Major requirements for students declared 2021–2026. Total for the Design Major: 68 units.
Preparatory Subject Matter (28 Units)
Intro Courses (16 Units)
Complete all of the following:
- DES 1, Introduction to Design
- DES 14, Design Drawing, or DES 21, Drafting and Perspective
- DES 15, Form and Color
- DES 16, Graphic Design and Computer Technology
Lower Division Elective (4 Units)
Complete one of the following:
- DES 21, Drafting and Perspective (if not used as Intro Course)
- DES 50, 3-D Object Design
- DES 51, CAD for Designers
- DES 70, Introduction to Textile Design Structures
- DES 77, Introduction to Structural Design for Fashion
- ART 12, Beginning Video
- DES 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, or 40E (if not used as Theory/History)
Writing Courses (4 Units)
Complete one of the following:
- UWP 11, Writing for Technology
- UWP 12, Writing for Visual Rhetoric (recommended)
- UWP 13, Video Game Rhetorics
- UWP 48, Style in Essay
- UWP 49, Research Papers
Theory/History Course (4 Units)
Complete one of the following:
- DES 40A, Energy, Materials, Design
- DES 40B, Ideologies of Design
- DES 40C, Design for Aesthetics
- DES 40D, Designed Geographies
- DES 40E, Design for Social Good
Depth Subject Matter (40 Units)
Can be taken in any order as long as course prerequisites are completed.
Upper Division Studio Courses (20 Units)
Complete five of the following; one may be a non-DES course.
- DES 107, Advanced Structural Design for Fashion
- DES 111, Coding for Design
- DES 112, UI/UX Design: Principles and Practices
- DES 113, Photography for Designers
- DES 115, Letterforms and Typography
- DES 116, Visual Communication: Graphics
- DES 117, Interactive Media I
- DES 126, Design Ethnography
- DES 127B, Studio Practice in Sustainable Design
- DES 128B, Biodesign Challenge Part II
- DES 131, Global Fashion and Product Design
- DES 132A, Textile Design: Woven Structures
- DES 132B, Loom-Constructed Textile Design
- DES 134A, Introduction to Interior Design: Residential
- DES 134B, Introduction to Interior Design: Commercial and Technical
- DES 135A, Furniture Design and Detailing
- DES 135B, Furniture Design and Prototyping
- DES 136A, Lighting Technology and Design
- DES 136B, Design with Light: Industrial Design
- DES 137A, Daylighting and Interior Design
- DES 137B, Daylighting Design Studio
- DES 150, CAD Presentations
- DES 151, Type in Motion
- DES 155A, Pattern, Form and Surface
- DES 156, Graphitecture
- DES 157A, Interactive Media II
- DES 158, Data and Large Scale Installation
- DES 160, Textile Surface Design: Pattern and Resists
- DES 161, Textile Surface Design: Screen and Digital
- DES 165, Studio Practice in Industrial Design
- DES 166, Human Centered Design
- DES 167, Prototyping: Form, Object to Systems
- DES 168, Interactive Objects
- DES 169, Advanced Textile Design
- DES 170, Experimental Fashion and Textile Design
- DES 171, Fashion Drawing
- DES 175, Functional Apparel Design
- DES 177, Computer-Aided Fashion Design
- DES 178, Wearable Technology
- DES 180A, Advanced Interior Design: Institutional
- DES 185, Exhibition Design
- DES 186, Environmental Graphic Design
- DES 191A–D, Workshops in Design
- ART 110A, Intermediate Photography: Black and White Analog
- ART 110B, Intermediate Photography: Digital Imaging
- ART 113, Interdisciplinary Art
- ART 114A, Intermediate Video: Animation
- CHI 172, Chicana/o Silk Screen
- DRA 124A, Theatrical Design: Scenery
- DRA 124B, Theatrical Design: Scenery
- DRA 124C, Theatrical Design: Lighting
- DRA 124D, Theatrical Design: Costume
- DRA/CTS 124E, Costume Design for Film
- DRA 126A, Topics in Entertainment Engineering
- DRA 128, Principles of Theater Sound
- DRA 130, Approaches to Theatrical Sound
- DRA 170, Media Theatre
- CDM 100, Experimental Digital Cinema I
- CDM 104, Documentary Production Object
- CDM 125, Advanced Sound
- CDM 130, 3D Computer Graphics
- CDM 131, Character Animation
Note: The source checklist lists both DRA 124A and DRA 124B under the identical title "Theatrical Design: Scenery." This duplicate titling appears in the department's original document; both are reproduced here as listed. Please confirm the correct course titles with the department.
Capstone Course Option
These are the most advanced courses in the major, and prerequisites are strictly enforced. Complete one of the following:
- DES 154, Message Campaign Design
- DES 157B, Interactive Media III
- DES 159, Design for Understanding
- DES 179, Fashion Design: Signature Collection
- DES 180, Advanced Interior Architecture
- DES 187, Narrative Environments
Upper Division History/Theory Courses (12 Units)
Complete three courses:
- DES 127A, Sustainable Design
- DES 128A, BioDesign Challenge Part I
- DES 138, Materials and Methods in Interior Design
- DES 141, Cultural Studies of Fashion
- DES 142A, World Textiles: Eastern Hemisphere
- DES 142B, World Textiles: Western Hemisphere
- DES 143, History of Fashion
- DES 144, History of Interior Design
- DES 145, History of Visual Communication
- DES 146, Mobilities
- DES 148, Trend Research and Forecasting in Design
- DES 149, Info Design: Principles
- DRA 114, Theater on Film
- DRA/CTS 116, Design on Screen
- DRA 150, American Theatre and Drama
- DRA 154, Asian Theatre and Drama
- DRA 155, Representing Race in Performance
- TCS 155, Introduction to Documentary Studies
- TCS 159, Media Subculture
- AHI 100–189B, all upper-division Art History courses
Upper Division Electives (8 Units)
Complete two additional upper-division courses from the checklist above.
Additional Opportunities
These experiences can play an important part in your development as a designer. They offer opportunities to build your portfolio, gain hands-on experience, and explore new ideas and perspectives beyond the classroom.
DES 192, Internship
Students can receive credit for design internships by coordinating between internship supervisors and the Department of Design using the variable unit form for internships. This class does not count for Design Major credit.
DES 197T, Tutor in Design
Student tutors assist as needed in studio settings and contribute to discussions, mentorship, and design-related tasks. This class does not count for Design Major credit.
Study Abroad
- Design in Japan
- Fashion Design in Italy or Japan
- Summer Sketching in Italy
The design faculty strongly encourages students to study abroad. More information on Study Abroad programs can be found at globallearning.ucdavis.edu.
DES 198, Group Study
Group studies are an opportunity for student-led and faculty-mentored teams to work on specific design projects for variable-unit upper-division credit. One unit of DES 198 may be earned by student leaders of design clubs with faculty sponsor approval. DES 198 does not count for Design Major credit, unless by Master faculty advisor permission.
DES 194HA/HB, Honors
Undergraduate Design majors who meet College of Letters and Science GPA requirements and successfully complete the application process can complete an honors project in order to be eligible for high honors or highest honors upon graduation from UC Davis. This class does not count for Design Major credit.
DES 199, Independent Study
Students completing an independent study have the opportunity to individually work on proposed design projects with faculty mentorship. This class does not count for Design Major credit.
Design Advising Newsletter
To hear about more opportunities in design, watch for the Design Advising Newsletter — a great place to read about jobs, internships, contests, clubs, and more.