BFA Program » Design
Design
Students in the design program conceptualize and execute projects for a specific target audience. As students progress through the program, they create a body of work that demonstrates their creativity, analytical thinking and expertise in graphic design techniques.
Students learn to combine typography and images to create a wide variety of designs such as magazine and newspaper advertisements, television storyboards, product packaging and displays. Assignments also include using design to clearly communicate both a corporate image and a personal identity.
Design students must develop finely tuned analytical skills. Their assignments are based on learning to analyze the needs of a client, create a concept that will meet those needs, and clearly articulate that concept, both visually and verbally. Professional communication skills and business acumen are essential to success in the design field.
A variety of methods and tools are applied in the completion of projects. Design students will learn to use industry-standard graphic arts equipment and software to produce fully functioning electronic files.
Project management is also an important component of the program. Students must learn to plan and execute projects with multiple deadlines in an efficient and professional manner.
BFA Sample Curriculum
| Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design |
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| Semester 1 |
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| Fundamentals of Art I |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Beginning Life Drawing I |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| English Language Arts I |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| Freshman Seminar |
1 Semester Credit Hour |
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| Semester 2 |
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| Fundamentals of Art II |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Beginning Life Drawing II |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Anatomy |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 3 |
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| Introduction to 2-D Design |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Digital Graphic Foundations |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| English Language Arts II |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| Art History Survey I |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 4 |
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| Intermediate 2-D Design and Typography |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Graphic Design |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Art History Survey II |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| (One of four) Film and Society; Film and Society: World Cultures; Contemporary Visual Culture; or Art and Activism |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 5 |
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| Advertising |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Electronic Imaging |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Quantitative Literacy |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| Marketing |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 6 |
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| Digital and Pre-press Production |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Packaging Design |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| (One of three) Intro to Lab Science; Vision, Light and Color; or Advanced Anatomy |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| (One of seven) Survey of American Illustration; History of Graphic Design; 20th Century and Contemporary Art History; Art History: Renaissance and Baroque; Art History: Art and Technology; Art History: Rococo and Neo-Classical; or World Art |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 7 |
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| Environmental Design |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Studio Elective 200/300 or 400 Level |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| Studio Elective 200/300 or 400 Level |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
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| Semester 8 |
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| Portfolio: Visual Communications |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| (One of three) Web Design I; Multimedia I: Interactive Graphics; or Internship |
5 Semester Credit Hours |
| (One of four) Film and Society; Film and Society: World Cultures; Contemporary Visual Culture; or Art and Activism |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
| Professional Writing |
3 Semester Credit Hours |
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| 122 Total Credits Required for the BFA Degree in Design |
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