Product Design BS

Major: Product Design
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 191.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 11.0105
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 15-1255; 27-1021; 27-1024; 27-1029

About the Program

Product Design combines the fields of art, engineering, technology, psychology, business, and sociology to design the products, services, and experiences people interact with every day. The program in Product Design focuses on creativity and intellect, while preparing students for careers in a range of product design fields including corporate product design, design consulting, design research, experiential design, entrepreneurial endeavors, sustainable product development, and social impact design initiatives.

The major in Product Design is centered on teaching students the technical skills to develop and design products, services, and experiences for a vast array of industries as well as the strategic problem-finding and problem-solving skills that can be applied across a variety of contexts. Product Design majors will learn design research methods focused on product development, commercialization, and user experience. It will also encourage diverse collaboration to address opportunities in sustainability, social impact design, health, technology, and interdisciplinary product development and innovation.

Students have the opportunity to create products ranging from consumer products, furniture, and toys to medical devices, wearable technology, and interactive experiences through design studio courses, competitions, and campus design jams. Students learn in state-of-the-art facilities that include studios, a modeling shop, digital fabrication lab (laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC routers), and a smart product lab. The shops, labs, and studios are collaborative, design-centered spaces, built to promote and sustain the studio culture students will enter upon graduation.

Students enrolled in the Product Design major are encouraged to pursue a minor outside of Product Design which allows them to apply their design capabilities toward a specific area of expertise.

Additional Information

For more information about this major, visit the College's Product Design page.

Degree Requirements 

In addition to the following requirements for graduation, students enrolled in the Product Design major are encouraged to pursue a minor outside of Product Design that will allow them to apply their design capabilities toward a specific area of expertise.

General Education Requirements
CHEM 201Why Things Work: Everyday Chemistry3.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
COM 220Qualitative Research Methods3.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
IDM 214Human Factors Engineering3.0
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
PHYS 170Electricity and Motion3.0
PHYS 171Computational Lab for Electricity and Motion1.0
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience1.0
Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 6.0 credits **6.0
Required Social Science-students elect a minimum of 3.0 credits ***3.0
Required Art History-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits 9.0
Free electives27.0
Visual Studies Requirements
PHTO 110Photography3.0
PHTO 234Studio Photography4.0
VSCM 230Visual Communication I4.0
VSST 101Design I4.0
VSST 102Design II4.0
VSST 103Design III4.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 111Figure Drawing I3.0
WEST 107Maker Workshop3.0
Select one of the following:4.0
Multimedia: Performance
Multimedia: Space
Multimedia: Materials
Product Design Requirements
DSMR 100Computer Imaging I3.0
DSMR 201Analysis of Product3.0
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics4.0
MATE 120Modern Materials in Your World3.0
MATE 121Mechanical Behavior of Materials for Product Design1.0
MGMT 260Introduction to Entrepreneurship4.0
PROD 101History and Analysis of Product Design3.0
PROD 205Applied Making I3.0
PROD 210Introduction to Product Design3.0
PROD 220Product Design Form Studio4.0
PROD 225Computer Aided Imagining in Product Design3.0
PROD 230Product Design Process Studio4.0
PROD 235Applied Design Visualization3.0
PROD 245Seminar Professional Landscape3.0
PROD 255Applied Materials in Product Design3.0
PROD 265Introduction to CAD Product Design3.0
PROD 275Visual Communication for Product Design3.0
PROD 340Interdisciplinary Product Design Studio4.0
PROD 345Applied Human Centered Design3.0
PROD 425Applied Design Research3.0
PROD 460Research Synthesis Studio4.0
PROD 470Create Build Studio4.0
PROD 475Professional Practice in Product Design3.0
PROD 480Exhibition Studio4.0
Optional Product Design Electives
Design Thinking in Product Design
Smart Product Design
Special Topics in Product Design
Special Topics in Product Design
Special Topics in Product Design
Special Topics in Product Design
Independent Study in Product Design
Independent Study in Product Design
Independent Study in Product Design
Independent Study in Product Design
Total Credits191.0
*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Select 6.0 credits from 100-499 level, including T380-T480 in AFAS, ARCH, ARTH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, WRIT

