Undergraduate Registration
Class registration starts during the eleventh week of the previous semester. Students may use the registration checklist (linked below) to ensure they have all registration information.
All Design students must submit a Design Advising Form to receive approvals for their classes before registration starts. Submitting the advising form does NOT guarantee seats in a specific class or section. Students must register for their courses through XE Registration > Register for classes.
Forms submitted after the deadline will not be processed until after the date and time mentioned on the student’s time ticket.
Link to the Advising Form: TBD
Updated August 9, 2026
Registration Details
BA Design Studies
If you are pursuing the 3-year track in Design Studies refer to the following lists of required classes:
YEAR 2 / FALL
Required Classes
DES 208: Typography I (4 credit hours)
DES 222: Human Experience in Design (4 credit hours)
DES 235: History of Design I (3 credit hours)
DES 255: Integrative Design Studio I (4 credit hours)
15 credit hours + 3 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 3 / FALL
Required Classes
DES 355: Design Seminar (3 credit hours)
DES 357: Integrative Design Studio III (4 credit hours)
DES 410: Senior Colloquium I (1 credit hour)
DES 411: Senior Colloquium (1 credit hour)
DES 420: Professional Practice Project I (4 credit hours)
13 credit hours + 5 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
If you are pursuing the 4-year track in Design Studies refer to the following lists of required classes:
YEAR 2 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 208: Typography I (4 credit hours)
DES 222: Human Experience in Design (4 credit hours)
AH 110: World History of Art and the Built Environment I (4 credit hours)
12 credit hours + 4 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
YEAR 3 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 235: History of Design I (3 credit hours)
DES 255: Integrative Design Studio I (4 credit hours)
7 credit hours + 9 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
YEAR 4 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 355: Design Seminar (3 credit hours)
DES 357: Integrative Design Studio III (4 credit hours)
DES 410: Senior Design Colloquium I (1 credit hour)
DES 411: Senior Design Colloquium II (1 credit hour)
DES 420: Professional Practice I (4 credit hours)
10 credit hours + 8 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
BDes Graphic Design
YEAR 2 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 208: Typography I (4 credit hours)
DES 220: Form + Image Studio (4 credit hours)
DES 250: Digital Media Design II (4 credit hours)
AH 110: Art History I (4 credit hours)
This is a LINKED course. Students must register for a Lecture and a Discussion to receive credit for the course.
16 credit hours + 2 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 3 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 235: History of Design I (3 credit hours)
DES 308: Typography III (4 credit hours)
DES 350: Digital Media Design IV (4 credit hours)
11 credit hours + 7 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 4 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 410: Senior Colloquium I (1 credit hour)
DES 411: Senior Colloquium II (1 credit hour)
DES 420: Professional Practice Project I (4 credit hours)
DES 480: Graphic Design Thesis I (4 credit hours)
10 credit hours + 8 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
BDes Industrial Design
YEAR 2 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 222: Human Experience in Design (4 credit hours)
DES 230: Industrial Design II (4 credit hours)
DES 240: Visualization I (4 credit hours)
AH 110: Art History I (4 credit hours)
This is a LINKED course. Students must register for a Lecture and a Discussion to receive credit for the course.
16 credit hours + 2 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 3 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 235: History of Design I (3 credit hours)
DES 326: Materials and Methods (4 credit hours)
DES 330: Industrial Design IV (4 credit hours)
11 credit hours + 7 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 4 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 410: Senior Colloquium I (1 credit hour)
DES 411: Senior Colloquium II (1 credit hour)
DES 420: Professional Practice Project I (4 credit hours)
DES 470: Industrial Design Thesis I (4 credit hours)
10 credit hours + 8 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
BDes Double Degree
YEAR 2 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 208: Typography I (4 credit hours)
DES 220: Form + Image Studio (4 credit hours)
DES 250: Digital Media II (4 credit hours)
AH 110: Art History I (4 credit hours)
This is a LINKED course. Students must register for a Lecture and a Discussion to receive credit for the course.
