Transportation Design – 2024-2025 Academic Catalog

M.F.A. – Transportation Design (3YR)

Master of Fine Arts Three Year Degree Requirements

First Year

12-31 credit hours*

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 601	Graduate Communication	1†
GRT 519	Graduate Foundation Studio I	3
GRT 521	Grad Foundation: Visual Communication I	3
GRT 531	Grad Foundation: Digital Modeling I	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3

†Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 520	Graduate Foundation Studio II	3
GRT 522	Graduate Foundation: Visual Communication II	3
GRT 532	Graduate Foundation: Digital Modeling II	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3

*Year One is customized based on the Department Chair’s recommendation and Plan of Work

Second Year

Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 601	Studio I: Exterior Messaging	3
GRT 605	Digital Viscom I	3
GRT 607	Analytical Drawing & Rendering I	3
DGR 613	Graduate Seminar	3
GRT 609	Transportation Design Seminar (7 WK -F1)	1.5
GRT 611	3D Rendering & Animation I (7 WK – F2)	1.5

Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 602	Studio II: Interior Experience	3
GRT 606	Digital Viscom II	3
GRT 608	Analytical Drawing & Rendering II	3
DGR 620	Graduate Research Methods	3
GRT 610	Portfolio Development (7 WK – W1)	1.5
GRT 612	3D Rendering & Animation II (7 WK – W2)	1.5

Third Year

Fifth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 711	Thesis Project I	6
DGR 631	Written Thesis	3
GRT 701	Studio III: Strategic Branding	3
DGR 775	Graduate Studies Internship	3*
— —	Elective	3*

*Choose One

Sixth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 712	Thesis Project II	6
GRT 702	Studio IV: Professional Focus	3
— —	Elective	3
— —	Elective	3

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 72/91

Assigned Elective – Studio or Lecture course assigned from a specific list of approved courses. Students are required to meet with their Graduate Department Chair for final confirmation of elective selection, prior to registration.

Elective – Studio or Lecture course from the Graduate (or Undergraduate) level. Must be approved prior to registration by the Graduate Department Chair. Additional permission may be required for confirmed UG credits.

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

M.F.A. – Transportation Design

Master of Fine Arts Degree Requirements

First Year

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 601	Graduate Communication	1*
GRT 601	Studio I: Exterior Messaging	3
GRT 605	Digital Viscom I	3
GRT 607	Analytical Drawing & Rendering I	3
DGR 613	Graduate Seminar	3
GRT 609	Transportation Design Seminar (7 WK -F1)	1.5
GRT 611	3D Rendering & Animation I (7 WK – F2)	1.5

*Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 602	Studio II: Interior Experience	3
GRT 606	Digital Viscom II	3
GRT 608	Analytical Drawing & Rendering II	3
DGR 620	Graduate Research Methods	3
DGR 650	Final Project	3
GRT 610	Portfolio Development (7 WK – W1)	1.5
GRT 612	3D Rendering & Animation II (7 WK – W2)	1.5

Second Year

Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 711	Thesis Project I	6
DGR 631	Written Thesis	3
GRT 701	Studio III: Strategic Branding	3
DGR 775	Graduate Studies Internship	3*
— —	Elective	3*

*Choose one

Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 712	Thesis Project II	6
GRT 702	Studio IV: Professional Focus	3
— —	Elective	3
— —	Elective	3

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 60/61

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

M.A. – Transportation Design (2YR)

Master of Arts Two Year Degree Requirements

First Year

12-31 credit hours*

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 601	Graduate Communication	1†
GRT 519	Graduate Foundation Studio I	3
GRT 521	Grad Foundation: Visual Communication I	3
GRT 531	Grad Foundation: Digital Modeling I	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3

†Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 520	Graduate Foundation Studio II	3
GRT 522	Graduate Foundation: Visual Communication II	3
GRT 532	Graduate Foundation: Digital Modeling II	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3
— —	Assigned Elective	3

*Year One is customized based on the Department Chair’s recommendation and Plan of Work

