Industrial Design, BFA
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
The School of Art & Design and Industrial Design program are accepting applications for Fall 2025 admission to the BFA in Industrial Design.
The curriculum in Industrial Design requires 122 credit hours. The Industrial design program focuses on a human centered approach to identify opportunities to design new products and services. The studio courses emphasize learning through problem-solving, understanding user experience, market demand, materials, and production processes. Students can develop their interest, and engage in creating intuitive, innovative products and services, that are in visual harmony with their environment. Designs that satisfy the consumer desire while being responsive to changes in technology and culture benefit society.
Students in the School of Art and Design must complete the Campus General Education requirements. Some Art and Design courses will also apply toward the General Education requirements.
Students majoring in this degree program must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements.
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 122 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The University and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in Art and Design.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
First Year Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 |
| ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTF 103 | Design I | 3 |
| ARTF 105 | Design II | 3 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Art History Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 211 | Design History Survey | 3 |
| Advanced art history (200-level or above) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Industrial Design Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTD 101 | Introduction to Industrial Design | 3 |
| ARTD 201 & ARTD 202 | Industrial Design I and Industrial Design II | 8 |
| ARTD 301 & ARTD 302 | Industrial Design III and Industrial Design IV | 8 |
| ARTD 401 & ARTD 402 | Industrial Design V and Industrial Design VI | 8 |
| ARTD 225 | Design Drawing | 3 |
| ARTD 228 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| ARTD 326 | Sustainability & Manufacturing | 3 |
| ARTD 328 | Human-Centered Product Design | 3 |
| ARTD 426 | Product Innovation | 3 |
| ARTD 448 | Professional Design Practice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Art & Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art & Design Electives (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in major) | 12 | |
Summary of Credits for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| First-Year Curriculum | 17 | |
| Art History | 9 | |
| Major | 45 | |
| Art & Design Electives | 12 | |
| Free electives to bring the total hours earned to 122, including a minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level. | ||
| Total Hours | 122 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 | ARTD 101 | 3 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 | ARTE 101 | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | ARTF 105 | 3 |
| ARTF 103 | 3 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTD 201 | 4 | ARTD 202 | 4 |
| ARTD 225 | 3 | ARTD 228 | 3 |
| ARTH 200 level or above (Advanced Art History) | 3 | ARTH 211 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTD 301 | 4 | ARTD 302 | 4 |
| ARTD 328 | 3 | ARTD 326 | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in major) | 3 | Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in major) | 3 |
| ARTH 200 level or above (Advanced Art History) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTD 401 | 4 | ARTD 402 | 4 |
| ARTD 448 | 3 | ARTD 426 | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in major) | 3 | Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in major) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 | ||
| 14 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 122 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
- Inquiry and insight: the ability to select and use appropriate research and experimental methods, to access existing data or to generate new data, to analyze and draw insights, with a particular emphasis on user needs
- Ideation: the ability to produce creative proposals to identify design opportunities, using design thinking, modeling, and prototyping strategies, with appropriate integration of functional, technical, ergonomic, and visual factors
- Implementation: the ability to select and use appropriate making and manufacturing processes with an understanding of the potential of new technologies, and the demands of sustainability
- Informing: the ability to use visual and verbal communication, to explain and persuade, as appropriate for different audiences
- Self-development: the ability to carry out independent learning and reflexive evaluation of your work, as well as to plan and implement action, individually or in teams, effectively managing self and others
- Contextualization: the ability to locate your own activity within the multiple contexts of design practice, including the theoretical, professional, cultural, environmental, and technological contexts
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
School of Art & Design
School of Art & Design
Art & Design Faculty
Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Michael Foellmer,
143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-8462
Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Affairs email
College of Fine & Applied Arts
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