Design

Holly L. Cline, Chairperson

http://id-f.asp.radford.edu/

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate degree concentrations in the Department of Design prepare students for careers as professional designers in fashion design and interior design; for careers in the merchandising of fashion and interior products; for careers in design management; and for a wide variety of related occupations in the fashion and interiors industries. In preparing students for success in these exciting fields within the world of design, the department provides “hands on” experiences that enhance creativity and aesthetic sensibilities, while developing decision-making and creative problem solving skills for accommodating all functional, technical, legal, and business concerns within a design solution. The curriculum integrates analytical and technological skills, and promotes the development of communication and team building skills at all levels, essential for success in all design fields. Course work prepares students to meet current professional standards. Internships enable students to apply acquired skills in a variety of professional environments, including fashion design studios, architectural and/or interior design firms, dealerships, retail establishments, trade organizations, art firms and manufacturing firms. The department seeks to promote excellence and ensure the competency of each graduate by imposing rigorous assessment measurements throughout the program and at every academic level. Radford University is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Design - Fashion Design, Interior Design, Fashion Merchandising, & Design Management

Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 across all courses taken at RU. After the first year, students must maintain a 2.5 or higher cumulative in-major (DSN, DSNF, DSNI, and DSNM courses) GPA in order to proceed to the following academic year and to graduate. Students must also pass department-wide Student Outcomes Assessment processes. These performance measures include: Basic Skills Assessment to proceed from first to second year [a “C” or better is required for all 100 level DSN, DSNF, DSNI, and DSNM courses]; Design/Merchandising Skills Portfolio Review to proceed from second to third year (which requires passing grades in all DSN, DSNF, DSNI, and DSNM courses); Career Preparation and Professional Skills Review to proceed to internship, and Internship Review to proceed to fourth year; and a Capstone Activity to proceed to graduation.

The Department of Design requires laptops for all students.

• The Department of Design offers:
  • A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Interior Design or Fashion Design
  • A Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Fashion Merchandising or Design Management.
  • The department also offers a minor in Design Appreciation.

All education is within the framework of a liberal arts experience.

Transfer Students

Students wishing to transfer into the design program must indicate this major preference on the application for admission. Following acceptance into Radford University all transfer students applying for admission to the Department Design, must submit a Transfer Student Portfolio Admissions Form and an ID&F Course Equivalency Form.

Outcomes Assessment Requirements

The department seeks to promote excellence and ensure the competency of each graduate by imposing routine progress requirements. Students must also pass department-wide Student Outcomes Assessment processes. All assessments have a minimum GPA requirements of 2.5 in major and 2.0 for the university. All discipline specific requirements must be met. These assessments are completed outside the classroom environment. The overall purpose of the Outcomes Assessment processes is to promote a high standard of excellence throughout the design major. These performance measures include:

• Basic Skills Assessment to proceed to second year: The first year sequencing of design courses include: an introduction to design, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design fundamentals including design process and theory, business of design, and design psychology;
• Design/Merchandising Skills/Portfolio Review to proceed to third year; The Design/Merchandising Skills/ Portfolio Review process in the second year is the primary stopgap for continuation in the design program. This second year review assesses a student’s potential for success in upper-division courses. It should be noted that this evaluation is performance based and reflects the students’ ability to use the design process, basic skills, and design/merchandising skills to successfully complete a range of design problems. Portfolio Review is an independent assessment based upon student outcomes. Review process results determine official entry to the upper level course offerings in Interior Design, Fashion Design, and Merchandising for Design. Failure to meet these standards will result in non-compliance of Second Year Review Requirements. Students not passing this review may choose to repeat the necessary courses or assessments the following year in order to repeat the review process. Students not passing this review may also choose to change their degree option to Design Management or Design Culture with a 2.25 GPA in the major (all DSN, DSNF, DSNI, or DSNM courses). The majority of the lower-level courses within the department are skill building courses and a portion of the final grade includes design process, discovery/information gathering, evaluation, critical thinking and progress. While these are valuable developmental assessments, they are not factored into the second year review. The second year review is an outcome- driven assessment only. The department recognizes the fact that high grades in the first two years of design coursework is not a full measure of how well a student will perform in the second year Design/Merchandising Skills/ Portfolio Review process.
• Career Preparation and Professional Skills Review to proceed with internship; All students in the major are required to take a pre-internship seminar class. This seminar class is a self-directed course that prepares students for their summer internship experience. This course prepares students to locate, obtain, and prepare for a summer internship opportunity. Students must pass this class and obtain the minimum GPA (noted above) to proceed to internship;
• Internship Review to proceed to fourth year; All design majors are required to successfully complete a specified number internship/training hours and complete all requirements of the internship syllabi and internship site requirements/contracts during the summer after their third year of study prior to proceeding to their fourth year of classes. Students not passing this review will not be allowed to move forward in the design program and may choose to repeat the internship class the following summer session;
• Capstone Activity to proceed to graduation. Students must obtain a C in their final capstone course or activity.

Academic Programs

Design, B.F.A.  

Design, B.S.  

Design Appreciation Minor