The College of Design offers or participates in eight undergraduate minors, three graduate minors, and three graduate certificates. Most of the minors are open to all students at Iowa State University.

If you are interested in registering for a minor, contact your academic advisor. They will complete a curriculum change form to add the minor for you. Certificate application requirements and processes are dependent on the certificate program.

Undergraduate minors

The undergraduate minor in Critical Studies in Design offers students opportunities to engage the history, theory and criticism of visual and material culture and the built environment. In lectures and focused seminars, students explore historical and contemporary issues, cultural production, media and technology, design in everyday life, and models of professional practice. Open to undergraduates in all university majors.

Requirements:

Open to undergraduates in all university majors, this minor requires 15 credits of coursework:

At least six (6) of the 15 credits must be taken at Iowa State University in courses numbered 300 or above. At least nine (9) of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

 

Foundational course (choose one)

ART H 292, DSN S 183, ARCH 220, ARCH 221, ART H 280, ART H 281, C R P 291, C R P 293

 

Elective courses

Architecture (ARCH): 221, 321, 420, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 528A, 567, 571, 575

Any Art History (ART H) class

Graphic Design (ARTGR): 387, 388

Industrial Design (INDD): 280, 380

Interior Design (ARTID): 355, 356

Community and Regional Planning (CRP): 201, 291, 293, 320, 383, 484, 511, 521, 563

Landscape Architecture (LA): 270, 371, 373, 478D, 501, 571, 573

Open to all undergraduate students at Iowa State University, the Design Studies minor is constructed to facilitate design awareness among interested students and to provide a vehicle for interdisciplinary study within the College of Design.

Requirements:

This minor requires 15 credits of course work:

  • 3 credits of history selected from College of Design course offerings (DSN S 183 will not meet this requirement)
  • 12 additional credits selected from College of Design course offerings*

At least six (6) of the 15 credits must be taken at Iowa State University in courses numbered 300 or above. At least nine (9) of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

Important things to note:

Many Art History classes are open to all majors, but those sections can fill quickly

Classes that fulfill the art history requirement: 

Any ART H course

ARCH 321

ARCH 220

ARCH 221

LA 373

ARTID 355

ARTGR 387

ARTGR 388

The College of Design’s undergraduate minor in Digital Media is intended to familiarize students with the use of digital media in the design process. This minor is open to all undergraduate students at Iowa State University. It covers the knowledge and techniques necessary to generate digital representations for a wide variety of disciplines.

REQUIREMENTS

This minor requires at least 15 credits of coursework.

Students are required to complete three (3) credits of fundamental courses at the 200 level, and then at least nine (9) credits of elective courses at the 300 level or above. At least nine (9) credits must not be used to meet any other college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

 

FUNDAMENTAL COURSES (choose 3-6 credits)

College of Design Majors

(courses may be restricted to their respective majors)

ARCH 230: Design Communications (3 credits)

ARCH 231: Advanced Design Representation (3 credits)

ARTGR 272: Digital Photography for Graphic Design (3 credits)

ARTIS 227: Introduction to Creative Digital Photography (3 credits)

ARTID 263: Graphic Communication for Interior Design II (3 credits)

 

Open to all majors

DSN S 232: Digital Design Communications (3 credits)

ARTIS 212: Studio Fundamentals: Computers (3 credits)

CRP 251: Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)

LA 211: Digital Design Methods for Landscape Architecture (3 credits)

 

ELECTIVE COURSES (choose 9-12 credits)

Courses with no prerequisites

ARCH 334: Computer Applications in Architecture (3 credits)

ARCH 432: Advanced Computer Lighting and Rendering (3 credits)

ARCH 434: Computer-aided Architectural and Environmental Design (3 credits)

ARCH 534: Topics in Computer-aided Architectural Design (3 credits)

 

Courses with prerequisites

ARCH 433: File to Fabrication (3 credits)

ARCH 437: Architectural Photography (3 credits)

