Total Credits: 90-93

Action Item: Obtain an Educational Plan

Planning for an educational plan allows students to keep everything organized and to ensure they are on track.  

1. College Success

Choose one

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)
• COLLG 115 Personal and Academic Success (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond. 

• Transfer Notes: Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement.  

2. Composition and Writing Recommendation

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Develop written communication skills to create content or to articulate ideas for clients, and employers in a clear and concise manner. 

• Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.  

3. New Media and Digital Design Course

• DDSGN 110 Introduction to Graphic Design and Rich Media (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Good aesthetics can improve the overall design.  As a designer, students need basic understanding of how basic design can impact accessibility, branding, communication, design, human factors, inclusive design, usability, and utility.  

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, adjust your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps. 

4. Humanities Course

• ART 101 Beginning Design (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Design is essential for all types of designers. It is useful for everything from designing initial concepts to developing creative ideas. 

5. Math Course Recommendation

• MATH& 107 Math in Society (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course provides the foundation of math skills needed in a variety of fields. 

• ote: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options. 

Action Item: GPA Check

GPA check at the completion of 20/25 credits. Attend a transfer fair and choose a transfer institution so that you can take the correct prerequisites. If attending UW-Seattle, there is a 3 quarter of the same language requirement for admissions/graduations. 

6. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose One

• ASTR& 100 Survey of Astronomy (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class can help a design major student to become more familiar with the stunning visuals and science of our own galaxy and beyond. Learning about such topics could inspire and even change the digital design work of many aspiring students. 

• BIOL& 170 Human Biology: Anatomy & Physiology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Understanding human biology can help design students think creatively and innovatively by inspiring new ideas and approaches. Human biology not only fosters a sense of awe for the natural world but also forms the basis of life including evolution, genetics, ecology, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition. 

• ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class is important for design students because it provides them with the knowledge and understanding of ecological systems and environmental impacts, allowing then to create designs that are sustainable, minimize environmental harm, and consider the long-term consequences of their design decisions across various fields.

• ENVS& 101 Introduction to Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class is important for design students because it provides them with a foundational understanding of the environmental impacts of design decisions, enabling them to create more sustainable and responsible designs. 

7. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose One

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can help design students understand users and create more intuitive and usable designs. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, and designers can use it to draw insights from their observations of users. 

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can help design students consider the social and cultural context of their users, as well as their needs. Designers can use sociology to understand how people interact with objects and systems. 

• ANTH& 206 Cultural Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers to deeply understand the cultural contexts and behaviors of their target users, enabling them to design products, services, and experiences that are truly relevant, inclusive, and resonate with the people they are designing for. 

8. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose One

9. New Media and Digital Design Course

Choose One

• DDSGN 135 Introduction to New Media (5 Credits)

• Course Purpose: This course covers the historical elements and a solid working knowledge of the development of new media. Students will explore technical, social, cultural, ethical, and economic aspects of new media technologies, such as advertising, branding, mass media, UX/UI design, and product design. 

10. New Media and Digital Design Course

10. New Media and Digital Design Course

• DDSGN 140 3D Modeling (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course teaches the creation of 3D models and how to texture, light and animate them. From game design to graphic design, 3D modelers, texture artists, and animators are always in-demand.

11. Natural Science Course with Lab

Choose One

• ANTH& 236 Forensic Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can be valuable for student designers, those who are interested in fields like product design, industrial design or even fashion design, because it provides a deep understanding of human anatomy, skeletal variations, and trauma analysis. 

• ASTR& 100 Survey of Astronomy (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can be important for student designers because it cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness and a deep understanding of scale and proportion. 

• ASTR& 115 Stars, Galaxies & Cosmos (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course opens eyes, gives context to our place in the Universe and that can reshape how we see the world. It also cultivates critical thinking, spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and a broader understanding of scale and perspective. 

• BIOL& 160 General Biology w/Lab (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course is important for student designers because it provides a foundational understanding of living organisms and their systems. 

• NSCI 160 Environmental Biology (5 credits)

• Prerequisites: None 

  Course Purpose: This course is important for a design major because it provides a deep understanding of ecosystems and their interactions with human activities, allowing designers to create sustainable and environmentally conscious designs. 

Action Item: Career Options

Meet with an instructor to discuss career options and “New Media and Digital Design Pathways” with your advisor. Do you intend to be a Digital Designer? A Graphic Designer? A Product Designer? A UX/UI Designer? Answering similar questions will help determine what certain other New Media and Digital Design courses may be best for you.  

 
Meet with your advisor or a New Media and Digital Design instructor to discuss applying to your transfer institution and be sure you are meeting all transfer requirements. 

12. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose One

• GEOG 100 Introduction to Geography (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers understand a foundational understanding of the physical and human landscapes around the world, allowing them to design products and spaces that are contextually relevant. 

• GEOG 200 Human Geography (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers understand cultural contexts, spatial relationships, and the social dynamics of different communities, allowing them to create designs that are sensitive to the needs and experiences of users in diverse locations. 

• HIST& 156 History of US I (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course provides student designers with a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and political context that shapes their design decisions, allowing them to create more informed, relevant, and impactful designs by considering the historical narratives and experiences embedded within a space or product. 

13. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose One

• ASTR& 100 Survey of Astronomy (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class can help a design major become more familiar with the stunning visuals and science of our own galaxy and beyond. Learning about such topics could inspire and even change the digital design work of many aspiring students. 

• BIOL& 170 Human Biology: Anatomy & Physiology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Understanding human biology can help design students think creatively and innovatively by inspiring new ideas and approaches. Human biology not only fosters a sense of awe for the natural world but also forms the basis of life including evolution, genetics, ecology, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition. 

• ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class is important for design students because it provides them with the knowledge and understanding of ecological systems and environmental impacts, allowing then to create designs that are sustainable, minimize environmental harm, and consider the long-term consequences of their design decisions across various fields. 

• ENVS& 101 Introduction to Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class is important for design students because it provides them with a foundational understanding of the environmental impacts of design decisions, enabling them to create more sustainable and responsible designs. 

14. New Media and Digital Design Course

• DDSGN 170 Video Production (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class is important for design students because it allows them to translate their visual design skills into a dynamic, engaging medium, enhancing their portfolio, and making them more marketable in the industry. 

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. 

15. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose One

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can help design students understand users and create more intuitive and usable designs. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, and designers can use it to draw insights from their observations of users. 

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course can help design students consider the social and cultural context of their users, as well as their needs. Designers can use sociology to understand how people interact with objects and systems. 

• ANTH& 206 Cultural Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers to deeply understand the cultural contexts and behaviors of their target users, enabling them to design products, services, and experiences that are truly relevant, inclusive, and resonate with the people they are designing for. 

Action Item: Transfer

Meet with your advisor to do a GPA check and verify all transfer requirements have been met. Meet with a New Media and Digital Design instructor/mentor to discuss career options and “New Media and Digital Design Pathways” and clarify your final course selections. Meet with your advisor (or a New Media and Digital Design instructor) to investigate applying to your transfer institution if you have not already done so. 

16. Humanities Course Recommedation

Choose One

• ART 111 Beginning Drawing (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course provides the foundational skills to visualize and communicate student designers’ ideas effectively. 

• ART 201 Beginning Painting (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course provides student designers understand a foundational color theory, composition, perspective, and basic technical skills. 

17. Composition Course Recommendation

Choose One

• ENGL& 235 Technical Writing (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps audiences to understand a concept, complete a task, or solve a problem. Technical writing is a crucial skill that empowers individuals to communicate effectively, express themselves creatively, think critically, learn and educate, and succeed professionally. 

• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argumentation and Research (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course provides you with experience in research, creating ideas, and advocating which can benefit your creative and critical thinking strategies.   

18. Informational Studies, Physical Education, or New Media and Digital Design Course Recommendation (2-5 Credits)

Choose One

• INFO 101 Research Essentials (2 credits)

• Course Purpose: Research skills are essential for designers because they allow them to deeply understand the needs, behaviors, and context of their target audience, which is crucial for creating designs that are functional, user-centered, and solve real-world problems. 

• PE 131 Personalized Fitness Program (2 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course promotes overall health and well-being, enhances cognitive function through movement, improves postures and ergonomics awareness, fosters creativity through body awareness. 

• PE 140 Total Fitness (2 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course promotes overall health and well-being, enhances cognitive function through movement, improves postures and ergonomics awareness, fosters creativity through body awareness. 

• DDSGN 131 Digital Illustration (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course is important for student designers because it equips them with the technical skills to create visually compelling digital artwork using industry-standard software. 

• DDSGN 150 Introduction to UX/UI Design (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This class develops a solid understanding of the field of communication, storytelling, visual design, UX/UI design, and web development. Students establish their personal creative process that they can carry through to their career. The course explores a historical and theoretical overview and a case study for product design. 

• DDSGN 151 Mobile User Interface Design (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course examines how to design mobile user interface (UI) prototypes applying user-centered design, human-centered design, process of UX design, and interaction design to provide user friendly products and services. 

• DDSGN 160 Digital Photography (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: Photography and Adobe Photoshop are two cornerstones for successful designers. 

• DDSGN 210 Motion Graphics (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course allows student designers to add a dynamic and engaging element to their designs by learning how to animate motion graphics. 

• DDSGN 211 2D Animation with Adobe Animate (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course develops skills in 2D animation, which can be applied to a variety of design projects from advertisements to featured films. 

19. Art Course Recommendation

Choose One

19. Art Course Recommendation

Choose One

• ART 145 History of Art - Contemporary (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers understand the current artistic trends, encourages critical thinking about social and cultural issues, promotes experimentation with new materials and techniques. 

• ART 243 History of Art - Ancient World Through the Middle Ages (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers understand cultural roots, design principles, and aesthetic elements that have evolved over time. 

• ART 244 History of Art- Renaissance Through Rococo (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps student designers understand the foundational principles of art, architecture, and design that are still relevant today. 

• ART 245 History of Art - The Modern World (5 credits)

• Course Purpose: This course helps designers understand the cultural, social, and political contexts that shape the world today, allowing them to design with greater awareness of diverse perspectives, potential societal impacts, and historical influences on current design trends. 

Total Credits: 90-93