Graphic Design (Bachelor of Fine Arts, B.F.A.)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Graphic Design prepares designers for communicative, technological, societal, service, and industrial needs across the design industry. Designers work in advertising, digital design, graphic design, marketing, and public relations. Students integrate methodology, prototyping, aesthetics, human factors, technology, materials, context, and audience to develop strategies and solutions that give form to print, screen, and the virtual or built environments.
Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 42 | |
| Students must complete General Studies courses 1 | ||
| Major Requirements | 90 | |
| ART 110 | Beginning Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 120 | Design Foundations | 3 |
| ART 129 | Digital Tools and Techniques | 3 |
| ART 190 | Digital 3D Fundamentals | 3 |
| or ART 192 | Digital Imaging | |
| ART 205 | Survey of Art History I | 3 |
| ART 250 | Motion Graphics | 3 |
| ART 255 | Survey of Art History II | 3 |
| ART 290 | Branding and Identity Design | 3 |
| ART 292 | Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| ART 315 | Digital Illustration I | 3 |
| ART 333 | Typography | 3 |
| ART 344 | UX Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 349 | Web Design and Development | 3 |
| ART 359 | Creative Digital Photography I | 3 |
| or JOU 104 | Digital Photography | |
| ART 390 | Advertising Design | 3 |
| ART 449 | Mobile Application Design | 3 |
| ART 488 | Portfolio Development | 3 |
| ART 489 | Portfolio and Preparation | 3 |
| ART 493 | Art and Design Internship | 3 |
| JOU 204 | Digital Videography | 3 |
| JOU 432 | Social Media Branding | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Select six additional credit hours of advanced electives | 6 | |
| 3D Modeling and Design Processes | ||
| Creative Digital Photography II | ||
| Digital Illustration II | ||
| Independent Research/Project | ||
| Digital Illustration III | ||
| Art and Design Internship | ||
| Select six additional credit hours of guided electives | 6 | |
| Introduction to Information Technology | ||
| Beginning Drawing II | ||
| Three-Dimensional Design | ||
| Animation Fundamentals | ||
| Producing and Directing | ||
| Manufacturing Methods | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Advertising and Promotion | ||
| Psychology of Communication | ||
| Selection six additional credit hours of art history | 6 | |
| Theory and Criticism of Visual Culture | ||
| Topics in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Topics in Modern/Contemporary Art | ||
| Topics in Renaissance/Baroque Art | ||
| Topics in Non-Western Art | ||
| Select six credit hours of communication electives: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Mass Media | ||
| Presentational Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Reporting for the Media | ||
| Griffon Media | ||
| Multimedia Storytelling | ||
- 1
Courses in general studies may also be required within the major. While the course(s) may satisfy both requirements, the credit hours will count only one time in the overall hours earned.
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 continuing education credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.