Third Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 601	Studio I: Exterior Messaging	3
GRT 605	Digital Viscom I	3
GRT 607	Analytical Drawing & Rendering I	3
DGR 613	Graduate Seminar	3
GRT 609	Transportation Design Seminar (7 WK -F1)	1.5
GRT 611	3D Rendering & Animation I (7 WK – F2)	1.5

*Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Fourth Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 606	Digital Viscom II	3
GRT 608	Analytical Drawing & Rendering II	3
DGR 620	Graduate Research Methods	3
DGR 650	Final Project	3
GRT 610	Portfolio Development (7 WK – W1)	1.5
GRT 612	3D Rendering & Animation II (7 WK – W2)	1.5

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 42/61

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

M.A. – Transportation Design

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

First Year

First Semester = 15-16 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
DGR 601	Graduate Communication	1*
GRT 601	Studio I: Exterior Messaging	3
GRT 605	Digital Viscom I	3
GRT 607	Analytical Drawing & Rendering I	3
DGR 613	Graduate Seminar	3
GRT 609	Transportation Design Seminar (7 WK -F1)	1.5
GRT 611	3D Rendering & Animation I (7 WK – F2)	1.5

*Contingent upon the English Proficiency Exam

Second Semester = 15 Credit Hours

Course #	Course Title	Credits
GRT 606	Digital Viscom II	3
GRT 608	Analytical Drawing & Rendering II	3
DGR 620	Graduate Research Methods	3
DGR 650	Final Project	3
GRT 610	Portfolio Development (7 WK – W1)	1.5
GRT 612	3D Rendering & Animation II (7 WK – W2)	1.5

Catalog Year 24/25

Total Credits: 30/31

Students enrolled in Graduate Level Programs must maintain the required 3.0 cumulative GPA.

GRT-612 3D RENDERING & ANIMATION II

This course introduces advanced 3D digital,animation techniques for animating vehicle designs,and interactive interior experiences. Students,will be introduced to Blender as the main,animation & rendering software and will also,incorporate other digital assets and software for,rigging 3D models and video editing.

Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites: GRT-611

GRT-519 GRADUATE FOUNDATION STUDIO I

The graduate first-year transportation design,experience is divided into two semester-length,studios: one interior-focused, one,exterior-focused. Students taking an,interior-focused studio in the fall semester will,then take an exterior focused studio in the winter,semester, and vice versa. In both interior and,exterior studios, students will be encouraged to,pursue a user-center design approach. Incoming,graduate transportation design students will be,introduced to rendering and modeling techniques,integral to the transportation design process.,Course content may be reinforced through field,trips to local design studios and factories.,Students prepare a comprehensive presentation at,the end of semester which includes critical,self-assessment and reflection of their,developmental strengths and needs.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-685 SPECIAL PROJECT

The Special Project course is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored.,
WINTER 2024
,
PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT & PRESENTATION,
,is course is taught in two seven-week modules. The,first focuses on the development of student,portfolios, resumes, and digital presence in,preparation for applying for internships. The,second introduces advanced 3D digital animation,techniques for animating vehicle designs and,interactive interior experiences. Students will be,introduced to Blender as the main animation &,rendering software and will also incorporate other,digital assets and software for rigging 3D models,and video editing.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-520 GRADUATE FOUNDATION STUDIO II

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-701 STUDIO III: STRATEGIC BRANDING

This course will focus on the examination of brand,identity and competitive market analysis to,further the development of an original vehicle,concept. Target user research will be conducted,to assess specific needs and wants as well as to,establish contextual scenarios that will help,inform design criteria. This studio’s project,brief can be either interior or exterior focused,and students are encouraged to tailor this choice,towards the specialty they hope to pursue,professionally. This course will result in a,final exterior or interior design executed as a,technical digital 3D model data set capable of,further engineering assessment fabrication and/or,animation.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: GRT 602

GRT-521 GRAD FOUNDATION:VISUAL COMM I

In this course, graduate transportation students,review basic drawing skills of perspective and,form rendering. Convincing description of original,designs via multiple perspective views and tonal,modeling to describe form is stressed. Through,group analysis of work, students learn how to,improve their skills, as well as how to,professionally give and receive constructive,criticism. Students prepare a comprehensive,presentation at the end of semester which includes,critical self-assessment and reflection of their,developmental strengths and needs.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: