2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Category: 26-27 Catalog

2026-2027 Academic Catalog

  • 2025-2026 Board of Trustees

    • James M. Nicholson, Chair
    • Lynn F. Alandt Vice, Chair
    • James H. Vandenberghe, Treasurer
    • William S. Taubman
    • Donald L. Tuski, President
    • Molly P. Valade
    • Robert H. Bluestein
    • Thomas C. Buhl
    • Darrell Burks
    • Moray S. Callum
    • Frank Campanale
    • Thomas Celani
    • Lois Pincus Cohn
    • KC Crain
    • Matthew P. Cullen
    • Steve Davis
    • Linda Dresner
    • Marla Drutz
    • Nicole Eisenberg
    • Alburn H. Elvin, Jr.
    • Nathan M. Forbes
    • Ralph Gillies
    • David M. Hempstead
    • John W. Ingle III
    • Danialle Karmanos
    • Don Manvel
    • William U. Parfet
    • Stephen R. Polk
    • Waltraud E. Prechter
    • Sydney L. Ross
    • Michael P. Simcoe

  • 2026-2027 Board of Trustees

    • James M. Nicholson, Chair
    • Lynn F. Alandt, Vice Chair
    • James H. Vandenberghe, Treasurer
    • Ralph Gillies, Secretary
    • Robert H. Bluestein
    • Thomas C. Buhl
    • Darrell Burks
    • Moray S. Callum
    • Frank Campanale
    • KC Crain
    • Matthew P. Cullen
    • Steve Davis
    • Marla Drutz
    • Nicole Eisenberg
    • Alburn H. Elvin, Jr.
    • Nathan M. Forbes
    • Paige Rakolta Frisch
    • Alex Huang
    • David M. Hempstead
    • John W. Ingle III
    • Danialle Karmanos
    • Don Manvel
    • Jane Pan-Lou
    • Stephen R. Polk
    • Waltraud E. Prechter
    • Sydney L. Ross
    • William S. Taubman
    • Donald L. Tuski, President
    • Molly P. Valade
    • T.J. Winfrey

  • Academic Advisor & Mentor Assignments

    Academic Advisor Assignments

    Undergraduate Students are assigned to an AARO Academic Advisor based on major.

    Graduate and Teacher Certification (TC) students will meet one-on-one with their assigned Advisor from AARO. Additionally, Graduate and TC students in will work with their Department Chairs to confirm specialized course planning approvals.

    Advising assistance is provided to all students throughout the academic year via workshops, group advising sessions and one-on-one appointments.

    Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned advisor each semester to ensure that they are taking the required courses for graduation as they strive to attain their personal and educational goals. Academic Advisors routinely review academic evaluations to ensure progress is being made. Students who are identified as not making satisfactory progress toward their degree will receive a notification from the AARO; a restriction/hold may be applied to the student’s account, if applicable. Students with an “advising hold” are required to make an appointment with their assigned advisor to address degree progress, academic approvals or other questions/concerns.

    see – CCS Academic Advising Program

    Mentorship Program Assignments

    Enrolled undergraduate students are assigned a mentor and will participate in the CCS Mentorship Program, designed to help students become career-ready. Mentors come from different roles within the institution and may consist of a full-time faculty member, an adjunct or staff member and/or an alumni. Mentoring will trend towards acclimation to college, academic support, institutional resources and short-term goal setting.

    Students will find their assigned CCS Academic Advisors and Mentors listed in their Self-
    Service/Student Planning accounts.

  • Academic Catalog Addenda

    The CCS Academic Catalog is published outlining degree programs, requirements and policies in place for the listed academic year. This section of the catalog will list any changes and/or immediate corrections that may be refelected in any pdf versions of the 2024-2025 catalog. While efforts will be made to maintain and enforce current policies during a given academic year, CCS reserves the right to change its policies, curricula, rules and regulations upon approval.

  • Academic Catalog Statement

    The CCS Academic Catalog provides a general overview of institution guidelines, policies and procedures for student enrollment, records and registration; academic programs; course information; and student access at the College for Creative Studies (CCS). This catalog includes general information for both Undergraduate & Graduate level academic programs.

    Additional policies are located in the CCS Policy Database accessible online through the college website and/or student portals.

    Course information is also available through the Guest view on Self-Service. 

