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Home › Prospective Students › Degrees › B.A. – Design Arts & Practices

B.A. – Design Arts & Practices

Design Arts & Practices

The Design Arts & Practices (DAP) degree will provide you the opportunity to develop a  foundation in design thinking and making from an interdisciplinary perspective that you will be able to apply to a career in fields such as Experience and User Interface Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Information Design, Graphic Design/Desktop Publishing, Interior and Spatial Design, Set and Exhibition Design, Environmental and Fashion Design, Art/Illustration, Multimedia Design/Animation, Art Direction, Web Design, and more.

This major is a great fit for you if you are passionate about art, design, and information, and how they come together and are applied to making a better world. In this interdisciplinary degree you will be able to take classes from the School of Art and the School of Information (Arizona’s iSchool). DAP students will develop core conceptual and technical skills to design artifacts and experiences across a range of scales and media. Project-based courses will build your abilities in problem solving and seeking, innovating with and through technologies, and developing creative visual strategies to address problems (climate change, social justice issues, representation and identity, education, limited water supplies, wildfires in local community, understanding information). History, theory, and academic courses will construct cultural frameworks for depth and breadth in research and application.

Courses across Art, Design, Information Studies, and Technology in distinct, interdisciplinary ways will shape your degree plan moving from foundations and skills over the first two years, to theories and  issues, and a culminating capstone project. Capstone projects will be developed through transdisciplinary lenses, and will tackle challenges spanning fields from Social Justice, Design, and the Environment.

Program RequirementDescriptionRequired Number of Units
Foundation Courses
Art History
ART 119 Contemporary Art & Theory3
Foundation Courses
First Year Experience
Three courses required from the following:

ART 100A Mapping
Drawing from observation

ART 100B Space
Sculpture

ART 100C Gaze
Digital photography

ART 100D Experience
Sound, video, and performance

ART 100E Surface
Painting and color theory

ART 100F Amalgam
Mixed-media

ART 100G Propaganda
Design

ART 100J The Body
Figure drawing
6
Core Courses16 units from the following:
ISTA 131 (3) Dealing with Data
ART 265 (3) Design Studio I
ART 266 (3) Illustration Studio I
SBE 301 (4) Introduction to Design Thinking
ART 306B (3) Basics of Animation
ART 361A (3) Design for Web and Devices
ART 363A (3) Typography
ART 462F (3) Information Graphics
16
Transdisciplinary ElectivesComplete a minimum of 18 units of elective coursework in the major. Courses chosen in consultation with your advisor.18
Non-Studio Based Art CoursesUpper Division: History + Theory
Courses chosen in consultation with your advisor.
6
Senior CapstoneART 498 Capstone3

Resources and Facilities

Within the College of Fine Arts there are a number of computer labs reserved exclusively for graphic applications. Through the Office of Student Computing Resources (OSCR), students have access to a wide variety of technologies, training, and support in computer, video and audio production.

Within the School of Art there are numerous studios, labs, and classrooms dedicated to instruction and critique. Most spaces are equipped with digital projection and sound systems, pin-up walls and worktables, wireless connectivity and high speed internet.

Digital Print Studio

The Digital Print Studio uses a service based drop-off system and provides high quality, fine art digital prints using state-of-the-art printers and scanners. The studio also offers finishing services, which include mounting, matting, and framing. Visit the Digital Print Studio website for more information.

Book Art & Letterpress Lab

The Book Art and Letterpress Lab supports on campus letterpress printing, experimental printing, paper techniques, binding and bookery. Visit the Book Art & Letterpress Lab for more information.

Visit the School of Art’s Resources & Facilities page to learn more about the excellent facilities available for instruction in Design Arts & Practices.

Viewing and Exhibiting Opportunities

The University of Arizona Museum of Art and The Center for Creative Photography, Joseph Gross Gallery and Lionel Rombach Gallery are just some of the on-campus sites to view contemporary as well as historic art works. Other contemporary venues are the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson and the Tucson Museum of Art in the downtown area.

There are a number of galleries on campus and additionally in Tucson and Phoenix where students have a wide variety of opportunities to exhibit by proposal, application or invitation. Graduate students can exhibit in three School Galleries, two Student Union Galleries, and several community gallery spaces. Lionel Rombach Gallery and the Graduate Gallery are currently two of the popular venues for students. Graduate students have their thesis exhibitions in the University of Arizona Museum of Art and the Joseph Gross Gallery, both adjacent to the main entrance of the School of Art.

