Contact

Carmel Nicoletti, Program Coordinator
The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, cmnicole@syr.edu

Faculty

Don Carr, James Fathers, Michael Kowalski, Meyer Giordano, Carmel Nicoletti, Jody Nyboer

Program Description

The BS Design Studies program will provide students the skill set to become innovative creatives and leaders of cultural change in our global community. The main goal of this program is to educate students in a broad spectrum of design applications and academic studies. Students will consider the impact and influence of design in the context of the overall professional world including many disciplines that intersect the design fields, including engineering, marketing, entrepreneurship, product development, and other fields. One of the program’s primary purposes is to connect design practices to other disciplines at the university and to build on the strong community engagement component that is embedded in all of the existing design majors at SU.

Students transferring must have a minimum 2.8 GPA.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Design Discourse – Demonstrate an understanding of design as a research-driven, interdisciplinary field by analyzing current trends and proposing future directions within a global context.
2. Design Research and Critical Thinking – Apply research methodologies, data analysis, and critical thinking skills to develop evidence-based knowledge that informs the approach to complex design challenges.
3. Interdisciplinary Perspectives – Demonstrate an understanding of design’s broader role and impact by synthesizing knowledge from other academic disciplines to enrich design work across varied contexts.
4. Ethical and Social Responsibility – Evaluate and address ethical considerations and the broader social, cultural, and environmental impacts within design production, processes, research, and industry practices.
5. Effective Communication – Communicate research findings, conceptual ideas, and innovative solutions clearly and effectively through written, visual, and oral formats, tailoring communication to diverse audiences within and beyond design-related fields.

Academic Electives

You can find a comprehensive list of approved academic electives: here

Degree Awarded: BS in Design Studies

Undergraduate University Requirements

The following requirements and experiences apply to all Syracuse University Undergraduate matriculated degree programs.

• ​IDEA Course Requirement 
• First Year Seminar