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Graphic and Web Design

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Graphic Design (B.A.)

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

exhibit the ability to effectively use typography when designing;
demonstrate the ability to technically prepare design work for print and interactive media including Web;
demonstrate the ability to conduct design research, audience analysis, and apply those to the design problem-solving process;
demonstrate the understanding of and ability to design community service projects;
exhibit the ability to apply graphic design methods and processes; and
exhibit portfolio-quality designs and effectively present one’s work.

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 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

Nine (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

One (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 105 Software Lab V: Video Editing §

GD 202 Illustration I § *

One (1) 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 # §

One (1) 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 §

One (1) 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

One (1) 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 and Course Descriptions 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.

Graphic Design (Minor)

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

Nine (9) additional credits in graphic design courses

Web Design (Minor)

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

Three (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