Undergraduate Catalog 2013-14
This major prepares students for entry-level positions in design organizations. Graphic design graduates find employment in a variety of settings including corporate design departments; design firms; nonprofit organizations; and publishing, advertising, and government agencies. The major focus is on skill development in basic design techniques and technology and their graphic application. Students in this major have the option of choosing an emphasis in visual communication (a graphic design major combined with a communication minor) or web design (a graphic design major with a web design certificate).
Those majoring in graphic design will participate in a professional portfolio review during the senior year. The requirements of the major are deliberately flexible to accommodate a variety of options within the discipline. Graphic design majors are urged to consider a minor in another field.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to
The school also offers minors in graphic design and in web design.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C is required in any course within the graphic design major that serves as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered course.
Program Requirement: Each student entering the sophomore-level graphic design curriculum will be required to have a personal computer, color printer, and the software supported by the graphic design program. Recommended computer specifications are available from an advisor or by visiting the graphic design program website.
Degree Requirements — Graphic Design
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core on page 42 for details. Graphic design majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: GD 301 History of Graphic Design, in addition to COM 300 Report Writing (a major elective), and one additional WI course from the Liberal Arts Core or university electives.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II
GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop
GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator
GD 103 Software Lab III: Motion Graphics
GD 104 Software Lab IV: WordPress
GD 105 Software Lab V: Video Editing
GD 200 Electronic Publishing
GD 202 Illustration I
GD 203 Photography: Digital Imaging
GD 255 Typography
GD 301 History of Graphic Design
GD 305 Graphic Design Studio I
GD 308 Web Design
GD 360 Graphic Design Studio II
GD 400 Internship
One (1) course from the following: GD 310 Electronic Media, GD 401 Graphic Design Studio III, GD 404 Performance Media Lab
GD 405 Portfolio
9 credits in electives from the following: COM 101 Public Speaking, COM 300 Report Writing, COM 315 Writing for the Media, GD 205 Video Production I, GD 302 Illustration II, GD 304 Video Production II, GD 310 Electronic Media, GD 401 Graphic Design Studio III, GD 404 Performance Media Lab, GD 421 Project, GD 433 Research, MKT 301 Principles of Marketing, MKT 319 Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications
All majors have the option of completing coursework in an emphasis area as follows. Those who do not choose an emphasis will complete their studies with elective coursework.
Visual Communication emphasis
COM 100 Media Communication
COM 101 Public Speaking
COM 205 or GD 205 Video Production I
COM 209 Journalism I
COM 305 Journalism II
COM 315 Writing for the New Media
COM 316 Broadcast Journalism or COM 317 Editing and the Editorial Process
COM 404 Performance Media Lab
MKT 301 Principles of Marketing
MKT 319 Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications
Web Design emphasis
GD 404 Performance Media Lab
IT 125 Web Development
IT 225 Advanced Web Design
IT 310 Database Technology
3 credits from the following: GD 205 Video Production I, GD 310 Electronic Media, GD 433 Research, IT 130 Java Programming, IT 210 Software Engineering, IT 225 Advanced Web Development, IT 230 Advanced Java Programming, IT 305 Computer Networking, IT 310 Database Technology, IT 315 Operating Systems, IT 345 Human Factors in Information Systems, IT 355 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
Sample Degree Plan — Graphic Design
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This plan is based on the web design emphasis and will differ for students taking the visual communication emphasis.
Year One — Fall
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design §
FA 105 Drawing I §
GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop §
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator §
GD 200 Electronic Publishing §
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Year Two — Fall
GD 202 Illustration I § *
Graphic Design Emphasis course § ** or elective
FA 202 Introduction to Art History I (FNA core course) § *
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
Year Two — Spring
GD 104 Software Lab IV: WordPress §
GD 203 Photography: Digital Imaging §
GD 255 Typography §
GD 301 History of Graphic Design # §
Graphic Design emphasis course § ** or elective
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Three — Fall
GD 103 Software Lab III: Motion Graphics §
GD 305 Graphic Design Studio I §
GD 308 Web Design §
Graphic Design emphasis course § ** or elective
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Three — Spring
GD 360 Graphic Design Studio II § *
Two (2) Graphic Design emphasis courses § ** or electives
Advanced History (HI-2) or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Year Four — Fall
GD 401 Graphic Design Studio III § * # or elective
GD 405 Senior Portfolio §
Two (2) Graphic Design emphasis courses § ** or electives
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Four — Spring
GD 400 Internship § *
GD 310 Electronic Media, COM/GD 404 Performance Media Lab § * # or elective
Graphic Design emphasis course § ** or elective
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core on page 42 and Course Descriptions on page 140 for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
# GD 310, GD 401, and COM/GD 404 are not offered every semester, and students should consult with an advisor to complete the preferred course in a timely manner. Note that Visual Communication and Web Design Emphasis students must choose COM/GD 404 to fulfill Major/Emphasis Requirements.
Minor Requirements
GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop
GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator
GD 104 Software Lab IV: WordPress
GD 200 Electronic Publishing or GD 305 Graphic Design Studio I
GD 202 Illustration I
GD 203 Photography: Digital Imaging
9 additional credits in Graphic Design courses
Minor Requirements
GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop*
GD 104 Software Lab IV: WordPress*
GD 308 Web Design
GD 404 Performance Media Lab
IT 125 Web Development
IT 225 Advanced Web Design
IT 310 Database Technology
3 more credits in Information Technology or Graphic Design courses
*Students can place out of these courses and substitute other IT and GD courses. The following courses are also relevant to web design and can be used as electives: GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator, GD 202 Illustration I, GD 203 Digital Imaging, GD 205 Video Production I, GD 310 Electronic Media, GD 421 Project, IT 130 Java Programming, IT 210 Software Engineering, IT 230 Advanced Java Programming, IT 305 Computer Networking, IT 340 Data Structures and Algorithms
This certificate prepares students to create and maintain websites. Students study relevant computer programming and software applications.
Certificate Requirements
20 credits
GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop*
GD 104 Software Lab IV: WordPress*
GD 308 Web Design
GD 404 Performance Media Lab
IT 125 Web Development
IT 225 Advanced Web Design
IT 310 Database Technology
3 more credits in Information Technology or Graphic Design courses
*Students can place out of these courses and substitute other IT and GD courses. The following courses are also relevant to web design and can be used as electives: GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator, GD 202 Illustration I, GD 203 Digital Imaging, GD 205 Video Production I, GD 310 Electronic Media, GD 421 Project, IT 130 Java Programming, IT 210 Software Engineering, IT 230 Advanced Java Programming, IT 305 Computer Networking, IT 340 Data Structures and Algorithms.
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