Overview
http://www.design.iastate.edu/graphicdesign/index.php
The Curriculum in Graphic Design leads to a 124-credit undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design including the 31-credit Core Design Program.
Admission into the professional program depends upon available resources and is subject to the approval of a faculty committee at the completion of the Core Design Program. Information on admission criteria is posted each year on the College of Design website.
Transfer students with studio credits from other programs, colleges, and universities must present for departmental review a portfolio of work done in those courses in order to have the credits apply toward studio requirements. Students are required to present this portfolio upon admission and prior to registration for classes. Arrangements for this process must be made with department advisors.
A 30-graduate-credit program is offered leading to the Master of Arts with a specialization in Graphic Design for students planning to undertake a professional degree. (NOTE: Applicants without a degree background in graphic design may be required to complete up to 18 additional credits of coursework).
A 60-graduate-credit post-professional graduate program is also offered leading to the degree Master of Fine Arts.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students in this program will be able to:
- Use creative problem solving and design processes when faced with graphic design challenges.
- Employ visual organization skills in a variety of communication media.
- Understand applications of visual communication including animation, branding, image creation, information design, interaction design, symbology, typography, video, through contemporary and emerging technologies; and
- Integrate cultural, ethical, and historical considerations in preparation for professional practice.
Degree Requirements
Total Degree Requirement: 124 credits
Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply, which may include up to 16 technical credits; 9 P-NP credits of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.
International Perspective: 3 credits
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity): 3 credits
Communications: 10 credits
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication * | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition * | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Listening | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
- *
with a C or better
Humanities: 6 credits
6 credits from program curriculum sheet.
Social Sciences: 6 credits
6 credits from program curriculum sheet.
Math/Physics/Biol. Sciences: 6 credits
| COMS 1060 | Introduction to Web Programming | 3 |
| 3 credits from program curriculum sheet | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
General Education Courses: 12 credits
6 credits of course level 3000-4000 from program curriculum sheet; Complete 6 credits from department curriculum sheet.
College of Design Core: 13 credits
| DSNS 1020 | Design Studio I | 4 |
| DSNS 1150 | Design Collaborative Seminar | 1 |
| or DSNS 1100 | Design Exchange Seminar I | |
| DSNS 1310 | Drawing I | 4 |
| DSNS 1320 | Digital Design Literacy | 1 |
| DSNS 1830 | Design in Context | 3 |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Art and Design History: 12 credits
| ARTH 2800 | History of Art I | 3 |
| ARTH 2810 | History of Art II | 3 |
| Six credits from program curriculum sheet | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Studio Options: 6 credits
6 credits from ARTIS, ARTID, LA, ARCH, or another approved studio course.
Graphic Design: 52 credits
| ARTGR 2700 | Graphic Design Studio I | 3 |
| ARTGR 2710 | Graphic Design Studio II | 3 |
| ARTGR 2720 | Digital Photography for Graphic Design | 3 |
| ARTGR 2730 | Typography I | 3 |
| ARTGR 2740 | Typography II | 3 |
| ARTGR 3770 | Graphic Design Internship Seminar | 1 |
| ARTGR 3700 | Graphic Design Studio III | 3 |
| ARTGR 3710 | Graphic Design Studio IV | 3 |
| ARTGR 3870 | Graphic Design History/Theory/ Criticism I | 3 |
| ARTGR 3720 | Graphic Materials and Processes | 3 |
| ARTGR 4700 | Graphic Design Studio V | 3 |
| ARTGR 4710 | Graphic Design Capstone | 3 |
| ARTGR 4800 | Graphic Design Internship | 3 |
| ARTGR 4890 | Design Ethics | 3 |
| Twelve credit options from program curriculum sheet | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Electives: 1 credits
Remaining electives sufficient to complete graduation requirements.
