Program Details
BS in Design
Bachelor of ScienceRadford University
The Department of Design offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Fashion Merchandising or Design Management. The undergraduate BS degree concentration in fashion merchandising prepares students for careers as professional buyers in the fashion industry; for careers in fashion merchandising and the merchandising of interior products; and a wide variety of allied professions related to the design industry. The undergraduate BS degree concentration in design management prepares students for careers in any business sector where design supports the efforts of the organization and where design strategy and activities are in keeping with the larger business strategy. It combines the design core classes coupled with minors from the Davis College of Business. Both concentrations provide “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. Radford University is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes 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. 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). |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Radford University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completion of the transfer-oriented associate degree program will guarantee completion of the University Core general education component of the RU undergraduate curriculum but may not fulfill specific departmental requirements or prerequesisites needed for the major. You enter as a junior with general education requirements met as indicated in the pathway map. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | You enter as a junior with general education requirements met as indicated in the pathway map. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | We accept AP, IB, and CLEP results for college credit if the score earned meets college expectations. Enter your test into the portal to see if your scores will earn credit. If you have industry or military experience, please use College Connect to reach out to us to discuss these prior learning experiences. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Radford University is a medium-sized residential college campus of just over 7,500 students. Located the city of Radford in southwest Virginia, we offer 76 academic majors in six academic colleges. Incoming freshmen are required to live on campus their first two years; incoming transfer students do not have an on-campus requirement but are able to live on campus should they so choose. Opportunities to get involved on campus are numerous and include more than 200 student organizations, Division I athletic teams, and plenty of outdoor adventure trip planned by the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Graphic Design, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Graphic and Media Design | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Graphic Design | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Marymount University | Graphic and Media Design (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Art | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1121.00 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 27-1021.00 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-1029.00 | Designers, All Other | All designers not listed separately. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-1024.00 | Graphic Designers | Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-1027.00 | Set and Exhibit Designers | Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 15-1255.01 | Video Game Designers | Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed. | Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
| 15-1255.00 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links. | Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
Cost To Complete