Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (Graphic Design)

Website: https://twu.edu/visual-arts/undergraduate-programs/graphic-design/

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art with a Graphic Design emphasis will prepare you for a career in visual communications. Our program fosters a community of learners, both in and outside of the classroom. We guide you to grow with your peers through critique and offer portfolio-building opportunities through collaboration with professionals. Through a rigorous investigation of design concepts, typography, image-making, critical thinking, process, client projects, and internships you will develop a wide range of marketable skills.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Typography & Page Design: Master the aesthetics and function of typography and apply it to interactive, electronic, and printed page design.
  2. Updating and Using Relevant Computer Skills: Build proficiency in current industry-standard software for 2D, 3D, and 4D design and imaging. Use 2D and 3D hardware for photographing, scanning, and printing portfolio/exhibition quality pieces.
  3. Professional Experience: Through client projects, internships, and professional practices develop professional graphic design experience, a marketable portfolio, and job-search skills
  4. Ideation & Visualization: Develop a number of relevant ideas, expressed in verbal and visual language, about a topic for a client/intended audience.
  5. Networking: Make graphic design industry and community connections through client projects, field trips, and workshops.
  6. Develop Objectives and Strategies: Establish long-range objectives and specify strategies for graduate school application and/or success in the graphic design industry.
  7. Service Orientation: Through Design Studio and client projects, engage in socially responsible and community-focused design that contributes to the common good.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

In addition, all students must submit a portfolio to SlideRoom consisting of a PDF that includes name, artist’s statement, and 10 high-quality images of the applicant’s strongest artwork, each on its own page and captioned with title, media, dimensions, and date completed.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120   

Major: 33 SCH

Program Code: ART.BFA.GRAPHDESGN;  CIP Code: 50.0701.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

Students who have not taken a Global Perspectives course, will either need to take one in this section, or will need to add 3 SCH to the overall degree and take one in another department.
Art History Foundation (12 SCH)
ART 2423World Art History I3
ART 2433World Art History II3
ART 3053Global Perspectives in Art3
or ART 3343 Women in the Visual Arts
ART 3173Contemporary Issues in Art3
Studio Art Foundation (12 SCH)
ART 12032D Foundations3
ART 12133D Foundations3
ART 1303Drawing Foundations3
ART 2223Digital Art Foundations3
Introductory Electives - Choose 9 SCH9
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Photography
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Ceramics
Principles of Art Education
Animation
Total SCHs33

Intermediate and Advanced Studies

ART 2243Fundamentals of Type and Image3
ART 2293Visual Identity and Symbol3
ART 3253Motion Graphics3
ART 4363Community-Focused Design Studio3
ART 4953Internship3
Focus Area (9 SCH)9
Visual Communication
Publication Design
Web and App Design
Advertising and Social Media Design
Illustration
Character Design
Digital Illustration
Narrative Illustration
Advanced Electives - Choose 12 SCH12
3000 or 4000 level ART
Entrepreneurship
Small Business Management
Total SCHs36

Capstone

ART 3393Professional Practices for Visual Arts3
ART 3903Professional Writing for Visual Arts3
ART 4993BFA Exhibition3
Total SCHs9

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
ART 12032D Foundations ARTS 13113
ART 1303Drawing Foundations ARTS 13163
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
Wellness CAO Core2
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ART 12133D Foundations ARTS 13123
ART 2223Digital Art Foundations ARTS 23483
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Social/Behavioral Science Core3
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
ART 2293Visual Identity and Symbol 3
Art Introductory Elective3
ART 2423World Art History I ART 13033
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
Mathematics Core3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ART 2243Fundamentals of Type and Image 3
ART Introductory Elective3
ART 2433World Art History II ART 13043
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Creative Arts Core3
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
ART 3253Motion Graphics 3
ART Introductory Elective3
ART 3903Professional Writing for Visual Arts 3
Language, Philosophy and Culture Core3
Life and Physical Science Core3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ART 3053
or 3343
Global Perspectives in Art
or Women in the Visual Arts
3
Focus Area Elective3
ART 4313Advertising and Social Media Design 3
Life and Physical Science Core3
ART Elective 3000 or 4000 level3
 SCHs 15
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
ART 3173Contemporary Issues in Art 3
ART 3393Professional Practices for Visual Arts 3
ART 4363Community-Focused Design Studio 3
Focus Area Elective3
Component Area Option (Multicultural Women's Studies)3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ART 4953Internship 3
ART 4993BFA Exhibition 3
Focus Area Elective3
ART Elective 3000 or 4000 level3
ART Elective 3000 or 4000 level3
 SCHs 15
 Total SCHs:  120