Visual communication is among the most basic of human languages. Through the study of art, students acquire a rich understanding of human nature, values, psychology, aesthetics and history. Well-prepared artists, designers and educators are crucial contributors to our increasingly complex visual world -- career opportunities are numerous. Graduates of our program now work in a variety of fields, such as educators at the secondary and collegiate level, art directors, illustrators and graphic designers in advertising agencies, studio photographers and filmmakers, museum and gallery curators, certified art therapists and as independent studio artists with professional gallery representation.
Admission to the Program
All students are welcome to declare a Graphic Design major. There is no formal admission process, however, students are required to submit portfolios every year. Failure to submit an annual portfolio will lead to removal from the department. By the end of the junior year, students will submit another portfolio showing the artistic direction that they will focus on for the two-semester Senior Seminar, culminating in a professional group exhibition in the SXU Gallery.
Requirements (45 credit hours)
Students in the Graphic Design major must earn grades of C or above in all courses required for the major.
Required Courses (39 credits)
Students must take the following courses:
- ART 101: Drawing I (3)
- ART 113: Digital Photography (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (3)
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (3)
- ART 120: Graphic Design I (3)
- ART 124: Portfolio Seminar (3)
- ART 201: Drawing II (3)
- ART 202: Design Three-Dimensional (3)
- ART 211: Typography (3)
- ART 220: Graphic Design II (3)
- ART 223: Modern and Contemporary Art (3)
- ART 305: Senior Seminar I (3)
- ART 306: Senior Seminar II (3)
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Choose two Graphic Design elective courses from this list:
- ART 106: Intro to Game Design (3)
- ART 107: Intro to New Media Production (3)
- ART 125: Intro to Video (3)
- ART 237: Screen Printed Poster (3)
- ART 241: Illustration (3)
- ART 322: Advertising and Marketing (3)
- ART 327: Multimedia (3)
- ART 365: Internship (3)