Graphic Design, BA

Graphic Design (BA) Offered by the Department of Art, College of Arts and Sciences. Admission to the Program Formal admission to the major requires satisfactory completion (grades of C+ or better) of the following foundation courses: COMM-330 Principles of Photography (3) GDES-200 Visual Communication Design FA1 (3) GDES-210 Typography I: Visible Language for Publications and Media (3) GDES-220 Digital and Emerging Media Design I (3) 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better Completion of college writing requirement Completion of university mathematics requirement General Education Requirements A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline Major Requirements 54 credit hours with grades of C or better 24 of the last 30 credit hours in the major program must be taken in residence, of which 18 credit hours must be in design and 3 credit hours in art history or studio. All students will submit a portfolio for departmental evaluation prior to beginning their senior year. The department may issue formal warnings to students performing at marginal levels. Tracks: Print Media, or Experience Design and Multimedia Course Requirements Required (21 credit hours) ARTH-105 Art: The Historical Experience FA1 (3) COMM-330 Principles of Photography (3) GDES-200 Visual Communication Design FA1 (3) GDES-210 Typography I: Visible Language for Publications and Media (3) GDES-220 Digital and Emerging Media Design I (3) GDES-230 Graphic Design History: Visual Culture, Commerce, and Propaganda FA1 (3) GDES-300 Typography II: Type and Image (3) Tracks Complete the Print Media or Experience Design and Multimedia track: Print Media (33 credit hours) Required GDES-310 Design for Print: Digital and Analog Print Production (3) GDES-320 Visual Concepts and Image Making for Design (3) GDES-400 Advanced Design I: Visual Branding and Design Systems (3) GDES-420 Advanced Design II: Publication Design for Print and Digital Media (3) 9 credit hours from the following: GDES-315 Digital and Emerging Media Design II (3) GDES-325 Kinetic and Sequential Graphics (3) GDES-350 Illustration (3) GDES-405 Experience Design: Interactive Media and Mobile Devices (3) GDES-425 Interactive Experience Design: Senior Projects (3) GDES-450 Packaging Design (3) GDES-490 Independent Study Project (1-6) with department approval GDES-491 Internship (1-6) with department approval Additional Courses 12 credit hours from the following, with at least 3 credit hours from each set of courses: Set One ARTS-100 Art: The Studio Experience FA1 (3) ARTS-205 The Artist's Perspective: Drawing FA1 (3) ARTS-210 The Artist's Perspective: Painting FA1 (3) ARTS-215 The Artist's Perspective: Sculpture FA1 (3) ARTS-344 Ceramics Studio (3) ARTS-420 Painting Studio (3) ARTS-440 Sculpture Studio (3) ARTS-460 Drawing Studio (3) ARTS-463 Printmaking Studio: Intaglio and Relief (3) ARTS-464 Printmaking Studio: Screenprint (3) Set Two ARTH-205 Art of the Renaissance FA2 (3) ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries FA1 (3) Set Three COMM-401 Communication Law (3) COMM-478 Large Format and Commercial Photography (3) COMM-479 Fine Art Photography (3) Experience Design and Multimedia (33 credit hours) Required GDES-315 Digital and Emerging Media Design II (3) GDES-325 Kinetic and Sequential Graphics (3) GDES-405 Experience Design: Interactive Media and Mobile Devices (3) GDES-425 Interactive Experience Design: Senior Projects (3) 9 credit hours from the following: GDES-310 Design for Print: Digital and Analog Print Production (3) GDES-320 Visual Concepts and Image Making for Design (3) GDES-350 Illustration (3) GDES-400 Advanced Design I: Visual Branding and Design Systems (3) GDES-420 Advanced Design II: Publication Design for Print and Digital Media (3) GDES-450 Packaging Design (3) GDES-490 Independent Study Project (1-6) with department approval GDES-491 Internship (1-6) with department approval Additional Courses 12 credit hours from the following, with at least 3 credit hours from each set of courses: Set One COMM-331 Film and Video Production I (3) COMM-401 Communication Law (3) COMM-435 Introduction to Studio Television (3) COMM-478 Large Format and Commercial Photography (3) COMM-479 Fine Art Photography (3) COMM-520 History of Animation (3) Set Two ATEC-101 Fundamentals of Audio Technology (3) ATEC-102 Audio Technology Laboratory (1) CSC-280 Introduction to Computer Science I (4) CSC-281 Introduction to Computer Science II (3) CSC-435 Web Programming (3) PERF-110 Understanding Music FA1 (3) Set Three ARTH-205 Art of the Renaissance FA2 (3) ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries FA1 (3) ARTS-100 Art: The Studio Experience FA1 (3) ARTS-205 The Artist's Perspective: Drawing FA1 (3) ARTS-210 The Artist's Perspective: Painting FA1 (3) ARTS-215 The Artist's Perspective: Sculpture FA1 (3) Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor's/master's programs. See Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees for more information.