Liberal Arts With Design Studies

Liberal Arts With Design Studies challenges you to think critically about important problems such as human rights, environmental impact, technological and digital advancement whilst considering practical, design-led solutions.

On this unique approach to Design, you will explore current issues of global significance from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and examine how positive change can be achieved through the application of the theory and practice of design. This is a future-facing programme that aims to develop a new generation of designers as holistic, strategic, and agile interdisciplinary practitioners.

Why study the Design route?

In your Liberal Arts modules, you will explore how various design practices have contributed to society and critically assess both their positive and negative impacts.

From architecture to systemic design in the structure of corporations and national services (e.g., the NHS), design plays a significant role in the world around us, and your interdisciplinary background from Liberal Arts will help you thoughtfully examine specific design decisions and how they have impacted society from a broad range of perspectives, from social and cultural to environmental and economic factors. This - alongside your Design Studies modules - will help you develop into conscientious designers, able to consider a broad wide of perspectives to deliver practical and more effective design solutions.

Modules

You may be interested in the following Design modules:

Please note:

To study this route:
- In your first year, you must study Introduction to Design Practice (15 CATS) AND any 100-level Design Studies module worth 15 CATS.
- In your second year, you must take a 30-CAT Design Studies module of your choice.
- In your final year, you must take the 30-CAT Design Studies Major Project.Link opens in a new window
Module offerings change annually and so individual modules may vary.
Visit the Design Studies website for more information on the Design modules.

Liberal Arts with Design Studies

Course Overview

In your first year, you will take 120 CATS of 100-level modules. These will be composed by a combination of your:
Core Modules (30 CATS) + Optional Core Modules (30 CATS) + Route Modules (30 CATS) + Optional Modules (30 CATS). Click on the sections below for more information.

IP101	Liberal Arts: Principles and Praxis	0 CATS	Terms 1-2
IP121	Truth and Misinformation	30 CATS	Terms 1-2-3

CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE RESEARCH METHODS MODULE:
IP110	Quantitative Methods for Interdisciplinary Research	15 CATS	Term 2
IP108	Qualitative Methods for Undergraduate Research	15 CATS	Term 1
CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE CRITICAL ISSUE MODULE:
IP120	Beauty	15 CATS	Term 2
IP122	Revolution	15 CATS	Term 1

You must take:
DI102	Introduction to Design PracticeLink opens in a new window	15 CATS	Term 1
DI1**	Any 100-level Design Studies Module worth 15 CATS	15 CATS	Term 1 or 2

CHOOSE AT LEAST 30 CATS OF ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL MODULES
*******	Choose 30 CATS from any available and approved 100-level modules that interest you from across the University. These can be from Design Studies as well, or you might wish to explore another area.	1 x 30 CATS or 2 x 15 CATS	Terms 1-2-3

In your second and final years, you will take 120 CATS per year for a total of
240 CATS of 200 and 300-level modules (120 CATS each).

These will be composed by a combination of:
Core Modules (60 CATS) + Optional Core Modules (45 CATS) + Route Modules (60 CATS) + Optional Modules (75 CATS).
Click on the sections below for more information.

IP205	Consuming Cultures	30 CATS	Year 2 – Terms 1-3
IP302	Dissertation	30 CATS	Year 3 – Terms 1-3

You must take at least THREE (3) optional core modules between your second and final year (45 CATS total). If you take one of the SCFS Venice Modules, it will count towards this requirement.

NB: Not all modules will run in all years and modules offered are subject to change. The optional modules that we have offered in the past have included the following list:

IP204	The Apocalyptic Imaginary	15 CATS
IP226/IP326	The Liquid Continent	15 CATS
IP304	Posthumous Geographies I: Underworlds	15 CATS
IP305	Posthumous Geographies II: Paradises	15 CATS
IP306	Quantitative Methods: Research Project	15 CATS
IP309	Quantitative Research Methods: Understanding Relationships in Data	15 CATS
IP312	The Quest I: Departures and Heroic Journeys	15 CATS
IP313	The Quest II: Exile and Homecoming	15 CATS
IP315 (Taught in Venice)	A Sustainable Serenissima: Water and the Future of Venice This module is offered through the Alliance Intensive Study Programme Hear about what the 2022-23 module cohort got up to in Venice in July 2022.	15 CATS
IP317 (Taught in Venice)	Venice: Resistance and Representation This module is offered through the Alliance Intensive Study Programme Hear about what the 2022-23 module cohort got up to in Venice in July 2022.	15 CATS

You can see a list of our current offering of optional modules by clicking on this link: Honours-Level Optional Core Modules in Liberal Arts

You must take at least 30 CATS per year of 200/300-level Design Studies Modules as follows:
DI2**	In Year 2, you must take at least one approved 30-CAT 200-level Design Studies Module	30 CATS	Terms 1-2-3
DI303	Design Studies Major Project	30 CATS	Terms 1-2-3
NB: 200-Level Modules cannot be taken in your final year of study.

NB: 200-Level Modules cannot be taken in your final year of study.

CHOOSE 75 CATS OF ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL MODULES
*******	Choose 75 CATS from any available and approved 200- and 300-level modules that interest you from across the University. These can be from Design Studies as well, or you might wish to explore another area.	75 CATS total	Terms 1-2-3

Intercalated Year (optional)

Are you interested in extending your degree by a year? You can do so either via an additional year of study abroad or work placement:

Study Abroad Year

An optional intercalated year abroad is available between your second year and final year. Click here for more information on our Year Abroad partnerships: Liberal Arts Year Abroad Options.

Dr. Bryan Brazeau is the Department's Study Abroad Coordinator. Click here to contact him and find out more.

Work Placement Year

An optional intercalated work placement is available between your second year and final year. Click here for more information on the Intercalated Work Year option: Liberal Arts Intercalated Work Placements.

Bodrun Nahar is the Department's Employability and Placement Manager. Click here to contact her and find out more.

For more information please visit:

Our course page; and
Design Studies