ARCH 439/539: Computational Design Theory (3 credits)

ARCH 451x/551x: Whole Building Energy Performance Modeling (3 credits)

ARCH 528A: Equity in Computing (3 credits)

ARTIS 308: Modeling, Rendering and Virtual Photography (3 credits)

ARTIS 407/507: Principles of 3D Character Animation (3 credits)

ARTIS 408/508: Principles of 3D Animation (3 credits)

ARTIS 448/548: Digital Textile Design (3 credits)

ARTIS 473/573: Video Art (3 credits)

ARTIS 475/575: Interactive Art (3 credits)

ARTIS 482: Data Visualization (3 credits)

CRP 351: Intermediate Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)

CRP 452/552: Geographic Data Management and Planning Analysis (3 credits)

CRP454/554: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing (3 credits)

INDD 341: Computer Aided Industrial Design

INDD 541: Computer Aided Industrial Design (3 credits)

LA 457/557: Landscape Parametrics and Design Coding (4 credits)

LA 458/558: Web Mapping/GIS (3 credits)

LA 478G: Topical ST Graphics (2-3 credits)

DSN S 332: Multi-dimensional Digital Design Communication (3 credits)

DSN S 333: Time-Based Digital Media (3 credits)

How to Apply for the Digital Media Minor

If you are interested in registering for the Digital Media minor, contact your academic advisor. They will complete a curriculum change form to add the minor for you.

The College of Design is an active participant in the Entrepreneurial Studies Minor for undergraduate students. This interdisciplinary curriculum provides opportunities for students to learn about entrepreneurship and serves to complement the student’s major area of study in any college discipline at Iowa State.

Students in the entrepreneurship minor will develop skills and knowledge in the entrepreneurial process, business feasibility analysis, customer discovery, business planning, innovation, opportunity recognition, technology transfer, industry analysis, and startup strategy. Students will learn to develop an entrepreneurial mindset that applies to business creation or employment within an existing firm or organization.

Requirements:

The minor consists of 15 credits with no prerequisites, and more than 100 elective courses to choose from. Detailed information about the Entrepreneurship minor, the list of approved electives, as well as information about the experiential learning options are available through the Ivy College of Business.

  • Entrepreneurship/Management 310 (3 cr) Entrepreneurship and Innovation

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE COURSES*:

  • Entrepreneurship/Management 313 (3 cr) Feasibility Analysis and Business Planning
  • Entrepreneurship/Management 320 (3 cr) Corporate Entrepreneurship
  • Management 410 (3 cr) Social Entrepreneurship

*Choose either Management 313, 320 or 410. Management 310 is required.

Elective Courses (6 cr):

Electives from an approved list of entrepreneurship-related courses or other choices under required courses above. Students are encouraged to take electives within their major college.

Experiential Learning (3 cr):

Students will engage in the process of entrepreneurship to earn experiential learning credits.  The required three credits of experiential learning can be earned by either taking a course that has been designated as an experiential learning course or using some other experiential learning activity as the basis to receive credits through a graded independent study. Three options are explained in more detail below.

 

Experiential Learning Option 1

Students in catalog 2019 and older.

Courses that are pre-approved to meet the experiential learning requirement are indicated on the 2017 – 2019 Elective List . Approval” will say “NO.” If you select one of these courses, simply include it on your “request for minor” form and indicate that it meets the experiential learning requirement with an (E) behind the course number on the form.

 

Experiential Learning Option 2

Students in catalog 2020 and newer.

Some project courses have been designated on the 2020 – Present Elective List as appropriate for experiential learning credits if prior approval has been obtained from the Entrepreneurship Supervisory Committee (both the “Designated for Experiential Credits” and the “Experiential Content Requires Approval columns say “YES”). Approval must be obtained before registering for the designated course and will be based on the extent to which the nature and scope of the course content specifically relate to entrepreneurial processes. To seek approval, students fill out the college specific Independent Study form below and obtain the signature of the course instructor to verify the course content. Follow the directions on the form for obtaining approval. Students who follow this option would list the appropriate college course number on the “request for minor” form indicating that it meets the experiential learning requirement.

