The Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design is a studio-based, interdisciplinary program culminating in a capstone project constructed at the intersection of the many disciplines offered through the School of Art, Architecture + Design. This broadly based curriculum combines a liberal arts education as delivered by the IU College of Arts and Sciences with an innovative program in art and design. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary training and collaboration will benefit design professionals of the future by providing them with design thinking skills necessary to meet the challenges of a burgeoning "culture of making" essential to the nation's economic future. Upon completion of this major, Comprehensive Design students will be well placed to enter a professional degree, such as the Master of Architecture (M. Arch.), graduate study in art and design, or to join the workforce in a variety of design professions.
Majors, minors + certificates
Bachelor of Science requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree requires at least 120 credit hours, to include the following:
- College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours. At least 100 credit hours must come from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines.
- Upper Division Courses. At least 36 credit hours (of the 120) must be at the 300–499 level.
- College Residency. Following completion of the 60th credit hour toward degree, at least 36 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences coursework must be completed through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- College GPA. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.000 is required for all courses taken at Indiana University.
- CASE Requirements. The following College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) requirements must be completed:
- CASE Foundations
- CASE Breadth of Inquiry
- CASE Culture Studies
- CASE Critical Approaches: 1 course
- CASE Foreign Language: Proficiency in a single foreign language through the first semester of the second year of college-level coursework
- CASE Intensive Writing: 1 course
- CASE Public Oral Communication: 1 course
- Major. Completion of the major as listed below.
Major requirements
The major requires at least 47 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Creative Core.
- Pathways. One (1) course from the Pathways list.
- SOAD-A 100 Pathways: Introduction to Art, Design and Merchandising Explores the fields of art, design, and merchandising within the contemporary landscape of creating and making. Identifies where these disciplines have mutually reinforcing values and opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Provides a common experience for art, design and merchandising students. (3 credit hours.)
- Color. One (1) course from the Color list.
- SOAD-A 101 Creative Core: Color Explores color's fundamental principles and formal elements; its contextual meanings and sociological connotations; and its significance within the fields of art, design and merchandising. Cultivates visual sensitivity, develops aesthetic knowledge and the production of creative work through studio practices. (3 credit hours.)
- Cross-Disciplinary Workshops. Complete the following course two (2) times:
- SOAD-A 211 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops in Art, Design, and Merchandising A variable topic studio course that focuses on skill development and technical manipulation of materials within the specific traditions of a particular discipline. Emphasizes fundamental principles of art and design within a discipline. Designed around a variable topic such as image, time, narrative, space, materials, and markets. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum total of 12 credit hours in SOAD-A 111 and SOAD-A 211. (3 credit hours.)
- Pathways. One (1) course from the Pathways list.
- Forums of Exchange.
- Intermediate Forums. Complete the following course two (2) times:
- SOAD-A 201 Forum of Exchange I Interdisciplinary experiences serve as the foundation for discussion and written/verbal responses. Students select from a range of activities including lectures, cross-critiques, site visits, interviews, class visits, museum exhibitions, and performances to observe, question and compare art, design and merchandising disciplines. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours. S/F grading. (1 credit hour.)
- Advanced Forums. Complete the following course four (4) times:
- SOAD-A 401 Forum of Exchange II Interdisciplinary experiences in art, design and merchandising serve as the foundation for discussion and written/verbal responses. Students select from a range of activities including lectures, cross-critiques, site visits, interviews, class visits and selected exhibitions. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours. S/F grading. (1 credit hour.)
- Intermediate Forums. Complete the following course two (2) times:
- Art History.
- Two (2) ARTH-A courses at the 300–499 level
- Comprehensive Design Sequence. Eight (8) courses from the Comprehensive Design Sequence list.
