Open Electives=6
General Education Electives – Successfully complete any 200-400 level Liberal Arts course (i.e. DHS, DNS, DAH, DAS, DSS, DEN, DLE, DPL, DVC etc)
Open Electives – Successfully complete any (3.0 credit) 100-400 level course from any Undergraduate subject (Studio or Lecture).
This plan is provided for use as a guide only and is based on full-time status with successful completion of credits outlined per semester. Degree Timelines and requirements may vary based on actual program, credits completed per semester and/or catalog year. Students are responsible for confirming completion of all requirements before graduating (use program/student resources to support degree progression). Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 required.
Vision Statement
The Communication Design Department at CCS creates future-focused design leaders through our multi- disciplinary curricular approach. Our program facilitates systemic thinking while nurturing visual and verbal design competencies that can live in the dynamic and static media spaces.
Mission Statement
CCS Communication Design is a multi-disciplinary program that blends traditional graphic design, UxD, motion graphics, writing, and strategy to create design leaders. We embrace the reality that messages are increasingly dynamic, not static. We value creating design strategies that are empathetic to human values and audiences who are part of our diverse cultural condition. We develop solutions that take the complex and seek to make them accessible. Our goal is to inspire curiosity through inquiry, creating designers who lead.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
Upon graduation, students in the BFA Communication Design program will be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to use a variety of research methodologies including an awareness of sustainability in developing communications relevant to society, various audience groups and specific end users.
- Use code and other sources of dynamic media to achieve specific communication solutions relevant to audience and user experience.
- Use experimentation and play in the process of translating the obvious into the unique, to see the everyday in new ways and as a method of creating solutions that are unexpected.
- Demonstrate an ability to use informed critical judgment in selecting and utilizing components to achieve defined communication goals.
- Demonstrate an ability to use design and good organization in presenting clear project concepts and final outcomes.
- Demonstrate ethical leadership in interpreting and responding to communication need and opportunity.