Graphic Design

General

Program Title

Graphic Design

Degree Designation

BFA

Program Level

Undergraduate

Instruction Mode

On Campus

Program Description

Students learn processes to identify and solve visual communication problems in a variety of contexts, investigate conceptual and technical applications for creating and disseminating visual communication, and integrate print and digital practices to create effective user-driven communication. Project work is grounded in visual concepts, form, and research to use, create and integrate symbols, typography and imagery for applications including system, identity and information design; package design; user experience; motion graphics; web design; and interactive design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design is the degree for entry-level professional practice and growth. The American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) and The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) do not recognize two-year degrees or BA, BS, or BFA degrees in other majors as adequate preparation for graphic design professionals even though they may contain courses in graphic design or visual communication. National and state projections regarding employment related to graphic design are for those with four-year degrees.

Department(s)

Art

College/School

College of Liberal Arts

Status

Active

Requirements

Admission Requirements

Art department allows direct admit to all programs.
Students may be directly admitted with a 60-credit AFA in art that preferably includes 24 credits of
studio and 6 credits of art history. The cumulative AFA GPA must be 2.5 or higher.

Program Requirements

(60 credits or 33 credits with AFA) A completed AFA or First Year Foundations (15 credits): ART 101, ART 102, ART 103, ART 104, ART 105.

A completed AFA or Second Year Foundations (12 credits): ART 201, ART 202, ART 230, ART 231.

Graphic Design Courses (27 credits): ART 220, ART 221, ART 320, ART 321, ART 322, ART 323, ART 420, ART 421, ART 422, and 6 credits of Graphic Design Internship ART 444.

Electives
(21 credits or 18 credits with AFA) 12 credits of Studio electives or a completed AFA and 9 credits from the
following: ART 311, ART 315, ART 340, ART 350, ART 351, ART360, ART 370, ART 381, ART 382, ART 383, ART 385, ART 389.
3 credits of Studio electives from the following: ART 312, ART 341, ART 352, ART 361, ART 371, ART 384, ART 386.

6 credits of Art History with at least 3 credits from the following: ART 332, ART 436.

Remaining art history electives from the following: ART 332, ART 433, ART 434, ART 435, ART 436, ART
437, ART 438, ART 439.

Students fulfill the University's Upper Division Writing Requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses: ART 433, ART 434, ART 435, ART 436, ART 437, ART 438, ART 439.

Learning Outcomes

Objective

Analyze works of art/design perceptively and to evaluate them critically. 

Objective

Demonstrate competence by the development of a body of work for evaluation in the major area of study. 

Objective

Demonstrate functional competency with principles of visual organization, including the ability to work with visual elements in two and three dimensions; color theory and its applications; and drawing. 

Objective

Demonstrates perceptual acuity, conceptual understanding and technical facility at a professional entry level in their chosen field(s). 

Objective

Demonstrate working knowledge of technologies and equipment applicable to their area(s) of specialization. 

Objective

Place works of art/design in historical, cultural and stylistic contexts.

Objective

Work independently on a variety of art and/or design problems by combining, as appropriate to the issue, their capabilities in studio, analysis, history and technology.

Degree Maps