Develop expertise beyond your major to diversify your skill set and strengthen your portfolio. Please consult with academic advisors for the most up-to-date information on course offerings and pre-requisites.
LAN 611/612/711/712 Studio
Prerequisites: ARH 619 or LAN 610
M.Arch students in thesis prep can take a LAN design studio to supplement their site research for the thesis project. Faculty with dual credentials in architecture and landscape architecture will individualize guidance for research.
LAN 609 Ecological Foundations of Design
Prerequisites: None
All life depends on soil, water, and plants. You’ll gain mapping, observation, and recording skills while exploring the scientific characteristics, ecological relationships, and the tolerances for human development on natural systems.
LAN 665 Digital Graphics for Landscape Architecture (AutoCAD and SketchUp)
Prerequisites: (IAD 608 & LAN 605) or ARH 654 or IAD 611
You’ll learn to digitally draft plans, sections, elevations, axonometrics and renderings. You’ll become proficient in the same software that today’s design professionals use to produce legible, accurate, and well organized digital documents. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 665.)
LAN 683 Landscape Architectural Construction Documents (AutoCAD)
Prerequisites: LAN 665 or ARH 651 or IAD 602
Learn what it takes to put together an accurate set of construction documents. You’ll create plans, details, schedules and specifications to communicate your design intent and provide the detailed information required to permit, build and install a project. Strategies for sustainable construction and installation will be emphasized. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 683.)
LAN 679 Advanced Landscape Graphics (Rhino and ArcGIS)
Prerequisites: LAN 665 or ARH 651 or IAD 611
Landscape architects use digital renderings to communicate with everyone involved in a project. You’ll learn to use the same state-of-the-art modeling and rendering software that the pros use to explore and communicate ideas at any scale. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 679.)
LAN 619 Site Inventory and Analysis
Prerequisites: (IAD 608 & LAN 609) or ARH 654
This course focuses on the process of conducting site inventories and site analyses that generate relevant and effective site plans and master plans which will guide subsequent design decisions. Information gained through observing and analyzing any site will result in planning and design decisions that truly reflect its unique nature. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 619.)
Prerequisites: (LAN 605 & LAN 609) or ARH 651
This course focuses on strategies and calculations for controlling stormwater. Students will create accurate grading plans and models in a variety of scales to test their designs. Students will be challenged to incorporate both functionality and aesthetics. Topics will include stormwater calculations, innovative sustainable technologies, road alignments and construction details. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 617.)
LAN 678 People and the Environment
Prerequisites: IAD 608 or ARH 654
This course focuses on the relationship of individuals, communities, and societies to the landscape and the importance of promoting a user-oriented approach to design. Specific needs of under-represented populations will be discussed. Students will learn methods to observe, record, and analyze human interaction with their surroundings. (This course is cross-listed with LAN 678.)
Prerequisites: None
Communicating ideas through accurate plans, sections, elevations and other drawings is a fundamental skill for any designer. Students will develop strong foundations in mechanical and freehand drawing by applying professional graphic conventions to a variety of projects. Connecting information on 2D drawings to 3D spaces will be developed.
IAD 603 Sketching and Perspective
The design you see in your mind will flow through your hand. Learn expert visual communication skills to convey your design solutions to colleagues and clients. You will create ideation and conceptualization hand drawings and perspective sketches to represent your interior design concepts.
IAD 608 Digital Imaging (SketchUp, Photoshop, InDesign)
Immerse yourself in the world of imaging software. You will develop skills to enhance presentations, create graphic layouts, and integrate various media into your design projects.
IAD 611 BIM (Revit)
Master BIM. Using BIM as a tool to convey geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, and building components, you’ll learn to maintain project data within a single file that generates plans, sections, and elevations.
IAD 663 Furniture and Case Goods Design
Turn your furniture ideas into reality. You’ll study furniture construction, details, joinery, and the materials and techniques used to create custom-made furniture. (This course is cross-listed with IAD 363.) This course is offered onsite only.
ARH 712 Participatory Design
Prerequisites: Department Director approval
Participatory Design is key to creating equity. Working with residents and community, you will develop tools for collaborative decision-making that address the needs of diverse users by putting your communication techniques, design skills, and research methodologies into practice in a real-life project. (This course is cross-listed with ARH 512.)
This course is part of the B.lab community-based design program at the School of Architecture. You will collaborate with classmates to create a design proposal for neighbors, kids, local non-profits. Since 2018, students have designed and built multiple award-winning projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Please visit B.lab Community Design webpage
ARH 613 Sustainable Design
Prerequisites: ARH 654 (Rhino)
Software: Rhino, Drafting Software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud, Climate Consultant, ClimateStudio
Learn passive and innovative strategies to minimize a building’s aggressive energy and resource consumption. You’ll examine the benefits of renewable resources and well-building design, focusing on best practices revealed both in vernacular architecture and forward-thinking contemporary design case studies. (This course is cross-listed with ARH 430.)
ARH 601 Spatial Composition
Prerequisites: ARH 651 (AutoCad)
Software: AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud
Study organizational principles in the patterns and structure of architectural spaces. You will gain an understanding of the relationship of organizational, structural, and spatial systems in architecture through a series of focused projects.
GR 700 MA Portfolio Seminar
Prerequisites: ARH & LAN students enrolling in OS+ section will be granted permission to waive prerequisites on a case by case basis.
*Online sections are not available to ARH and LAN students who do not meet pre-requisites. This elective is only available as an OS+ section.
The portfolio is the final step in your Graphic Design BFA program. You’ll develop a comprehensive print and digital visual system that shows off your design skills and a robust social media presence to effectively promote your strengths to the world.
GR 636 AI for Designers
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior status
You will embark on an immersive journey, blending traditional principles with multiple AI applications to develop portfolio quality design work. Beginning with an exploration of AI’s impact on graphic design and ethical considerations, the course progresses through fundamental design principles, generative AI applications, seamless workflow integration, and collaborative concept generation. [This course is cross-listed with GR 436.]
IND 612 Design Drawing 1
Prerequisites: None
Learn to draw objects accurately. You’ll use one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective,practice plotting light, shadow, and reflection, and use visualization methods and freehanddrawing techniques to create accurate drawings of basic forms.
IND 621 Modeling Making
Turn concepts and two-dimensional sketches into quick three-dimensional product models. You’ll focus on speed, safety, accuracy as you increase your ability to communicate and evaluate your ideas.
IND 694TRN Corporate Sponsored Project: Transportation
Prerequisites: Enrollment Condition: This class requires Department Director approval.
In this corporate sponsored project, students will be given a project directly by the sponsor. Students will produce design proposals based on the sponsor’s project brief and will make adjustments based on sponsor feedback. Emphasis will be placed on concept, research, refinement, deliverables, presentation, and meeting project objectives.(This course is cross-listed with IND 494TRN.)
ILL 625 Perspective for Characters and Environment
Learn to draw situations suggesting 3D believably. This will include naturalistic environments, lighting, and placement of characters, allowing your audience a full understanding of your stories.
ILL 660 Digital Painting
Digital painting is in demand by many of today’s art buyers. In this class, you’ll use digital painting software as a tool to create graduate-level, professional illustrations.
ANM 370 / 691 Storyboarding for Film Genres
Prerequisites: ANM 270, FND 116, & either FND 122 or FND 125
Learn to storyboard for a variety of film genres: comedy, drama, action, and musical. You’ll gain a comprehensive skill set by drawing, staging, and creating story sequences for animation and live action production. (This course is cross-listed with ANM 691.)
ANM 372 / 772 Storyboarding for Cinematic Effect
Prerequisites: ANM 370 or ILL 243 / ANM 685 for graduate students
Take a deep dive into how to structure interesting camera angles and impactful cinematic compositions for storyboarding. You’ll learn how to draw, stage, and pitch story sequences for animated and live action storyboards. (This course is cross-listed with ANM 372.)
ANM 610 Figurative Concepts
Master your ability to draw proportionally accurate figures, both nude and clothed, for entertainment art. You’ll study anatomy, proportion, foreshortening, construction, movement and gesture, making simple still lifes and tonal self-portraits.
ANM 685 Storyboarding Principles
Prerequisites: ANM 610
Become an illustrative storyteller. Taking a step-by-step approach to story development, you’ll study the structural elements of storytelling, storyboarding formats, motion and animation, animatics, and character development.
COM 602 Visual Storytelling: Editing for Short-Form Video Content
Leverage AI to craft powerful stories across digital, brand, and broadcast news platforms. Gain skills in audio and video editing to create compelling content and build essential techniques to engage diverse audiences and drive impactful narratives in today’s media landscape.
COM 605 AI Empowered Creativity
Learn the essentials of AI-driven strategy, research, and design to excel in brand communications. Be empowered to innovate in a tech-focused industry by leveraging the latest AI tools. Create a brand and launch it through an AI-integrated campaign, showcasing your ability to synthesize and apply essential skills.
ADV 434 / 634 AI for Advertising
Prerequisites: Enrollment Condition: Junior or senior status.
AI is changing the advertising landscape! This exploration into the creative development process includes an overview of AI and how it can be used to develop and optimize your creative work. You will develop your creativity, learn how to collaborate effectively, and understand the importance of research in the advertising industry. (This course is cross-listed with ADV 634.)
IXD 601 Tech 1: Front End
Learn the technology basics and vocabulary required for the industry. You’ll also gain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills by creating stunning interactive web experiences.
IXD 606 User Experience Design
Design intuitive product experiences by understanding a target audience and the devices they interact with. You’ll explore the user experience design process while utilizing industry standard tools and artificial intelligence.
PH 631 AI for Visual Artists
Prerequisite: LA 291 & one of the following: PH 275, ANM 101, GR 102, GAM 105, IAD 210, ILL 133, IND 163, JEM 243, IXD 105, FSH 161, or FSH 168 (ARH students who have completed ARH 180 can request approval from PH dept)
You will be provided the framework for applying various AI tools to the creation of both realistic and imaginative imagery. Ethical considerations and opinions are discussed. Through creative exploration, students leverage text-to-image and large language model AI tools to integrate generative AI in the inspired image-making of contemporary art today. [This course is cross-listed with PH 331.]
FSH 764 Fashion Business: Retail Operations Apprenticeship (onsite)
Prerequisites: FSH 385 or FSH 259 [or Department Director approval]
Experience how to run, operate, and manage a real fashion retail e-commerce business and brick-and-mortar stores. You will merchandise the online store and a selling floor, manage sales, oversee inventory, plan promotions, present products in stores, and address client issues while working on teams. (This course is cross-listed with FSH 464.)
GAM 342 / 626 Game Environment Production 1
Prerequisites: (GAM 201, GAM 241, & GAM 332) or (IAD 270, IAD 280, LAN 375, & FND 113)
Use the environment asset pipeline to create real-time, 3D interior and exterior scenes. You will gain the storytelling, prop development, modularity, and composition skills to create compelling real-time environments. Plus, study scene management and iterative development. (This course is cross-listed with GAM 626.)
JEM 243 / 660 3D Printing and Modeling
Learn professional 3D modeling techniques specifically for using a 3D printer. Learn it all: 3D modeling, various options in printing materials, various printing processes, preparing files for 3D printing, and post-processing methods. This course is offered online.
MPT 377 / 641 Visual Storytelling
Prerequisite: MPT 105
Discover the power of visual storytelling by studying the work of great directors and cinematographers. You will make numerous short films demonstrating a variety of pictorial concepts, refining your visual vocabulary. [This course is cross-listed with MPT 641.]
MPT 204 / 705 Breaking through the Noise of Social Media
No matter what you make-app, fashion line, game, product, film-social media marketing creates an impact. You’ll learn to secure funds, and practice building your brand, attracting supporters, and navigating multitudes of social media channels to bring your dream project to life. (This course is cross-listed with LA 204, MPT 705, and GLA 705.)