2026 Interaction Design Curriculum (KU Core)
If you are a current Visual Communication student, class of 2026 on the KU Core please work closely with your advisor and program faculty to update your grad plan. If you are currently on track in VISC to graduate on-time switching to IXD should not add any time to your graduation timeline.
*Studio Credit Hours have changed from 3cr to 4cr please work with your advisor to see how that affects your Professional Studies Requirement, number of ADS 320 credits or Concentration requirements, there is flexibility in the number of credits for professional studies/design electives, concentration credits, please work closely with your advisor.
You must complete ADS 320 at least 3 times for 3 credits total. You must have 120 credit hours to graduate.
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| BDS 101: Think and Make | 3 |
| BDS 103: Drawing for Design | 3 |
| ADS 325: Design Thinking and Research | 3 |
| KU Core: HA 150/160 (AE4.2) | 3 |
| KU Core: English 101 (GE2.1) | 3 |
| ADS 320: KU Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| ILLU 200: Foundations in Image Making | 3 |
| VISC 200: Foundations in Typography | 3 |
| ADS 340: History of Design | 3 |
| KU Core: HA 151/161 (GE3H) | 3 |
| KU Core: ENGL 102 or ENGL 105 (GE2.1) | 3 |
| ADS 320: KU Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 202: Elements of Type | 3 |
| VISC 204: Principles in Visual Communication | 3 |
| ADS 401: Design Ethics (AE5.1) | 3 |
| HA Elective Requirement | 3 |
| KU Core: Quantitive Literacy (GD1.1) | 3 |
| ADS 320: KU Design Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| VISC 302: Typographic Systems | 4 |
| VISC 304: Designing Understanding | 4 |
| ADS 300: Fundamentals in UI/UX Design | 3 |
| KU Core: Oral Communication (GE2.2) | 3 |
| ADS 320: Professional Lecture Series | 1 |
| 16cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| IXD 402: Interaction Design 2 | 4 |
| IXD 404: Dataviz and Digital Storytelling | 4 |
| KU Core: Human Diversity (AE4.1) | 3 |
| Design Elective (or Concentration 3cr*) | 4 |
| 15cr* |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| IXD 412: Interaction Design 3 | 4 |
| IXD 414: Design Systems | 4 |
| IXD 430: Portfolio | 3 |
| KU Core: Natural Science (GE3N) | 3 |
| 14cr |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| IXD 432: Interaction Design 4 | 4 |
| IXD 415: Emerging Technologies | 4 |
| ADS 450: Navigating the Creative and Legal Landscape | 3 |
| Design Elective (or Concentration 3cr*) | 4 |
| 15cr* |
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| IXD 442: Interaction Design 5 | 4 |
| ADS 455: Senior Show Seminar | 1 |
| KU Core: ENGL 203, 205, 209, 210, 211 (GE1.1) | 3 |
| KU Core: Social Science (GE3S) | 3 |
| Design Elective (or Concentration 3cr*) | 4 |
| 15cr* |