CCS offers an Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Product Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 13 majors, Certification in Art Education, Master of Arts in Art Education (MAAE), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree and Master of Arts (MA) degree in 4 areas. In addition, the College offers Precollege and Continuing Studies courses for youth, adults, and high school students.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees
The College offers a BFA degree in Advertising Design, Art Practice, Communication Design, Craft and Material Studies, Entertainment Arts (Emphasis in Animation, Concept Design or Game), Fashion Design (Emphasis in Apparel or Accessories), Film, Illustration, Interdisciplinary Art & Design, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design and Transportation Design. The BFA degree requires completion of 120-127 credit hours. Required major studio credits, general education credits and electives are indicated on the curriculum charts for each major. The certification in Art Education requires 27 credits to complete.
In addition to coursework in their chosen major, first-year students take courses in the Foundation Department, where they study drawing, 2D and 3D design, and an introduction to digital tools. Students in all majors also take courses in the Liberal Arts Department, designed to help them develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of the larger social and cultural context in which they live. Typical weekly schedules for full-time students comprise 24 studio hours and six academic hours.
Master of Fine Arts
The College’s MFA degrees in Color and Materials Design, Transportation Design, User Experience Design and Interdisciplinary Design Studies are terminal degrees that prepare students for leadership in the design industries. The MFA degree programs share core curricula, with variations in technology components, and the focus and content of industry sponsored projects.
The MFA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours and focuses on fostering critical thinking in a design context while keeping contemporary business reality in mind. CCS graduate classes are taught by industry leaders and an internationally recognized roster of visiting designers and artists with experience in design strategy, user-centric research, design execution and presentation, as well as entrepreneurial practices.
Master of Arts
The 30-credit MA (initial degree) focuses on professional and technical skills and knowledge. MA programs are available in the following areas: Color and Materials Design, Transportation Design, User Experience Design and Interdisciplinary Design Studies.
Master of Arts in Art Education
The 30-credit MA focuses on professional and technical skills and knowledge. Students in this low-residency, hybrid program are able to maintain their current teaching position while earning their master’s degree in 25-months. The curriculum gives graduates the necessary skills to participate in highly collaborative, interdisciplinary settings.