16 credit hours + 2 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 3 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 222: Human Experience in Design (4 credit hours)
DES 230: Industrial Design II (4 credit hours)
DES 240: Visualization I (4 credit hours)
12 credit hours + 6 credit hours (General Education/General Electives; if applicable)
YEAR 4 // FALL
Required Classes
DES 326: Materials and Methods (4 credit hours)
DES 330: Industrial Design IV (4 credit hours)
DES 308: Typography III (4 credit hours) OR DES 350: Digital Media Design IV
12 credit hours + 6 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
YEAR 5 / FALL
Required Classes
DES 410: Senior Colloquium I (1 credit hour)
DES 411: Senior Colloquium II (1 credit hour)
DES 420: Professional Practice Project A1(4 credit hours)
DES 420: Professional Practice Project B1 (4 credit hours) OR DES 450: DES Elective (3 credit hours)
DES 470: Industrial Design Thesis I (4 credit hours) OR DES 480: Graphic Design Thesis I (4 credit hours)
14 credit hours + 4 credit hours (General Education/General Elective; if applicable)
Year 4: Professional Practice Project
DES 420 + DES 421: Professional Practice Project
Fall 2025/Spring 2026
All students will register on a first-come, first-served basis. Courses offer real-world professional experience, are open to seniors, and meet for an extended period of one day per week. Courses involve collaborative teamwork and are often supported by a sponsoring industry partner.
Please refer to the document linked here for additional information:
Registration Resources
Registration Checklist
Students are encouraged to use the following checklist to ensure they are all set for registration.
First and foremost, please visit myUIC > XE Registration > Prepare for Registration > Select Term: Fall 2024 – Chicago to find information regarding the following:
- Your Time Ticket. Students may register only during the time frame indicated on the Time Ticket.
- Check if you have any holds preventing you from registering for classes. If you have holds, please visit this link: https://registrar.uic.edu/registration/policies-procedures/#holds to find more information about how to get the hold removed, or contact your Academic Advisor (Lily Baker).
- If you are planning to register for more than 18 credit hours for a particular semester, please use this form to Request Enrollment over 18 credit hours.
Students are considered to be on the full-time status if they are registered for a total of 12 credit hours. Registering for less than 12 credit hours would mean you are a part-time student. - Registration Instructions
The website https://registrar.uic.edu/registration/registration-instructions/ provides instructions and guidelines for students on how to register for classes. The website includes information on important registration deadlines, how to search for and select classes, how to add and drop classes, and how to manage course prerequisites and restrictions. It also provides information on how to access and use various registration tools and resources, such as the registration portal, registration checklist, and academic advising services. The website is designed to help UIC students successfully navigate the registration process and plan their academic schedules. (More information and FAQs can be found here: https://registrar.uic.edu/current-students/faq/) - Late Add/Drop courses
Students who wish to add/drop courses after the 10th day of the semester (Week 2) can fill out the form linked above to request a Late Add or Drop. Students are responsible for ensuring that this does not affect their financial aid or academic progress. Scheduling an advising appointment is HIGHLY encouraged before the submission of the form.
General Education Courses
General Education courses are an integral part of undergraduate education. It provides students with a breadth of exposure to academic disciplines and is the foundation for the knowledge, skills, and competencies essential to becoming well-educated college graduates and citizens.
All UIC students, regardless of their major, MUST complete 24 credit hours for the General Education Requirements mentioned in their degree audit report.
Design students are recommended to complete the following amount of credit hours for each requirement.
- Analyzing the Natural World (4 credit hours)
- Understanding the Creative Arts (AH 110 and AH 111; 8 credit hours)
- Understanding the Past (3 credit hours)
- Exploring World Cultures (3 credit hours)
- Understanding Individual and Society (3 credit hours)
- Understanding U.S. Society (3 credit hours)
The UIC Catalog for General Education provides detailed information and courses that satisfy each requirement.
Elective Information
General Electives
All Design students must complete the General Elective requirements as specified in their degree audit report (DARs). Students can satisfy this requirement by registering for any NON-DESIGN course. It is also encouraged that students pursue a minor to fulfill this requirement.
Students can also refer to the Recommended List for General Electives registration if needed.
Design Elective
Design Electives are required and available for students pursuing Bachelor of Design degrees. The School of Design will provide an updated list of Design Electives every semester.
*Only CS + DES and Design Studies students can take DES 355.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design degree must complete an Art Elective requirement for four credit hours. Please note that the ART Electives list will be updated by the School of Art and Art History. If the instructors have provided a detailed course description, it will be included on the XE Registration page.
- To request approval for 100- to 400-level Art electives, email your full name, UIN, and request (including course number, name, day/time, and CRNs) to Liv Jordan (ojordan2@uic.edu), the Art and Art History advisor.
For example: ART 150 Intro to New Media – M/W 9–11:40AM – 34523 + 34524
General Information / Resources
How to access your Degree Audit
Let’s Talk Degree Audit with Phoebe Milles Video
Student Guide to Technology from the UIC Technology Solutions