The Post Diploma Bachelor of Design degree is available only at graduates of the Alberta College of Art and Design who have been awarded the four-year Diploma in Visual Arts in Visual Communications Design. The BDes as a second credential may be awarded upon the successful completion of a minimum 120 credits as follows.

1. Completion of all specific course requirements for the diploma in the major at the Alberta College of Art & Design.
   
2. Completion of a minimum of 30 credits in liberal studies subjects which must include the following:

   a) all liberal studies courses required for the diploma in the major;
   b) one 3-credit course in a social science subject;
   c) one 3-credit course in either a social science or a natural/applied science subject or a second language;
   d) remaining liberal studies courses, if required, may be chosen from humanities, social science, natural/applied science or other career related subjects.

For students who graduate after May 1984:
All Liberal Studies courses required for the diploma will be included in the 36- or 30-credit total.

For students who graduated prior 1985:
Students will be required to complete at least 18 liberal studies credits beyond those required for their diploma in order to approximate current College diploma requirements. Within these 18 credits, at least one 3-credit course must be taken in humanities and one 3-credit course in a social science subject. Remaining liberal studies courses may be chosen from humanities, social science, natural/applied science or other career related subjects.

The Visual Communications Design major offers a proven, comprehensive curriculum taught by practicing professional faculty in a vital and stimulating studio environment. This provides the student with the opportunity for hands-on visual experimentation and discovery which develops the capacity for analysis, critical thinking and problem solving focusing equally on the design process and on content.

The combination of a strong two-year fundamentals phase with a one-year broad based profile phase and a final year-long specialization phase allows students to develop a focus in Graphic Design, Advertising, Illustration or Character Design for gaming. These disciplines represent a wide arc of professions available to design graduates, ranging from traditional communications design disciplines through to the newer disciplines of experience and rich media design, motion graphics, virtual environments and character design for gaming and related entertainment industries. Gaming is the fastest growing industry world-wide and creates new and exciting opportunities for Visual Communications Design graduates.

Developments within the new curriculum, new growth areas, as well as design-related liberal studies courses, creates a synergy within the Design Department. These new areas have increased the Design Department's profile nationally and internationally among leading competitors and colleges worldwide.