Graphic Design, B.F.A.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 | DSNS 1020 or 1310 | 4 | ||
| DSNS 1320 | 1 | DSNS 1830 (or General Education) | 3 | ||
| DSNS 1830 (or General Education) | 3 | ENGL 1500 (or General Education) | 3 | ||
| DSNS 1100 or 1150 | 1 | General Education | 3 | ||
| ENGL 1500 (or General Education) | 3 | General Education | 3 | ||
| General Education | 3 | LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| General Education | 3 | ||||
| 18 | 17 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ARTGR 2700 | 3 | ARTGR 2710 | 3 | ||
| ARTGR 2730 | 3 | ARTGR 2740 | 3 | ||
| ARTH 2800 | 3 | ARTH 2810 | 3 | ||
| ARTIS, ARTID, LA, or ARCH Studio or ARTGR 2720 | 3 | ARTIS, ARTID, LA or ARCH studio or ARTGR 2720 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 2500 (or Communication Study) | 3 | ENGL 2500 (or Communication Study) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ARTGR 3700 | 3 | ARTGR 3710 | 3 | ARTGR 4800 (or) | |
| ARTGR 3720 | 3 | ARTGR Option | 3 | ARTGR 4950 | 3 |
| ARTGR 3870 | 3 | ART or DSN History, General Education, or Rome Prep | 3 | Students who elect to participate in the Rome Program need to take additional 3 elective credits to reach the 123.5 needed to graduate. | |
| ARTGR Option | 3 | DSNS 3010 | 1 | ||
| ARTIS, ARTID, LA, or ARCH Studio | 3 | Elective: ROME, Italian | 1 | ||
| ARTGR 3770 | 1 | General Education | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ARTGR 4700 | 3 | ARTGR 4710 | 3 | ||
| ARTGR Option | 3 | Elective | 2-3 | ||
| ART & DESIGN History or General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 | ||
| ARTIS, ARTID, LA or ARCH Studio or General Ed | 3 | General Education | 3 | ||
| ARTGR 4890 | 3 | ARTGR Option | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14-15 | ||||
Admission into the BFA in Graphic Design Program depends upon available resources and is subject to the approval of a faculty committee at the completion of the Core Design Program. Information on the admission criteria is posted each year on the College of Design website.
Graduate Programs
The department offers the degrees of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Graphic Design and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Experiential Graphic Design.
Credit earned at Iowa State University or other institution for the Master of Arts degree may be applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree at the discretion of the program of study committee.
Applicants to the graduate program should have an undergraduate major in an art or design area and demonstrate the ability to do technically competent and original work through the presentation of a digital portfolio for faculty review. Past academic performance and the quality of studio work are critical in the admission process. A minimum 3.0 GPA in the student's undergraduate major is the standard for full admission to the graduate program. Admission is also determined by studio space available within the program area, which changes yearly due to graduate students' progress in their programs of study.
Graduate students who have not completed an undergraduate program of study substantially equivalent to that required of undergraduates in the department can expect that additional supporting coursework, determined by the graduate faculty, may be required.
Prospective students are advised to contact the graduate coordinator with specific questions about admission procedures and portfolio review. Application and additional program information may be obtained from the Department of Graphic Design, College of Design, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3092.
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (M.F.A.)
The Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is recognized as the terminal degree in the field and requires a minimum of 60 credits. M.F.A. graduates in Graphic Design are skilled in communication design, problem solving, and are adept in the use of visual language, symbology, and interaction. Graduates are proficient in the design of communications and the use of technologies that incorporate human interaction with environments, objects, and electronic and traditional publications. Students and faculty work collaboratively on a required thesis, integrating theory, creation, research, and design problem solving.
Master of Arts in Experiential Graphic Design (M.A.)
This 30-credit degree focuses on preparing students for visual communication. This degree provides a comprehensive exposure to all aspects of user experience, including but not exclusive to wayfinding, exhibition design, interaction, information design, and placemaking.
The MAXGD is for those seeking a graphic design specialization with little to no previous experience in the area. Students may use the degree as a complement to a bachelor's degree in graphic design or another design field to enhance their skills and qualifications for employment. It can also be used to complement those students with an undergraduate degree in a graphic design area that would like to add an additional graduate level study to their coursework prior to enter the field.
MFA in Graphic Design Degree Requirements
Graphic Design Requirements, 27 cr.
| ARTGR 5110 | Graphic Design Graduate Studio I | 3 |
| ARTGR 5120 | Audience and Perception | 3 |
| ARTGR 5210 | Graphic Design Graduate Studio II | 3 |
| ARTGR 5220 | Critical Media | 3 |
| ARTGR 5300 | User Engagement | 3 |
| ARTGR 5400 | Design for Behavioral Change | 3 |
| ARTGR 6100 | Thesis Preparation Studio | 3 |
| ARTGR 6200 | Graduate Thesis Studio I | 3 |
| ARTGR 6300 | Graduate Thesis Studio II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Graphic Design Seminar Requirements, 10 cr.
| ARTGR 5100 | Graphic Design Theory | 3 |
| ARTGR 5200 | Design & Cultural Semiotics | 3 |
| ARTGR 5310 | Graphic Design Graduate Project Preparation | 1 |
| DSNS 5010 | Introduction to Research Design | 3 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Elective Focus Area, 9 cr.
Outside of graphic design but supports area of research, may be studio (ex. DSNS 5460) or other class outside the College of Design: See Graphic Design M.F.A Suggested Minor Course List
May also include ISU Preparing Future Faculty (PFF): 3-11 cr.
Art History, Theory, Criticism, 12 cr.
| Grad-level art/design history, theory, criticism courses in the College of Design | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Thesis, 3-6 cr.
| ARTGR 6990 | Research-Thesis | 3-6 |