 

Experiential Learning Option 3

Students in catalog 2020 and newer.

Students may earn three credits of experiential learning through an independent study. The independent study may be based on an internship, co-op, starting a business, running a business, writing a business plan, etc. Note that some courses are listed on the 2020 – Present Elective List that may count toward experiential learning credits but must be approved by the Entrepreneurship Supervisory Committee (both the “Designated for Experiential Credits” and the “Experiential Content Requires Approval columns say “YES”). Approval must be obtained before registering for the independent study and will be based on the extent to which the nature and scope of the independent study specifically relate to entrepreneurial processes. To seek approval, students must identify a faculty member willing to supervise the study and complete the entrepreneurship independent study form (choose link below for home college). Follow the directions on the form for obtaining approval and registering for independent study credits. Students who follow this option would list the appropriate college course number for their independent study on the “request for minor” form.

The undergraduate minor in Geographic Information Science (GISC) is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with opportunities to engage with the theories, processes, techniques and tools that use spatial data and computational technology to create cutting-edge analysis and mapping approaches for a wide range of fields. Those fields include urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, design, community development, agriculture, environmental sciences, natural resources, sociology, criminology, anthropology, political science, environmental studies and others.

The minor is open to undergraduates in all university majors with a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 prior to enrolling.

Requirements:

Students must complete a minimum of 15 undergraduate credits of GIS coursework to receive the minor. At least 6 of the 15 credits must be taken at Iowa State University in courses numbered 300 or above with a grade of C or higher. At least 9 of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other department, college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

The undergraduate minor in Illustration is ideal for students interested in illustration for books, graphic novels, magazine articles, advertising and concept art for game design and film. This minor provides the ability to tailor a curriculum that serves these varied career interests, whether you want to work in the industry or freelance as an independent studio practitioner.

Requirements:

Prerequisites to begin minor:

DSN S 131: Design Representation (4 credits)

ART IS 230: Drawing II (3 credits)

After completion of the prerequisites, students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of Illustration coursework to receive the minor:

Required Courses for minor in Illustration

ART IS 330: Life Drawing (3 credits)

ART IS 432: Sequential Narrative Drawing (3 credits)

Elective Courses: choose three. Note: some courses may have their own prerequisites.

ART GR 464: Digital Imaging (3 credits)

ART H 489: History of Comics (3 credits)

ART IS 233: Watercolor Painting (3 credits)

ART IS 308: Computer Modeling & Virtual Photography (3 credits)

ART IS 338: Painting II (3 credits)

ART IS 456: Relief Printmaking: Digital/Traditional (3 credits)

ART IS 357: Intaglio & Monotype Printmaking: Digital/Traditional (3 credits)

ART IS 358: Lithography: Digital/Traditional (3 credits)

ART IS 408: Principles of 3D Animation (3 credits)

ART IS 430: Advanced Drawing (3 credits)

ART IS 438: Painting III (3 credits)

ART IS 490F: Independent Study Illustration (3 credits)

BPMI 323 / ART IS 323: Scientific Illustration Principles & Techniques (3 credits)

BPMI 326 / ART IS 326: Illustration & Illustration Software (3 credits)

BPMI 327 / ART IS 327: Illustration as Communication (3 credits)

BPMI 337 / ART IS 327: Applied Scientific Illustration Techniques (3 credits)

The undergraduate minor in Preservation and Cultural Heritage provides students with knowledge, skills, and credentials that complement undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of majors, but especially Architecture, Interior Design, Community & Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, and History.

Requirements:

The minor requires a minimum of 15 credit hours. At least six (6) credits need to be taken at the 300 or above (see list below), and at least 9 of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other department, college or university requirement except the credit requirement for graduation.

