2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Author: Watson Peacock

  • AHV-336 ART & ARCHAEOLOGY OF ANCIENT EGYPT

    This course examines the visual and material,culture of ancient Egypt-its multifarious art,forms, architecture, artifacts-through ancient,Egyptians’ everyday experiences, religious,practices, social hierarchies, political,(in)stability, cross-cultural trade with far-flung,empires, and war (against the Hyksos, Hittites,,Persians, Greeks, Romans, etc.). The,archaeological record will be read and analyzed,with three primary lenses in mind: (1) divine,kingship, (2) mythology, (3) the afterlife.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

  • AHV-357 ICONOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY

    In this course, students explore world mythology,and the works of art they have inspired. Western,artists historically have drawn inspiration from,Christian beliefs and symbols as well as from the,myths of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. ,Contemporary artists have also been influenced by,the beliefs and symbols of Asia, India, Native,America, Africa and other cultures. These are the,basis for most animated stories, video games,,films and many other forms of literature and,works of art. The course will explore the,beliefs, meanings and symbols of many cultures as,they are used in art both historically and today.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

  • AHV-307 20TH CENTURY ART IN EUROPE

    This course focuses on artists’ response to the,sweeping social, philosophical and political,changes that began in the late nineteenth century,,including Expressionism, Cubism and Futurism.,Students explore the work of modernists who,affronted their audiences in order to bring about,changes in perception, including the artists of,the Dada movement, who mocked art and society, and,the Surrealists, who explored the unconscious as a,resource for art. Artists studied include Henri,Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Pablo,Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali and Max,Ernst.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education,Elective) subject.

  • AHV-221 HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN

    This course is a comprehensive survey of the,historical development of interior design with,emphasis on furniture and the decorative arts.,The course explores the designs and materials of,Egypt, the Classical Mediterranean, the Medieval,World and Tudor-Elizabethan England. Students,examine the influence of Islam on Spanish design,and that of the French monarchy on Baroque,,Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. The course,concludes with the technological developments and,their impact on designs of the late 19th and 20th,centuries. Lectures and on-site study of museum,collections provide direct experience of the,decorative arts. The history of interior design,and furniture encompasses numerous styles,,movements, and individual artistic contributions.,It also reflects the influence of cultural,,political, and social developments

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • AHV-219 GLOBAL SOUND CULTURES

    Explorethe rich soundscapes of the world through,an interdisciplinary lens, examining the,intersection of music, design, and culture. The,course covers diverse musical traditions across,continents and time, with a focus on how sound,embodies cultural identity and social expression.,Students engage with hands-on projects, including,designing instruments and building their own,synthesizers, to understand the creative process,behind music-making and sound design. The course,also features in-class and on-your-own trips to a,selection of Detroit’s vibrant cultural spaces,,such as museums, music studios, and performance,venues, where students can experience live,performances and explore the city’s musical,heritage. Through listening sessions, readings,,workshops, and discussions, students develop a,deeper appreciation of how music shapes, and is,shaped by, global and local contexts. No musical,experience is required.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT-102

  • CDS-201 COMM DESIGN & STRATEGY FOR NON-MAJORS

    This non-major course is designed to,introduce/develop two-dimensional design skills in,the context of typographic environments to,students outside of the major of Communication,Design and Strategy. Projects introduce students,to the principles of typography and image in order,to develop skills related to organizing,typographic and image environments to achieve,clear communication based on an understanding of,typographic hierarchy, message, and aesthetics, as,well as spatial relationships of the page/screen,such as grid, column and margin. Students develop,the ability to make typographic design decisions,that consider taste, audience/user, content,,concept, and sequence, by employing process,methodologies used in the creation of unique,visual communication solutions that speaks to,their own art and design practice, or cultural,,social lens.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • CDS-211 DESIGN SEMIOTICS

    This required second-year course, the first of,two, students are introduced to semiotic theory,and its intricate relationship with Communication,Design studio practices. Through assigned,projects, students apply theories, iterative,design processes, and critical methods to make,design decisions that define content, concept,,audience, and messaging. The course focuses on,creating informed design solutions that,incorporate typography, writing, and images, with,an emphasis on play and practice. Students develop,digital skills, basic photographic knowledge, and,design techniques to create a system of,well-crafted design solutions across dynamic and,static media platforms.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 124 and CDS 152 (or CDS 201)*,*Formerly DGD-124 and DGD 152 (or DGD-201),CDS 251, CDS 263*,*Formely DGD 251 and DGD 263

  • CDS-212 DESIGN RESEARCH

    This course is the second in a series that focuses,on design theories, iterative design processes,,and critical methods related to Communication,Design. Students work on projects that reinforce,how to translate content into concepts that,consider the audience. The course also emphasizes,the role of writing and introduces research,methods that focus on Communication Design,history. Prior knowledge of typographic systems,,around aesthetics, organizational systems, and,terminology, is expected to be applied and,developed in this course. Similarly, students will,enhance their digital skills and design techniques,while learning about the visual language of,design, both past and present, to create,well-crafted narratives for design solutions,across different media platforms.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 211, CDS 251 and CDS 263*,*Formerly DGD 211, DGD 251 and DGD 263

  • CDS-352 TYPE DESIGN

    Students work in the creative process of original,typographic design, emphasizing exploration,,historical research, and synthesis of these,variables in typographic design. Students will,consider and explore various design process,methodologies related to type design. Students,are encouraged to use technology and media that,reflects the project outline and student’s skill,level. Students will revisit and review,typographic nomenclature relevant to type design,and consider the important role of graphic design,history in the context of type design. An,inclusive historical lens is encouraged.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 311 OR CDS 312*,*formerly DGD 311 or DGD 312

  • CDS-365 EXTENDED REALITY (XR) DESIGN

    This XR design course is the third in a series of,required courses exploring the role of digital,technology in communication design and strategy,systems. Students learn about immersive,technologies such as augmented reality (AR),,virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).,Students explore how these technologies blend the,physical and virtual worlds and consider the,narrative complexities of communicating between,these spaces. The course emphasizes hands-on,learning through a human-centric lens, focusing on,understanding different users and user groups.,Students prototype, user test, perform, bodystorm,,and play, while applying critical methods,,iterative design processes, and digital UI and UX,techniques as they pertain to spatial computing.,Students are encouraged to think about the future,of digital communication systems and consider,these emerging technologies as opportunities for,experimentation. Additional courses to consider,are Data Visualization, Experience Design, and,Mobile App Development.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 264, CDS 211, CDS 212*,*Formerly DGD 264, DGD 211 and DGD 212