2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Bachelor of Applied Science in Web Design and Development
Admission Requirements
To be admitted, students need to meet Grand Valley State University's minimum requirements for transfer student admissions and have completed or be in the last semester of an associate of applied science degree, associate of general studies, an associate of applied arts and science degree, an associate in business degree, or similar technical applied degrees. Contact us to learn if the bachelor of applied science could be the right degree for you.
- If your associate degree is still in progress, we encourage you to apply and meet with an advisor to discuss your transfer plan.
- If you do not have an applied degree, but possess an associate degree, our online accelerated degree completion program is a great alternative that can help you get to where you want to be. Visit our LEADS page for details.
Degree Requirements (B.A.S.)
The Web Design and Development major is designed to support students to gain both the technical and artistic skills to design and build web sites. It is designed for students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or the equivalent. This degree builds on prior programming skills developed at the associates level, adding the necessary artistic knowledge for the web development field as well as the specialized computing knowledge necessary for front-end web development, including markup languages, programming for the web, and web standards. This program requires 40 credits from a four-year institution, which exempts students from the university's 58 credits from a four-year institution rule. All other relevant policies apply.
Technical Focus (transferred from AAS): 15+ credits
B.A.S. Course Requirements (9 Credits)
- INT 331 - Person and Profession in a Global Environment (3 credits)
- BAS 301 - Concepts in Learning Integration (3 credits)
- BAS 495 - Senior Seminar in Applied Science (3 credits)
Required Web Design and Development Courses
- ART 150 - Foundations: 2-D Design and Color (3 credits)
- ART 209 - Graphic Design Basics (3 credits)
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I (4 credits)
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II (4 credits) OR CIS 260 - Application Development in Visual Basic (4 credits)
- CIS 238 - Internet Media and Programming (3 credits)
- CIS 353 - Database (3 credits)
- CIS 368 - Usability Design and Evaluation (3 credits)
- CIS 371 - Web Application Programming (3 credits)
- CIS 491 - Web Design and Development Practicum (3 credits)
- DS 202 - Digital Data and Design (3 credits)
- WRT 351 - Writing for the Web (3 credits)
Elective Web Design and Development Courses
Choose one course from the following list:
- CIS 320 - Visualization of Data and Information (3 credits)
- CIS 357 - Mobile Application Development (3 credits)
- WRT 451 - Advanced Writing for the Web (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for the Web Design and Development Major
Year 1:
- ART 150 - Foundations: 2-D Design and Color (3 credits)
- ART 209 - Graphic Design Basics (3 credits)
- BAS 301 - Concepts in Learning Integration (3 credits)
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I (4 credits)
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II (4 credits)
- CIS 238 - Internet Media and Programming (3 credits)
- INT 331 - Person and Profession in a Global Environment (3 credits)
- Additional required coursework as needed
Year 2 and beyond:
- BAS 495 - Senior Seminar in Applied Science (3 credits)
- CIS 353 - Database (3 credits)
- CIS 368 - Usability Design and Evaluation (3 credits)
- CIS 371 - Web Application Programming (3 credits)
- CIS 491 - Web Design and Development Practicum (3 credits)
- DS 202 - Digital Data and Design (3 credits)
- WRT 351 - Writing for the Web (3 credits)
- Web Design and Development Elective
- Additional required coursework as needed.
Additional coursework may be needed to meet general education requirements at GVSU, minimum 120 credits required to graduate, last 30 credits at GVSU, or other university requirements. While many full-time enrolled students can expect to complete this degree in two years, the number of years to complete this degree will be impacted by whether students are attending part-time or full-time as well as the number of credits transferred in.