Covers the problem-definition phase of design, focusing on creating architectural programs to guide processes and evaluate solutions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Fall 2025← Design Studies (DS)
Easiest courses in Design Studies
Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.
Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
Find your fit
20 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
Interior Architecture Professional Practice prepares majors for design careers by covering office operations, project delivery, and post-graduation material preparation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Brooke Godfrey
Past students rated the difficulty at a moderate level, finding the material easy to understand and the instructor approachable and knowledgeable.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#3 ·DS 623
Interior Design IV
4 creditsInterior Design IV covers the design of commercial interiors with emphasis on acoustics, codes, costs, specifications, details, and visual presentation. A field trip is required.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#4 ·DS 220
Design: Fundamentals II
3 creditsDesign Fundamentals II covers elements and principles of three-dimensional design relevant to the design and analysis of the spatial environment.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lesley Sager
Projects required a good amount of work, but tasks were not horribly complicated, just requiring consistent time investment.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026History of Architecture & Interiors II surveys architecture, interiors, furnishings, and decorative arts from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to technical and conceptual Textile Design, covering print and dye concerns, off-loom processes, and structural enrichment techniques.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026#7 ·DS 322
Interior Design II
4 creditsInterior Design II covers residential interior design, including space planning, lighting, materials, furniture, and communicating design solutions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lesley Sager
Reviewers rated the course difficulty as 4 out of 5, indicating a moderately challenging workload.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Research Methods in Design teaches future designers to master quantitative and qualitative research methods, including literature review, data analysis, and human-centered inquiry for design practice.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026Design Thinking for Transformation teaches techniques for creative analysis and problem solving, applied to human-centered design challenges through prototyping and testing real-world projects.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Samuel Dennis
Past students noted that the entire class was group work and attendance was somewhat mandatory.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026#10 ·DS 242
Visual Communication II
3 creditsVisual Communication II covers advanced concepts, methods, and materials for communicating ideas in design, integrating manual and digital approaches within creative design thinking.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#11 ·DS 549
Environmental Control Systems: Lighting, Acoustics, and Thermal Comfort in Buildings
3 creditsExplores lighting, acoustics, and thermal comfort in buildings through lectures, field measurements, and simulations to support sustainable design and occupant well-being.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Human-Centered Design and Business teaches design thinking's iterative process—empathy, systems thinking, ideation, prototyping, and testing—plus balancing desirability, feasibility, and viability to bring projects to market.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026#13 ·COMPSCI/DS 579
Virtual Reality
3 creditsIntroduction to virtual reality focusing on creating immersive, interactive virtual experiences, covering history, graphics, perception, and HCI.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · J. Michael Collins
Exams were tough despite not requiring memorization, and the final exam was criticized for having too many questions for the allotted time.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026#14 ·DS 123
What Is Design?
3 creditsWHAT IS DESIGN? interrogates the place of design in everyday life and its intersections with society, economics, politics, the environment, and culture.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026Introduces the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies for students interested in careers in museums, galleries, historical societies, historic preservation, and academia.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ann Smart Martin
Grading standards were inconsistent, with some assignments described as harshly graded while others were not.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Design Leadership Symposium examines careers in textiles, fashion, apparel, interior, industrial design, and architecture with guest speakers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Specialized topics of current interest.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Majid Sarmadi
Students reported the course involved a lot of work, though one found the material and teaching style made it worthwhile.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores visual media for describing reality, generating ideas, and communicating design concepts using hand drawing and professional design software.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to the science of textiles covering fiber properties, fabric behavior, construction, and sustainability in relation to design practices.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Majid Sarmadi
One student reported that very few people received A's, requiring hard work throughout the year. Another advised buying the book because lecture notes were often contradictory and difficult to keep up with.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Visual Thinking: Form and Space covers manual and digital techniques for idea exploration, concept development, and design presentation using various media.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Brooke Godfrey
The course was rated as moderately difficult, with no specific mention of heavy workload beyond standard lecture attendance.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026