Graphic Design / Bachelor of Arts
Program: BA-GRPH-4
Total Credit Hours: 120
Major Credit Hours: 69-72
Grounded in a systematic design process, students utilize critical thinking, technical skills, and formal studio-based foundational skills to solve complex design problems within a creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary environment. Students engage with real-world challenges that require them to work closely with clients and consumers to create human-centered and socially responsible design solutions. The program prepares students for professional practice through advanced courses that provide students with essential leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Upon graduation, students will be nimble, creative problem solvers who have the confidence to flex with a diverse and evolving profession.
Students will choose one of three program concentrations: Graphic Design, Motion Design, and Interaction Design. These concentrations provide focused development of technical skills and discipline-specific knowledge.
The Graphic Design concentration aims to provide students with a diverse range of skills that will allow them to be adaptable throughout their career to work with both static and dynamic formats, such as interactive media, print, and environmental design. The coursework exposes students to a range of tools and techniques required to design in these different spaces.
The Motion Design concentration exposes students to the theory and practices of motion-based media and animation in both interactive and passive forms. The skills developed in this concentration will allow students to enter careers in marketing/advertising, 3D visualization, game and simulation development, and film and television. Students will learn the principles of animation as they apply to motion graphics design and character animation used in the production of client-based projects. Additionally, students will explore the development of immersive realities through the creation of virtual and augmented experiences. These advanced courses will challenge students to create compelling encounters using new and emerging technologies.
The Interaction Design concentration will teach students to design meaningful interactive experiences though technology, including smartphones, computers, the web and within the real world. Students will learn a variety of design skills, including ideation, prototyping, user research, and design thinking. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to enter the growing field of Interaction Design or pursue additional education. From tech companies to governments and non-profits, our interconnected world needs designers that can translate human needs into innovation. The interaction program equips you with the tools and mindsets needed to thrive in this rapidly growing profession. All learned through complex, real-world challenges that ensure that you graduate with a full portfolio and the experience needed to jump-start your career.
Majors in Graphic Design must earn a grade of “C-” or better in all concentration courses in the program. Courses in which a major has earned less than a grade of “C-” must be repeated.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ARTS 10000 | Drawing | 3 |
| ARTS 11000 | Painting | 3 |
| ARTS 13000 | 2-D Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| ARTS 13300 | 3-D Design | 3 |
| ARTS 18100 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| ARTS 23100 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| ARTS 23500 | Social Responsibility for Graphic Designers | 3 |
| ARTS 25100 | Collaborative Design Studio: Jr. Graphic Designer | 3 |
| ARTS 33200 | Typography | 3 |
| ARTS 39400 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| ARTS 39100 | Art History 1 1 | 3 |
| or ARTS 39200 | Art History 2 | |
| ARTS 40100 | Senior Project/Seminar | 3 |
| ARTS 43100 | Graphic Design Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ARTS 47000 | Art Internship | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 27 | |
| Advanced Writing Requirement | ||
| The advanced writing requirement of the General Education curriculum is satisfied by successful completion of | ||
| ARTS 39100 | Art History 1 1 | 0-3 |
| Total Hours | 69-72 | |
- 1
ARTS 39100 Art History 1 if taken in Core requirements will satisfy Advanced Writing Requirement.
Graphic Design Concentration
Concentration: GDSN
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 23300 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ARTS 23400 | Interaction Design | 3 |
| ARTS 33100 | Collaborative Design Studio: Graphic Designer | 3 |
| ARTS 45100 | Collaborative Design Studio: Art Director | 3 |
| ARTS 33300 | 3D Model and Motion Graphics | 3 |
| COMM 11400 | Communication Design Principles | 3 |
| COMM 30300 | Advanced Communication Design Principles | 3 |
| or ARTS 33400 | Web Design | |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course: | 6 | |
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Digital Marketing | ||
| Advertising | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Digital Marketing Strategy | ||
| Public Relations | ||
| Social Media and Online Audiences | ||
| Strategic Communication | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Motion Design
Concentration: MDSN
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 22000 | Concept Development and Storyboarding | 3 |
| ARTS 23300 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ARTS 33300 | 3D Model and Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ARTS 36000 | Visual and Interactive Storytelling | 3 |
| ARTS 37000 | Interactive Motion Design | 3 |
| ARTS 42000 | Experiential Design | 3 |
| ARTS 46000 | Emerging Technologies in Motion Design | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course: | 6 | |
| Ceramics 1 | ||
| Introduction to English Studies | ||
| Introduction to Film Studies | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| Digital Filmmaking | ||
| Film Analysis | ||
| Field Production | ||
| Audio 2 | ||
| Stage Technology 1 | ||
| Acting 1 | ||
| Acting 2 | ||
| Introduction to Music Production and Recording | ||
| Music Production and Recording | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Programming Fundamentals | ||
| Object-Oriented Programming | ||
| Video Game Programming 1 | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Interaction Design
Concentration: INDN
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 23400 | Interaction Design | 3 |
| ARTS 23600 | Prototyping for Interactive Design | 3 |
| ARTS 27000 | Design Research Methods | 3 |
| ARTS 30200 | Human Centered Design | 3 |
| ARTS 33400 | Web Design | 3 |
| ARTS 36000 | Visual and Interactive Storytelling | 3 |
| ARTS 40300 | Project Management for Interactive Design | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following courses, or an advisor-approved course: | 6 | |
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Marketing Strategy | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Programming Fundamentals | ||
| Object-Oriented Programming | ||
| Mobile Application Development | ||
| Introduction to International Business | ||
| International Business | ||
| International Finance | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| Advanced Radio | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |