Design students made a 16 page written submission to the university last Friday and are worried they were given ''such a short timeframe'' for consultation.
Seven academic and three technical staff work on design studies, one of several disciplines in the university's applied sciences department.
The Otago Daily Times understands that, under a proposal to close the applied sciences department, the bioengineering and clothing and textile sciences programmes within it will be incorporated into other university departments.
And the design major would be eliminated, with the potential loss of seven jobs.
One alternative proposal suggested in the Friday submission was for the university to vigorously expand and develop design studies within the sciences division, so that it became a national leader in its field.
The Otago design studies department, before being disestablished in an earlier restructuring in 2010, had attracted a student roll of about 150 equivalent full time students (Efts).
The suggested new approach would include forming close ties with Unesco Creative Cities of Design internationally, and building on strong collaborative links with industry.
Another suggestion was for design studies to be moved out of the Otago sciences division and to continue as part of a department in the School of Business.
The university has said design studies student numbers have declined over the years.
And sciences pro vice chancellor Prof Keith Hunter has previously said that ''whatever decisions are made'', design students would be able to complete their qualifications.
He has declined to comment further because the university is in the process of consulting students and staff about the proposed changes.
The student submission highlighted the benefits of design studies to Otago University, the Dunedin community and industry.
Student organisers said design studies went beyond simply the design of physical objects such as cups. It also included, for example, far reaching analysis of the ''design'' of business operations, which could result in many benefits, including big energy savings.
In a statement, design student spokesmen Zac Newton and Ben Alder said concerned students planned to seek a review of the consultation and proposal process.
The students said they aimed to raise ''significant concerns'' with the university and said there would be ''further action'' from affected students this week, to ''raise awareness on campus''.
One student said protest action could include circulating a further petition.
And students could also raise some of their concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman.
The submission stated that degrees involving design studies should be honoured and the ''design for technology'' major should continue in some form at Otago University.
Some current students had been committed to design study since 2012 and others had study plans ''right through to 2018''.
To change a course of study after such a large time commitment had been made was ''extremely unprofessional'' of the university.
Students had become aware of a proposal to disestablish the design for technology major at the university only on July 6 and this had ''come as a shock'', the submission said.