The undergraduate minor in Textile Design allows students to focus specifically on the design and creation of textiles, a practice with applications in the fine arts, fashion, and related fields. Students will learn historical and contemporary applications of textile production, develop conceptual and technical skills in textile design, and more. Open to undergraduates at the sophomore level and above enrolled in any College of Design major or in the Apparel, Merchandising and Design major in the College of Human Sciences.

Requirements:

Students must complete 16-18 credits of Textile Design coursework to receive the minor. At least 9 of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other department, college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

Core (required: 6 credits total)

  • AMD 204: Textile Science (4 credits)
  • ART IS 214: Studio Fundamentals: Textiles (2 credits)

History/Theory (choose one of the following: 3 credits total)

  • AMD 362: Cultural Perspectives of Dress (3 credits)
  • ART H 292: Introduction to Visual Culture Studies (3 credits)
  • ART H 280: History of Art I (3 credits)
  • ART H 281: History of Art II (3 credits)

Practice (choose two of the following: 6 credits total)

  • AMD 121: Apparel Assembly (4 credits)
  • AMD 490: Independent Study (3 credits)
  • ART IS 208: Color (2 credits)
  • ART IS 345: Woven Structures (3 credits)
  • ART IS 346: Textile Surface Design (3 credits)*
  • ART IS 347/447: Printed Textile Design (3 credits)
  • ART IS 448: Digital Textile Design (3 credits)*
  • ART IS 490: Independent Study (3 credits)

Electives (choose one of the following: 2-4 credits)

  • AMD 354: History of European and North American Dress (3 credits)
  • AMD 356: History of 20th Century Fashion (3 credits)
  • ART IS 206: Studio Fundamentals, Printmaking (2 credits)
  • ART IS 213: Studio Fundamentals, Painting (2 credits)
  • ART IS 310: Sources and Methods of Visual Design (3 credits)
  • ART H 382: Art and Architecture of Asia (3 credits)
  • ART H 384: Art of Islam (3 credits)
  • DSN S 131: Design Representation (4 credits)

The undergraduate minor in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes urban life in a variety of settings and from different disciplinary and methodological approaches. The Urban Studies minor will allow students to explore varied and multiple dimensions of urban and community life through differing conceptual and analytical frameworks. The minor is open to undergraduates in all university majors except Community & Regional Planning.

Requirements:

This minor requires 15 credit hours of coursework. At least 6 of the 15 credits must be taken at Iowa State University in courses numbered 300 or above. At least 9 of the 15 credits must not be used to meet any other department, college or university requirements except the credit requirement for graduation.

Download the list of courses that quality for the Urban Studies minor

Graduate minors

The graduate minor in Industrial Design consists of 12 credits chosen from the courses below.

Requirements:

IND D 520: Design Theory and Methodology
IND D 530: Design Thinking
IND D 540: Design Communication
IND D 550: Human Factors: User Experience Design
IND D 560: Change by Design: Disruptive Innovation
IND D 570: Systems Thinking in Design
IND D 580: Material Culture and Values
IND D 640: Digital Technologies

The graduate minor in Integrated Visual Arts consists of 12 credits, with specific courses chosen in consultation with the program of study committee.

Requirements:

  • ISA Studio Credits (400-500 level) – 9 credits
  • Art History (400-500 level) – 3 credits

The graduate minor in Sustainable Environments consists of 11 credits and is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on holistic design strategies for the production of sustainable, resilient environments and artifacts.

Requirements:

  • SUS E 501: Sustainable Design Studio I, 5 credits
  • SUS E 511: Sustainable Design Colloquium, 3 credits
  • SUS E 521: Foundations of Sustainable Design, 3 credits
College of Design student working on class project.

A Cyclone in the Making

Find your place at Iowa State University’s College of Design, where we like to ask questions, poke and prod, create something new, and make a difference through design.