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GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGN

Graphic Design (B.A.)
Graphic Design (Minor)
Web Design (Minor)
Web Design (Undergraduate Certificate)

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 the publication and printing industries; advertising and marketing organizations; and graphic design departments of corporations, government agencies, and retailers. 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).

The School also offers minors in Graphic Design and in Web Design.

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.

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 Department Web site.

Suggested Degree Plan

Year One

Fall

  • FA 103 Design I§
    FA 105 Drawing I§
    GD 101 Software Lab I: Photoshop§
    GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator§
    EN 101 Composition I*
    Mathematics elective*
    SEM 101 Freshman Seminar

Spring

  • GD 104: Software Lab IV: Dreamweaver§
    GD 200 Desktop Publishing§
    ECO/POL/PSY/SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
    EN 102 Composition II*
    Health elective*
    Science elective*

Year Two

Fall

  • GD 202 Illustration I§
    FA 201 History of Art I* §
    COM 300 Report Writing*
    Graphic Design Emphasis course§ ** or elective
    Elective

Spring

  • GD 103 Software Lab III: Flash§
    GD 203 Photography: Digital Imaging§
    GD 255 Typography I§
    FA 202 History of Art II* §
    Graphic Design Emphasis course§ ** or elective
    Social Sciences elective*

Year Three

Fall

  • GD 265 Typography II§
    GD 308 Web Design§
    Graphic Design Emphasis course§ ** or elective
    Humanities (English Literature) elective*
    Humanities elective*

Spring

  • GD 360 Graphic Design Studio§
    Graphic Design Emphasis course§ ** or elective
    Humanities (History) elective*
    Social Sciences elective*
    Elective

Year Four

Fall

  • GD 405 Senior Portfolio§
    Graphic Design Emphasis course§ ** or elective
    Humanities 300/400-level elective*
    Social Sciences 300/400-level elective*
    Elective*

Spring

  • GD 400 Internship§
    Two (2) Graphic Design Emphasis courses§ ** or electives
    Elective*

§ Requirement for the major or track
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.
**Graphic Design Emphasis courses will be chosen from the following:

Visual Communication: COM 100 Media Communication, COM 101 Public Speaking, COM 209 Journalism I, GD/COM 303 Visual Production, COM 305 Journalism II, GD 309 Web Multimedia Design, COM 316 Broadcast Journalism or COM 317 Editing and the Editorial Process, COM 315 Writing for the New Media, MKT 301 Principles of Marketing, MKT 319 Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications

Web Design: IT 130 Java Programming; IT 230 Advanced Java Programming; IT 325 Web Development; GD 309 Web Multimedia Design; 3 credits from the following: IT 210 Software Engineering, 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, GD 303 Video Production, GD 433 Research

Graphic Design (Minor)

Minor Requirements

Web Design (Minor)

Minor Requirements

**See footnote under Undergraduate Certificate below.

Web Design (Undergraduate Certificate)

This certificate prepares students to create and maintain Web sites. Students study relevant computer programming and software applications.

Certificate Requirements

22 credits

**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: IT 210 Software Engineering, IT 305 Computer Networking, IT 310 Database Technology, IT 340 Data Structures and Algorithms, IT 365 Intelligent and Agent-based Systems, GD 102 Software Lab II: Illustrator, GD 202 Illustration I, GD 203 Digital Imaging, GD 303 Video Production, GD 433 Research