Design Major

Design is a dynamic field that involves shaping how people experience communications, products, services and built environments. The Design Major at Wheaton teaches students to apply professional design research, thinking and making methods to a range of mediums and situations. Students learn technical skills in the Fab Lab, computer labs and studios and apply them, collaborating on projects to address community-based needs and opportunities. The plans and prototypes that result inspire use and change. This approach equips graduates with broadly applicable and adaptable skills that keep pace with this continually evolving profession. The Design major requires 48 credits.

Major requirements

Twenty-four credits in Design Theory, Methods and Practice courses:

Eight credits in Digital Foundations courses:

At least eight credits in Focused Practice Electives chosen from:

DES 225 Industrial Design
DES 250 Graphic Design I
DES 298 Interactive Design for the Web
DES 298 Designing Architectural Spaces (offered Spring 26’)

At least four credits at the 300-level chosen from:

Note: the following courses have prerequisites

ARTH 335 Exhibition Design
DES 320 Fab Academy
DES 350 Graphic Design II
DES 398 Advanced Interactive Design (course in development)