Visit the Galleries at the School of Art website for more on current and upcoming exhibitions along with our News and Events page.

Apply Now!

Ready to join our community of dedicated artists, educators, and scholars? Visit our Admissions page to start your application.

Degrees

  • B.A. – Art History
  • B.A. – Studio Art
  • B.A. – Design Arts & Practices
  • B.F.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • B.F.A. – Studio Art
  • Minors in Art
  • M.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • M.A. – Art History
  • Master of Fine Arts in Art
  • Ph.D. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • Ph.D. – Art History
  • Museum Studies Certificate Program

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University of Arizona School of Art
24 hours ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Creative director John Meyer (BFA '82, Studio Art) — the College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year — calls his 2012 Walgreens branding campaign (“At the Corner of Happy & Healthy”) his favorite. Read our profile of John at tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof and the CFA announcement at tinyurl.com/SOAMeyernews. The former SOA adjunct instructor also appeared on the AMC television series "The Pitch." Arizona Arts The University of Arizona ... See MoreSee Less

Creative director John Meyer (BFA 82, Studio Art) — the College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year — calls his 2012 Walgreens branding campaign (“At the Corner of Happy & Healthy”) his favorite. Read our profile of John at https://tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof and the CFA announcement at https://tinyurl.com/SOAMeyernews. The former SOA adjunct instructor also appeared on the AMC television series The Pitch. Arizona Arts The University of ArizonaImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

This content isn't available right now ... See MoreSee Less

This content isn't available right now

When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Ellen McMahon and Tioni Collins from Arizona Arts will give their “Perspectives on Resilience” for the Arizona Institute for Resilience on Feb. 2, 1-5p.

An eye-opening afternoon of idea sharing, learning, and networking around the theme of resilience with TED-style lightning talks, speed networking, and an interactive speaker panel. Attend in person (ENR2 Room S107) or on zoom.

azart.fyi/RSVPResilience

McMahon, associate dean for research, is the opening speaker and she’ll talk about the relationship between "Art, Knowledge, and Resilience." Collins, our student diversity programs specialist, will present “Predictable and Hidden Challenges of Higher Education.”

Learn how other faculty, researchers, and students approach resilience from their diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Meet potential collaborators across campus.

This half-day hybrid occasion will culminate with the unveiling of exciting new funding opportunities for future resilience-themed endeavors. A reception will follow.

azart.fyi/ResilienceInfo

Arizona Institutes for Resilience
The University of Arizona
University of Arizona School of Art
UArizona Research, Innovation & Impact
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University of Arizona School of Art
4 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, '15), who recently published "Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment" through Routledge (tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Robert's dissertation, "The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America," under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist Studies ... See MoreSee Less

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, 15), who recently published Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment through Routledge (https://tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Roberts dissertation, The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America, under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist StudiesImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat!

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed "to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement," Visions says.

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)
... See MoreSee Less

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat! 

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement, Visions says.   

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The upcoming "Soy de Tejas" exhibition in San Antonio will feature Assistant Professor Alex Macias and Bella Maria Varela (MFA '21). They are among 40 native Texan and Texas-based contemporary artists "who reflect the diverse and beautiful complexity of Latinx identities," say the organizers of the exhibition, which is curated by Rigoberto Luna. The opening reception is Feb. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Centro de Artes. Congrats Alex and Bella!

• Facebook evite: fb.me/e/2wlRIMy2C
• Website: www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Galleries/Centro-de-Artes

Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio #GetCreativeSA #CentrodeArtesSA #SoydeTejas Arizona Arts
... See MoreSee Less

The upcoming Soy de Tejas exhibition in San Antonio will feature Assistant Professor Alex Macias and Bella Maria Varela (MFA 21). They are among 40 native Texan and Texas-based contemporary artists who reflect the diverse and beautiful complexity of Latinx identities, say the organizers of the exhibition, which is curated by Rigoberto Luna. The opening reception is Feb. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Centro de Artes. Congrats Alex and Bella!

• Facebook evite: https://fb.me/e/2wlRIMy2C 
• Website: https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com/Galleries/Centro-de-Artes

Arts & Culture, City of San Antonio  #GetCreativeSA #CentrodeArtesSA #SoydeTejas Arizona Arts
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Email: artinfo@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: 520.621.7570

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