***

Select 3.0 credits from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480 in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSCI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, WGST

Select 9.0 credits from 100-499 level courses, including T380 and T480, in ARTH

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 coop

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0VACATION
PROD 1013.0DSMR 1003.0MATH 1014.0 
UNIV A1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0VSST 1034.0 
VSST 1014.0VSST 1024.0VSST 1113.0 
VSST 1103.0WEST 1073.0Art History Elective3.0 
 Art History Elective3.0  
 14 17 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PROD 2053.0MATE 1203.0CHEM 2013.0COOP 101*1.0
PROD 2204.0MATE 1211.0DSMR 2013.0PHTO 1103.0
PROD 2353.0PROD 2103.0ECON 2014.0PROD 2253.0
VSST 201, 202, or 2034.0PROD 2653.0PROD 2304.0PROD 2453.0
Arts and Humanities Elective3.0VSCM 2304.0PROD 2753.0PROD 2553.0
 Arts and Humanities Elective3.0 Free Elective3.0
 17 17 17 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PHYS 1703.0COM 2203.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PHYS 1711.0IDM 2143.0  
PROD 3404.0PHTO 2344.0  
PSY 1013.0PROD 3453.0  
Free Elective3.0Free Elective3.0  
Social Science Elective3.0   
 17 16 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
PROD 4253.0PROD 4704.0MGMT 2604.0 
PROD 4604.0PROD 4753.0PROD 4804.0 
Art History Elective3.0Free Electives6.0Free Electives6.0 
Free Electives6.0   
 16 13 14 
Total Credits 191
*

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.


Co-op/Career Opportunities

Product designers have careers in a wide range of industries including consumer electronics, housewares, furniture, fashion accessories, medical devices, toys, automotive and transportation. The work of product designers improves the usefulness and appearance of countless products that contribute to the quality of our work and personal lives.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Product Design Faculty

David Beker, MArch, MFA (University of Pennsylvania, Parsons School of Design). Adjunct Faculty.
Noah Dingler, BFA (College for Creative Studies). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design
Ann Dinh, MID (Rhode Island School of Design). Adjunct Faculty.
Carl Durkow, BSID (Drexel University). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design, Product Design
Bamidélé Elégbèdé, MFA (California College of the Arts). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design
Nicole Feller-Johnson, MS (Drexel University). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design, MS Design Research
Jemma Frost, BSID (Drexel University). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design
Sam Gearhart, BS (Drexel University). Adjunct Faculty.
Ann Gerondelis, AIA, IDSA (Georgia Institute of Technology) Design Department Head. Teaching Professor. Embodied perception and its relationship to the design of human experiences, from the scale of the built environment to objects that surround us.
Michael Glaser, MFA (The Ohio State University). Associate Professor. Product Design
Jay Haon, MFA (Rhode Island School of Design). Adjunct Instructor. Product Design
Henry Homza, BSID (Kean University). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design
Pradyuman Kodavatiganti, BS (Drexel University). Adjunct Faculty.
Ayana Paterson, BSID (Syracuse University). Adjunct Faculty. Product Design
Eli Robbins, MArch (University of Oregon). Adjunct Faculty.
Raja Schaar, MAAE,IDSA (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) Product Design Program Director. Associate Professor. Product Design
Alexandra Schmidt-Ullrich, MArch (University of Pennsylvania). Associate Teaching Professor. Product Design
Erik Sundquist, MA (Florida International University) Hybrid Making Lab Director. Associate Teaching Professor. Product design
Cooper Wright, BA (Maryland Institute College). Adjunct Faculty. Fabrication Shop Manager, Product Design
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