Home Page - University of Colorado Denver

Digital Design BFA Emphasis

Digital Design Logo

Study electronic design at The University of Colorado Denver in a studio based
program that focuses on screen based mediums such as motion graphics, web,
interactive design, experimental video and experimental animation. As part of
the Digital Design emphasis you will learn in state-of-the-art labs using current
versions of all the major software used in design and video.

As a BFA major you will move beyond technology and consider the social implications of visual communication and the potential of design practice as an agent of change. By creating work that is content driven you will learn the discipline of design, professional practice and social responsibility.

Digital Design graduates will go on to pursue careers as creative directors, art directors, designers, motion graphic artists, web designers, interactive flash designers, animators, illustrators, video artists and many other exciting jobs in the field of electronic design. Digital Design is excellent prepartion for students wishing to go on to graduate studies in the field of digital art and design.

For more information and program details contact:

Prof. Brian Delevie
303.556.2626
brian.delevie@ucdenver.edu
www.briandelevie.com

Prof. Bryan Leister
303.352.3710
bryan.leister@ucdenver.edu
www.bryanleister.com

Prof. Michelle Carpenter
303-556-6781
Michelle.Carpenter@ucdenver.edu
http://www.michellecarpenter.net

To Prospective Students (freshmen & transfer): 

Admission into the BFA Digital Design emphasis or the Digital Design minor is by portfolio review. This review process occurs April 1st or November 1st (or on the following business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday) during a student’s sophomore year after a student has met the following eligibility criteria:

University of Colorado Denver Students

  • You are seeking admission to the Digital Design Program.
  • You have completed, or are in the process of completing, the following Foundation Studio classes:  FA 1100 Drawing I , FA 1400 2-D Design, FA 2015 Intermedia Foundations, FA 2405 Intro to Digital Design and FA 2415 Typography (FA 2405 and FA 2415 should be taken after a student’s freshman year and are offered only in fall semester).
  • A cumulative Fine Arts GPA of 2.75.

Transfer Students

  • You are a Transfer Student (not yet enrolled at UC Denver) seeking admission to the Digital Design Program.
  • You have completed, and are transferring, a minimum of 24 credit hours from a previous institution.
  • You have completed, or are in the process of completing, the equivalents of the following Foundation Studio classes:  FA 1100 Drawing I, FA 1400 2-D Design, FA 2405 Intro to Digital Design and FA 2415 Typography.
  • A cumulative Fine Arts GPA of 2.75.

Students who are applying for entrance into the Digital Design emphasis or minor are required to submit a portfolio that consists of (1) a written statement, (2) a designed portfolio on CD-ROM or DVD and (3) unofficial transcript(s) from all previous post-secondary education institutions with the understanding that Digital Design is a fall start program.  Upon acceptance you will earn access to upper-division Digital Design classes.
 
Those applying to the minor (and not the major) are not required to complete FA 1100, FA 1400 or FA 2015 (or their college-level equivalents), but they must show equivalent studio work in their application portfolio.
 
Please see the PDF below regarding specific portfolio requirements and program information, or contact the Digital Design Area Head Brian DeLevie at brian.delevie@ucdenver.edu.

Beginning Fall 2010, the Visual Arts Department will accept Fall applications only.  The deadline to apply for the Fall 2010 semester will be April 1, 2010; however, students are encouraged to submit applications by February 15, 2010.

Digital Design Advising Sheet for 09-10 and Sample Schedule

Digital Design Advising Sheet for 08-09 and Sample Schedule

PDF flyer describing this program is available for download and printing

Digital Design Curriculum

2009 Digital Portfolio Review Requirements for Freshmen

2009 Digital Portfolio Review Requirements for Transfer Students

Portfolios may be delivered to the Department of Visual Arts Administrative Assistant in room 815D in the CU building or mailed to the following address:

University of Colorado Denver
Attn: Digital Design Portfolio
Campus Box 177, PO Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217

Any questions regarding applications to the Digital Design program can be directed to Brian DeLevie – brian.delevie@ucdenver.edu

Transmedia Emphasis - new for fall 2008 (PDF flyer describing this program)

Transmedia Emphasis Curriculum

Education for Future Professionals…BFA...

The BFA in Fine Arts is the professional degree in art. With a BFA, students can choose to further their education by earning the terminal degree in Arts-the Master of Fine Arts degree. In addition to the 12 required classes for a BFA in Fine Art, Digital Design emphasis students will take a standard range of core academic and foundational art classes such as drawing foundations, 2 and 3-dimensional design, color theory, art seminar, art history survey.  Digital Design students will then select from a list of Digital Design emphasis courses consisting of 39 credits.  

To learn more about the opportunities awaiting you in the Digital Design BA or BFA program, please contact a College of Arts & Media advisor.

Educating and Encouraging...

The Visual Arts faculty is comprised of artists and historians who understand the importance art applications both in and outside of the classroom.   For this reason, your instructors strive to be the bridge between you and the professional world. 

The faculty’s active participation in their field ensures that students receive both a traditional and a cutting-edge education.  To learn more about the Visual Arts faculty, please select their name and you will be directed to their personal web pages, or visit the faculty home page.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts Degree...

Students pursuing careers in Digital Design receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts (BFA) from the Department of Visual Arts in the College of Arts & Media, a degree awarded by the University of Colorado Denver.

For more information on admission proceedures for this degree program please contact a CAM advisor at CAMAdvising@cudenver.edu.

Careers in Digital Design...

As a Digital Design graduate from the Visual Arts program, the career opportunities available to you are as limitless as your motivation and imagination.  Here are just a few of the options available to this program’s graduates.

  • Motion Design
  • Interaction Design
  • Video Editor
  • Branding
  • Usability Designer
  • Flash code designer
  • Web Design
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Compositor
  • Digital Imaging
  • Digital Illustration
  • Graphic Design
  • Logo Design
  • Marketing
  • Advertising

Admissions...

Students who wish to transfer to the College of Arts & Media from another college or school at the University of Colorado Denver must formally apply to the College of Arts & Media.  Students will be considered for admission on either their overall GPA in applicable coursework from CU and all previous institutions, or on their last 15 credit hours.  Applicants with less than a 2.0 GPA in related courses (from CU or other institutions) and an overall CU GPA of less than 2.0 will be denied admission even though they may meet other requirements for consideration.

More questions? Contact a CAM advisor for further information.