- SOAD-C 181 Design: Creative Revolution Introduction to comprehensive design: design formed by the cross pollination between artistic and design processes. Introduces examples of comprehensive design as they form within the entity of the city and as they take form within objects of design (e.g. clothing, furniture, architecture, automobiles). Also introduces students to methods and approaches in 2D and 3D design execution. Credit given for only one of AMID-C 181 or SOAD-C 181. (3 credit hours.)
- SOAD-C 280 Introduction to Comprehensive Design Introduction to design across subject-specific boundaries through examination of its models, methods, and sensibilities. Focus on ability to explore, synthesize, and integrate ideas through comprehensive design. Features IU Center for Art + Design, Columbus, Indiana as a living laboratory to demonstrate mutually reinforcing design approaches and solutions. Credit given for only one of AMID-C 280 or SOAD-C 280. (3 credit hours.)
- SOAD-C 380 Topical Issues in Comprehensive Design P: Consent of department. Analysis of current design trends across subject-specific boundaries. Features IU Center for Art + Design, Columbus, Indiana as a living laboratory to demonstrate mutually reinforcing design approaches and solutions. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 8 credit hours in AMID-C 380 and SOAD-C 380. (1–4 credit hours.)
- SOAD-C 381 Topical Issues in Collaborative Design P: Consent of department. Analysis of collaborative design trends across subject-specific boundaries. Features integration of applied design disciplines such as urban design, architectural design, and landscape architecture to demonstrate mutually reinforcing design approaches and solutions. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 8 credit hours in AMID-C 381 and SOAD-C 381. (1–4 credit hours.)
- SOAD-D 304 Critical Theory, Writing and Thinking for the Studio Practice P: Completion of the English composition requirement. Introduction to critical writings and writing on the subject of art and design and critical analysis of art and design. Credit given for only one of AMID-D 304 or SOAD-D 304. (3 credit hours.)
- SOAD-C 480 Special Problems in Comprehensive Design P: Consent of department. Analysis of selected design topics across subject-specific boundaries. Features IU Center for Art + Design, Columbus, Indiana as a living laboratory to demonstrate mutually reinforcing design approaches and solutions. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours in AMID-C 480 and SOAD-C 480. (1–3 credit hours.)
- SOAD-C 481 Intensive Seminar in Comprehensive Design Intensive seminar in analysis of selected design topics across subject-specific boundaries. Features IU Center for Art + Design, Columbus, Indiana as a living laboratory to demonstrate mutually reinforcing design approaches and solutions. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours in AMID-C 481 and SOAD-C 481. (1–3 credit hours.)
- SOAD-X 373 Internship in Professional Practice P: Consent of department. For retailing, merchandising, and fashion design experience, one course from AMID-R 100, AMID-R 209, SOAD-A 100, or SOAD-M 209; for interior design experience, AMID-D 272 or SOAD-D 272. For all internships at least 26 credit hours must be completed and an undergraduate SOAD major required. Provides SOAD majors an off-campus supervised and coordinated career-work experience in a cooperating business, a consumer agency, or other related fields. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours in AMID-F 403, AMID-R 321, AMID-X 373, AMID-X 376, AMID-X 476, AMID-Y 398, SOAD-X 373, SOAD-X 376, and SOAD-X 476. S/F grading. (1–3 credit hours.)
- Immersive Design Experience. Complete a semester-long immersive design experience such as supervised studio work and independent study with a distinguished designer in residence, participation in an IU-approved/sponsored Study Abroad Program, a full-time design-related internship in the private sector, or a semester in residence at IUCA+D in Columbus.
- Capstone. Complete the following course two (2) times and for a total of four (4) credit hours:
- SOAD-X 490 Independent Study in Interior Design P: Grade of C- or higher in AMID-D 168 or SOAD-D 168; and 6 additional credit hours in interior design; and consent of department. Review, discussion, and evaluation of current trends and issues in interior design; analysis of research. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in AMID-D 480, AMID-X 490, and SOAD-X 490. (1–3 credit hours.)
College Major Policies
- At least 30 credit hours are required in the major, though most B.S. degree programs require more.
- At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
- A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.