Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interaction & UI/UX Design
San Francisco, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The BFA in Interaction & UI / UX Design at Academy of Art University teaches web design and new media. Faculty from the San Francisco Bay Area teach visual design, user experience, interaction design, design strategies, and motion graphics. Degree rules include a C- minimum in core / major and LA 107 / 108, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and general education units.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can enter digital design and product teams: UX designer, UI designer, interaction designer, product designer, web designer, visual designer, motion graphics artist, information architect, usability researcher, design strategist or pursue freelance and agency roles.
The BFA program provides students with a comprehensive education in the principles of modern web design and new media. Taught by a faculty that works in the San Francisco Bay Area creative industry, our students are provided a unique opportunity to learn from teachers immersed in the field. The curriculum focuses on visual design, user experience, design strategies, web design, and motion graphics.
Unit Requirements
Degree Requirements
BFA Web Design & New Media Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Semester 1
- ADV 236: Digital Photography
- GR 102: Design Technology: Digital Publishing Tools
- GR 150: Visual Communication A
- WNM 105: Design Technology: Visual Design Tools
Semester 2
- ADV 241: Ideation Techniques
- FND 122: Color Fundamentals
- LA 108: Composition for the Artist
- WNM 120: User Experience 1
- WNM 210: Visual Design 1
- WNM 249: Web Design 1
Semester 3
- LA 291: Designing Careers
- WNM 205: Motion Graphics 1
- WNM 250: Web Design 2
- WNM 310: Visual Design 2
- WNM 330: Digital Imaging 2
Semester 4
- LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
- LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
- LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
- LA 254: Human-Centered Design
- WNM 282: Midpoint Portfolio
- WNM 305: Motion Graphics 2
- WNM 349: Web Design 3
Semester 5
- LA 131: History of Gaming
- LA 242: History of Graphic Design
- WNM 290: User Experience 2
- WNM 300: Interactive Applications
- WNM 355: Motion Graphics 3
Semester 6
- COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery
- GAM 190: Mobile UI and UX
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story
- LA 141: Storytelling: From Telephone to Transmedia
- LA 381: Marketing Essentials
- WNM 369: Web Design 4
- WNM 499: Special Topics: Advanced User Experience Design
Semester 7
- LA 462: Power of Myth and Symbol
- WNM 315: Visual Design 3
- WNM 425: Introduction to Physical Computing
- WNM 499: Special Topics: Virtual Reality Experiences & Prototyping
Semester 8
- LA 359: Urban Sociology
- LA 410: E-Commerce
- LA 483: Interactive Media Production & Entrepreneurship
- WNM 380: Senior Project
- WNM 482: Portfolio 2
- WNM 500: Internship in Web Design & New Media
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Visual Communication
- Create grid-based visual compositions that demonstrate essential principles of design
- Make typographic choices that effectively communicate information hierarchy and mood
- Demonstrate effective use of color and imagery
Critical Thinking
- Collect data appropriate for the given project
- Use research findings to develop design ideas centered on real target users
- Identify user demographics and diagram the user experience
- Produce a consistent interactive experience in a medium appropriate to the user’s needs
Technical Skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of the current interactive technologies, tools, and apps by effectively using them to execute substantive projects
- Demonstrate coding skills by building fully functional products and prototypes that simulate the intended interactive experience
Professional Readiness
- Produce a cohesive portfolio tailored to reflect stated career goals
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.