Overview

Design digital products such as websites, apps, wearables, AR/VR and games. Learn how people interact with digital products, research real-world problems and create digital solutions that are useful, usable and desirable.

If you love using digital products and want to create the next killer app, a career in digital experience design is for you. Train for one of the many careers within DXD: user experience designer (UXD), interaction designer (IX), user interface designer (UID), web designer, product manager, information architect (IA), service designer (SD) or customer experience designer (CX).

In practice-based, hands-on courses, learn to understand and identify client problems, recognize user needs and translate these into wireframes, prototypes and visual interfaces. Learn and apply new processes and techniques to create digital products using the latest industry tools and practices to meet the emerging needs of a rapidly changing technological environment.

Degree Requirements

PROGRAM OPTIONS

List of Program Options

PATHWAYS

The pathways below are recommendations on courses that students could choose for the 21 credits of program options/electives (no declared major) if they have a particular area of interest. Students can also develop their own pathway by selecting various program options.

Visual Communication Design

Digital Experience Design

Photography, Video and Motion Graphics

Illustration

LIST OF COURSE SUBSTITUTIONS

Major Requirements

Course Substitutions

List of Course Substitutions

Degree Regulations

Progression of Studies

Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and corequisite requirements for all courses.

Junior- and Senior-Level Courses

Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior level, and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior level.

Program Option Requirements

Elective Requirements

Students are required to complete 24 credits of electives (defined as courses selected by the student, excluding those that use the DESN subject code), with no more than 12 credits at the 100-level.

A minimum of 9 of those elective credits must be from Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Economics, or BCSC 200).

3 elective credits must be from the School of Business (ACCT, BUSN, FNCE, HRMT, INFM, INSR, INTB, LEGL, MARK, MGMT, MGTS, MSYS, ORGA, PMGT, SCMT).

All other courses will be accepted as electives for the remaining 12 credits except: ARTE 106, ARTE 111, AGAD 107, BCSC 102, ENGL 111, ENGL 199, ENGL 211, VCPH 100, WRIT 101, DESN, PACT, TRVL, OAAS, OADM, OALS, OAMS, COOP.

Program option courses cannot be used to fulfill elective requirements.

Declared Major 

Students have the option to declare a major by published deadlines. All majors within the Bachelor of Design are 21 credits. No more than 9 credits can be at the 100-level.

Residency Requirements

To meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Design students will complete 50% of the total credit requirements through the University, as governed by Academic Graduation Procedure.

Graduation Grade Point Average

Students must achieve a minimum Graduation Grade Point Average of 2.00 on the 4.00 scale.

Work Integrated Learning

Students choosing to complete internship or field placement courses must comply with Academic Policy Work Integrated Learning. The University will facilitate the assignment of students in work placements; however, students must take responsibility for securing an acceptable placement and work collaboratively with a university supervisor. Students are required to comply with any employer policies including but not limited to confidentiality, hours of work, intellectual property rights and privacy protection. 

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Solve communication problems using comprehensive visual design research, processes and methods.
2. Apply a human-centered approach using theories and methods of the social sciences.
3. Create a visually and conceptually integrated response to communication problems aimed at informing, instructing or persuading.
4. Integrate historical and contemporary understanding of visual and material culture into design practice.
5. Use industry-standard production methods, tools and technologies for the creation, reproduction and distribution of visual responses across various media.
6. Communicate ideas, information, arguments and analyses, and design proposals, orally and in writing, to team members, clients and stakeholders.
7. Work collaboratively as a member of leader of interdisciplinary teams.
8. Organize and manage design projects and client relations.
9. Evaluate responsible practices in design, including an understanding of sustainability, citizenship, social responsibility and cultural preservation.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may be admitted to one of the following:

Regular Admission

To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar

Applicants must have a minimum overall average of 65 percent, with no course grade lower than 50 percent, in the following high school courses:

1. ELA 30-1 or 75% in ELA 30-2
2. Four subjects from Group A, B, C, or D

Notes:

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to present a broad range of subjects in order to benefit from the breadth of learning and to increase flexibility of future program and course choices.
• A maximum of two Group B subjects may be presented; they must be from different disciplines.
• A maximum of one Group D subject may be presented. Group D subjects used for admission must be 5-credit or any credit combination of at least 5 credits (e.g., two 3-credit subjects).

Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Mature Admission

To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar

Applicants must be 20 years of age or older and have been out of full-time high school at least one year by the beginning of the intake term. Applicants must have the following:

• ELA 30-1 with a minimum grade of 65 percent (or equivalent)

OR

• Six credits of university-level English with no grade less than C-

Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Previous Post-Secondary Admission

To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar

Admission in this category does not imply or guarantee the transfer of any coursework and/or credential unless a block transfer agreement (internal or external) is in effect and published in the calendar by the Office of the University Registrar. In addition, transfer of coursework does not imply or guarantee that an applicant will be admitted.

Applicants must have completed one of the following from a recognized institution:

• A diploma in design (or equivalent)

OR

• A minimum of 24 university-level credits with a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and must have completed the required high school courses listed under the Regular or Mature Admission category.

Additional Admission Criteria

All applicants must meet the following:

1. English Language Proficiency

To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar

Applicable to all admission categories

All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. We will require official
documents such as high school or post-secondary transcripts or proof of successful completion of
standardized language evaluation. Full details are available in MacEwan University’s academic calendar or
online at MacEwan.ca/ELP.