    Academic Programs and Courses are reviewed for updates annually. Academic Policies that are updated during an active Academic year will be noted in the Addenda section.

    The Academic Catalog is updated each year and is archived annually. Archives are accessible online or by contacting the Academic Advising & Registration Office (313.664.7672 or email aaro@ccsdetroit.edu).

  • Academic Minors (2026-2027)

    Undergraduate – Liberal Arts Minors – 15 credits

    • Art History
    • Art Therapy
    • Creative Entrepreneurship
    • Creative Writing
    • Film Studies (Liberal Arts)
    • Sustainability

    Undergraduate – Studio Minors – 15 credits

    • Communication Design & Strategy (CDS)
    • CDS Branding
    • CDS Motion Graphics
    • CDS UI/UX Design
    • Entertainment Arts
    • Fashion Design
    • Fashion – Footwear Design
    • Film (Studio Minor)
    • Illustration
    • Interior Design
    • Photography
    • Product Design
    • Product Design (for Animation, Game Design, EA/Concept & Illustration Majors)
    • Product Design (for Transportation Design Majors)
    • Studio Art & Craft
    • Transportation Design
    • Transportation – Automotive Clay Modeling
    • Transportation – Automotive Digital Modeling

    Graduate Minors – 9 credits

    • Footwear Design
    • Sustainability & Design

  • Academic Program Status – Prior Catalog Years

    This page displays programs and majors that are no longer available or have name changes:

    Students in previous programs below may be eligible for 1) continuation in their program through gradation; 2) may request a program/major change into the current 2026-2027 programs only, as outlines in this academic catalog. Some restrictions may apply and is based on review of current records, enrollment status, or other requirements outlined in academic and/or enrollment policies. Also see Catalog Year policy.

    Previous Program/Major NameLast Catalog Year OfferedStatusCurrent programs to reference:
    BFA Advertising Design2024-2025Not availablesee Communication Design & Strategy
    BFA Art Practice2023-2024Program/Name Updatesee Studio Art & Craft
    BFA Communication Design2024-2025Program/Name Updatesee Communication Design & Strategy
    BFA Crafts & Material Studies2023-2024Program/Name Updatesee Studio Art & Craft
    BFA Crafts – major emphasis: Ceramics, Fiber & Textile, Glass, Jewelry/Metals2020-2021Program/Name updatedsee Studio Art & Craft
    BFA Entertainment Arts – Digital Film2021-2022Program/Name updatedsee Film
    BFA Entertainment Arts – Animation 2025-2026Program/Name updatedsee Animation
    BFA Entertainment Arts – Game Design2025-2026Program/Name updatedsee Game Design
    BFA Fine Arts2019-2020Program/Name updatedsee Studio Art & Craft

  • AHV-100 INTRO TO MATERIAL CULTURE

    Material culture is the study of human-made,objects and visual artifacts and how these shape,society. In this course students explore the,intricate relationship between objects, culture,,and creativity. The curriculum offers a,comprehensive foundation in material culture,,blending both theoretical insights and practical,applications. It serves as a starting point for,first-year artists and designers in situating,their creative practice within socio-cultural,contexts. The exploration spans theories from,anthropology, sociology, and the history of art,and design, providing students with a profound,understanding of how cultures manifest in tangible,forms.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • AHV-200 WESTERN ART HISTORY/VISUAL CULTURE

    This course introduces students to the artistic,histories and visual cultures central to the,Euro-American narrative of art from the,Renaissance to the Modern periods. Through case,studies and thematic investigations, we critically,explore works of art, design, and architecture.,Delving into the socio-political-religious,contexts, technological developments, and,intellectual movements that informed viewing,practices and production, we consider the,relationships between creative expression and,society.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • AHV-201 VISUAL NARRATION AFRICA

    This course is an introduction to the visual,cultures of Africa and its Diasporas, through a,series of case studies in visual narration in a,wide variety of media and formats from Africa,,the Caribbean, the US, Brazil, and indeed,throughout the Black Atlantic. The case studies,range from altar-making to filmmaking, and from,sculpture to pageantries of carnival. The course,seeks to locate these individual,images-texts-objects in the larger narrative and,performance traditions, as well as the,socio-political and historical contexts, from,which they emerge. But the course also asks,where these forms are going, and how historical,memory works now, always in motion. What, then,,are the theoretical and practical implications,for establishing origins, authenticity, and the,future?

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: