Art and Design

The fully online Design and Leadership Impact Certificate program is tailored for mid-career professionals with a bachelor’s degree in art, design, engineering, marketing, communications, or other relevant work experience. The program’s courses give students hands-on experience in understanding strategies for leading artists and designers in business, intra/entrepreneurship, local and global economies, design ethics, and the implementation of creative design for brand strategy. Upon completion of this certificate, students will be well-equipped to propel their careers in creative industries, take on roles in art and design direction, lead creative teams, excel in negotiation and presentation skills, navigate global and cultural contexts, and effectively manage clients and stakeholders. The certificate courses will also explore how to leverage and lead creativity within emerging industry technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual realities. Successful completion of this certificate program opens the door to promising career opportunities within the ever-expanding creative economy. Designed to be accessible to the fully employed student and the mid-career professional, the course load is 6 units in the first semester and 4 units in the second semester.

A. Requirements for Admission to the Program

All successful applicants must meet the following requirements before they can enroll. Please note that in some cases the department requirements for admission are more stringent than the University requirements. The department will determine whether a student meets the additional requirements needed for admittance into Design Leadership and Impact.

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with a major in art, design, engineering, marketing, or communication with an overall GPA of 2.5 or above. Bachelor’s degrees with other majors will be considered with relevant work experience in other creative industries.
2. Samples of creative individual or collaborative work (2-3 projects).
3. One-page written statement by the applicant indicating career objectives.
4. Resume or curriculum vitae.
5. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in graduate studies.
6. Approval by the coordinator of the M.A. in Design and Innovation (MDI) program, who will review the application to determine if the student shows high promise of success in the program.

Note: Upon completing all three certificates (Design Strategy and Systems, Design Experiences and Interactions, Design Leadership and Impact) and finishing the graduate project ART 698DI, students will earn their master’s degree in Design and Innovation.

B. Program Requirements

Students must complete 6 units of approved coursework and 4 units in the cumulative experience. Specific required coursework consists of:

Required Courses (10 units)

ART 568 Design Leadership for the Creative Economy (3)
ART 569 Design for Intra/Entrepreneurship (3)
ART 647 Design for Leadership and Impact Practicum (4)

Note: ART 568 and ART 569 are prerequisites for ART 647.

Total Units Required for the Certificate: 10