Course Overview!

Ball State University's Graduate Certificate in Digital Fabrication is a 12-credit program designed to enhance understanding of design computation and digital fabrication. Students engage in immersive projects and research, exploring leading theories and challenging existing design practices. The curriculum utilizes the latest technology in studios and labs, fostering collaboration with expert faculty and industry partners. The program provides a strong foundation in computational design, fabrication strategies, data manipulation, and advanced fabrication methods. It is suitable for students seeking to integrate digital tools into their design process and broaden their expertise in architectural and related fields.

Course Structure

The curriculum consists of core courses and electives. Core requirements include ARCH 581: Design Computation & Fabrication Foundations I, and ARCH 591: Design Computation & Fabrication Foundations II. These foundational courses introduce computational design methods, digital fabrication tools, and project delivery methods. Students then choose six credits from electives such as ARCH 593 (Design Computation/Fabrication Applications Seminar), which focuses on critical aspects of design computation and fabrication technologies, and ARCH 634 (Advanced Fabrication Seminar), providing an overview of current digital fabrication methods. Independent study options (ARCH 590 and ARCH 690) are also available, allowing students to pursue individualized research in architectural topics.