Design, B.F.A. (E, A, L)

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Fashion Design Concentration
Interior Design Concentration

The Department of Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Interior Design or Fashion Design. The undergraduate BFA degree concentration in interior design provides a comprehensive education preparing students interested in professional interior design careers and its related industries. Students learn to identify, research and solve interior design problems through a sequential series of courses that develop skills, creativity and business practice knowledge. Students develop entry-level competencies for a variety of positions including those in corporate, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and residential design. This program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

The undergraduate BFA degree concentration in fashion design prepares students for employment in the fashion industry. Course work emphasizes the fashion design process with a customer focus, clothing design and construction techniques, and fashion presentation and promotion techniques. The Fashion Design graduates gain employment in design, manufacturing, costuming and auxiliary fashion industries. Both concentrations provide “hands-on” experiences that enhance creativity and aesthetic sensibilities, while developing decision-making and creative problem-solving skills. Radford University is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the E, A and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students learn that people are impacted by design every day. Students explore a broad range of design industries. Students learn design as a business, design psychology, the history and philosophy of design and create original work using the design process that is critiqued by their peers and design professionals. Students understand and analyze how behaviors, beliefs, cultures and environments have an emotional impact how people think and act. Students explore how design thinking principles, humanistic inquiry and artistic expression can be utilized to solve real world problems both inside and outside their discipline. Student will learn how to apply the design process terminology to design solutions, analyze products and processes in the design industry and learn how they are applied in both interiors and fashion. Student will learn how the environment (interior and exterior) affects people at work, home and play. Student are prepared for professional practice by taking a broad range of studio classes, interacting with the department’s advisory board every semester, and learning from a variety of guest artists, jurors, and speakers. An internship component is required in order for students to gain “hands-on” experience and acquire real on-the-job learning experiences. Students will reflect and analyze their own strengths and weaknesses within the professional context of their internship experience. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the R area to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Bachelor in Fine Arts in Design program includes 33 general education credits.

Major Requirements (76-79 credits)

Required Outside Coursework (9 credits)

Design Core Courses (21 credits)

Concentrations (46-49 credits)

Interior Design Concentration (49 credits)

Required Courses (49 credits)

Open Credit Hours (44 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 123

Fashion Design Concentration (46 credits)

Required Courses (46 credits)

Open Credit Hours (44 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Degree Requirements

The GPA in-major must be 2.5 and is calculated from required courses with a DSN, DSNF, DSNI, or DSNM prefix. A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all 100 level Design courses (DSN, DSNF, DSNI, & DSNM).

Summer Internship is a requirement of the degree. This class is taken for credit in the summer between the student’s 3rd and 4th year. DSN 340 is a prerequisite for this requirement.

Additional Information

All incoming students are required to have laptops. For additional details, please see the Division of Information Technology’s website (Technology Purchases). All computer applications used for classes in this department operate in the Windows-based format. Windows based laptops are recommended. Macs need dual operating systems (Windows & Mac OS).