Graphic Design Undergraduate Major (BFA, HBFA)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design (GD) is an exciting and rigorous program at OSU. The disciplinary foundations of graphic design are rooted in visual problem solving, design theory and history, as well as professional practices that tie into business and marketing for specific audiences. Examples of the work graphic designers engage in include both print and digital media such as the design of:
- branding and visual identities
- publication design (magazines, editorial, catalogs)
- digital design (UX-UI, interactive experiences)
- motion design
- data-driven design
- packaging
The discipline of graphic design is constantly changing due to new technologies, broader target audiences, and softer boundaries between disciplines. Students learn to be adaptable, flexible and collaborative in how they work. Graphic designers are creative thinkers and makers and may have strengths and interests in drawing, printmaking and photography.
The Graphic Design major is a professional program. Entering students are designated as Pre-Graphic Design majors.
The pre-professional Graphic Design program typically takes one year to complete. After completing the pre-professional program requirements, students may apply to the professional Graphic Design program. Students will not be permitted to take professional Graphic Design course work without acceptance into the professional Graphic Design program. If admitted into the professional Graphic Design program, it will take students three additional years to complete the professional program regardless of transfer credit standing.
Admission into the professional Graphic Design program is subject to a competitive application process. To apply and be considered for admission, all pre-professional students must meet the following requirements:
- Be declared as a Pre-Graphic Design major.
- Have completed and received a C– or better in ALL courses within the Pre-Graphic Design major by the end of spring term before applying.
Criteria for acceptance. Students will be evaluated on the following:
- Completion and grade in GD 126.
- Completion and grades in GD Foundation courses: ART 101, ART 115, ART 121, and ART 131.
- Completion and grades in:
Transfer students, who have previously earned an associates degree in graphic design or related field, are encouraged to contact the program coordinator to submit a portfolio of design-related work for entry into the Graphic Design program at the junior-level. Admission, by transfer, is restricted by enrollment.
Major Code: 779
Pre-Graphic Design Major Code: 479
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate design processes such as research, analysis, prototyping and synthesis, from concept to delivery, to solve communication problems.
- Create communication solutions that address audiences and context, by recognizing the human factors that determine design decisions.
- Utilize relevant application of tools and technology in the creation, reproduction, and distribution of visual messages.
- Apply graphic design principles in the creation, development, and production of visual messages.
- Identify and utilize design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including: art history, communication/information theory, and the social/cultural use of design objects.
- Demonstrate skills that enable effective collaboration through teamwork.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Graphic Design Core | ||
| ART 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| ART 115 | 2-D CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| ART 121 | DIGITAL CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| ART 131 | DRAWING CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| GD 126 | GRAPHIC DESIGN PRO APPLICATION | 2 |
| Lower-Division Graphic Design Professional Core | ||
| ART 263 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 4 |
| GD 200 | GRAPHIC DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION 1 | 4 |
| GD 220 | GRAPHIC DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION 2 | 4 |
| GD 224 | INTERACTIVE DESIGN 1 | 4 |
| GD 226 | TYPOGRAPHY 1 | 4 |
| GD 228 | PROCESS: MAKING AND MEANING | 4 |
| GD 230 | GRAPHIC DESIGN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| GD 269 | GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY | 3 |
| Select one ART history course from the following: | 3 | |
| +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: PREHISTORY TO HIGH MIDDLE AGES | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: GOTHIC TO BAROQUE | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN ART: NEOCLASSICISM TO CONTEMPORARY | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART | ||
| *HISTORY OF WESTERN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| *PHOTOGRAPHY: HISTORY, TECHNOLOGY, CULTURE AND ART | ||
| Upper-Division Graphic Design Professional Core 1 | ||
| ART 367 | *HISTORY OF DESIGN | 3 |
| GD 312 | ^CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN DESIGN | 3 |
| GD 325 | GRAPHIC DESIGN: COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES | 4 |
| GD 326 | TYPOGRAPHY 2 | 4 |
| GD 327 | TYPOGRAPHY 3 | 4 |
| GD 328 | INTERACTIVE 2 | 4 |
| GD 329 | +GRAPHIC DESIGN STRATEGIES: ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION | 4 |
| GD 419 | PORTFOLIO REVIEW | 3 |
| GD 420 | +GRAPHIC DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES | 3 |
| GD 424 | BRAND IDENTITY SYSTEMS | 4 |
| GD 426 | GRAPHIC DESIGN CAPSTONE 1 | 3 |
| GD 427 | CAPSTONE 2 | 4 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select at least two courses from the following: 1 | 8 | |
| GRAPHIC DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| INFORMATION AND PUBLICATION DESIGN | ||
| NEW MEDIA: INTERACTIVE | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY | ||
| GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDIO | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 24 credits of GD or ART courses, with at least 12 upper-division credits 2 | 24 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed and Electives | 56 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
A minimum of 8 upper-division credits must be taken to fulfill this requirement. Students may choose additional graphic design courses to complete their BFA electives and are encouraged to consult their advisor
- 2
Total required upper-division credits for the major is 60
Major Code: 779
Pre-Graphic Design Major Code: 479
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ART 115 | 2-D CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| ART 121 | DIGITAL CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| ART 101 | +*INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| ART 131 | DRAWING CORE STUDIO | 4 |
| GD or ART Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GD 126 | GRAPHIC DESIGN PRO APPLICATION | 2 |
| Lower-Division ART History Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GD 200 | GRAPHIC DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION 1 | 4 |
| GD 226 | TYPOGRAPHY 1 | 4 |
| GD or ART Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Art & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| GD 224 | INTERACTIVE DESIGN 1 | 4 |
| GD 230 | GRAPHIC DESIGN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| GD 269 | GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY | 3 |
| ART 263 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 4 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GD 220 | GRAPHIC DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION 2 | 4 |
| GD 228 | PROCESS: MAKING AND MEANING | 4 |
| GD or ART Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 367 | *HISTORY OF DESIGN | 3 |
| GD 326 | TYPOGRAPHY 2 | 4 |
| GD 328 | INTERACTIVE 2 | 4 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| GD 325 | GRAPHIC DESIGN: COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES | 4 |
| GD 329 | +GRAPHIC DESIGN STRATEGIES: ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION | 4 |
| Restricted GD Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GD 312 | ^CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN DESIGN | 3 |
| GD 327 | TYPOGRAPHY 3 | 4 |
| Restricted GD Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GD 420 | +GRAPHIC DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES | 3 |
| GD 424 | BRAND IDENTITY SYSTEMS | 4 |
| GD or ART Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| GD 419 | PORTFOLIO REVIEW | 3 |
| GD 426 | GRAPHIC DESIGN CAPSTONE 1 | 3 |
| GD or ART Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GD 427 | CAPSTONE 2 | 4 |
| GD or ART Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course