Visual Communication Design BS + Design MA SF State Scholars Roadmap
The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units | |
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 1 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 3 | 3-4 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DES 200 | Visual Design Literacy (Major Foundation) | 3 |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DES 222 | Digital Design Foundations I (Major Foundation) | 3 |
| DES 228 | Introduction to Web Design (Major Foundation) | 3 |
| DES 370 | Introduction to The School of Design (Major Core) | 1 |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 3 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 16-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DES 322 | Digital Design Foundations II (Major Core ) | 3 |
| DES 356 | A History of Design and Technology (Major Core ) 5 | 3 |
| Major Electives (15 Units Total) 6 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DES 300 | Design Process (Major Core ) | 3 |
| DES 324GW | Research and Writing for Design - GWAR (Major Core ) | 3 |
| DES 325 | Graphic Design I (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| DES 327 | Interactive Design I (Major Prerequisite) | 3 |
| Major Electives (15 units total) 6 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| GE Area 4UD: Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 2 | |
| Units | 5 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| DES 425 | Graphic Design II (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| DES 427 | Interactive Design II (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Major Electives (15 Units Total) - Take Three 6 | 9 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DES 505 | Senior Design Project (Major Culminating Requirement) | 3 |
| DES 570 | Professional Practices for Designers (Major Culminating Requirement) | 3 |
| Select One (Major Requirement): | 3 | |
| Graphic Design III: Advanced | ||
| Interactive Design III | ||
| DES 700 | Seminar in Design Research (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Graduate Elective (9 Units Total) 7 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| DES 724 | Graduate Research and Writing Methods in Design (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| DES 800 | Seminar in Design Topics (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| DES 852 | Directed Experience in Design (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Graduate Elective (9 Units Total) 7 | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DES 755 | Seminar in Design Management (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| DES 805 | Seminar in Design Methodology (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Culminating Experience): | 3 | |
| Creative Work Project | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Graduate Elective (9 Units Total) 7 | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 150-152 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 2
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 3
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill 5C if not already satisfied.
- 4
First-time freshmen must take one lower-division Area 4 course that meets US History (USH).
- 5
Upper-Division General Education, Arts and/or Humanities (UD-C) is satisfied upon completion of DES 356.
- 6
Major Electives (15 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 7
Graduate Electives (9 units)
Select three graduate and/or upper-division courses with the approval of a graduate advisor.