Graphic Design, Bachelor of Arts

All majors require a minimum of 60 credits and completion of one of the following career pathways for 18 credits. A senior exhibition is required of all majors. A quality representation of the student’s artwork from their junior and senior years is used for the senior exhibition. 

A minimum of 60 credits is required and completion of one of the following career pathways:  

Base Curriculum (BA):
ART 000Exhibition and Convocation Attendance0
ART 119Foundation Drawing I3
ART 171Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional3
ART 172Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional3
ART 222Art History I3
ART 223Art History II (GT-AH1)3
ART 246Introduction to Photography3
ART 257Introduction to Printmaking3
ART 400Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition3
DES 173Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design3
DES 270Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration3
DES 271Typography3
DES 370Intermediate Graphic Design3
DES 425History of Graphic Design3
DES 470Advanced Design and Illustration I3
DES 471Senior Project in Design3
DES 499Internship in Design1-3
And the following Required courses:
BUAD 270Principles of Marketing3
BUAD 335Marketing Communications3
CS 160Introduction to Web Design3
FILM 346Multimedia Communication3
One of the following Career Pathways:
Art and Design Career Pathway18
select 18 credits of ART electives, including the following two required courses:
Foundation Drawing II
Intermediate Drawing
and 12 credits of the following:
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Jewelry
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Watercolor
Intermediate Photography
Intermediate Printmaking
Strategic Communications Career Pathway18
Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2)
Media Writing
Public Relations Communication
Media/ Arts Management
Media Theory and Research
Social Media Skills
Campaign Planning in Advertising and Public Information
Aesthetics, Lighting and Film Theory
Film and Theatre Career Pathway18
Introduction to Film
Aesthetics, Lighting and Film Theory
Introduction To Audio Communication
Introduction to Media Production I
Intermediate Media Production II
Advanced Cinema Studies
Multi-Camera Studio Production
Experimental Media Production
Media Production: Narrative
Media Production: Documentary
Advanced Media Production
Stagecraft I
Introduction to Acting
Stagecraft II
Scriptwriting
Scenography in Film and Theatre
Computer Science Career Pathway18
Professional Computer Skills
Information Security and Hacking
Computer Science I
Computer Science II
Database Management Systems
Web Applications Development I
Data Structures
Web Applications Development II

Western Watershed General Education Requirements

Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate. 

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Degree Plans are for planning purposes.  They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.

"Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Sample Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
WWGE 101/102/103/104Headwaters 2
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
Select 6 credits from the following: 6
Foundation Drawing I  
Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional  
Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional  
Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design  
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
Introduction to Photography  
Introduction to Painting  
Introduction to Ceramics  
Introduction to Sculpture  
Introduction to Jewelry  
 Credits14
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
MATH 105 Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) 3
Select 6 credits from the following: 6
Foundation Drawing I  
Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional  
Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional  
Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design  
Select 3 credits from the following: 3
Foundation Drawing II  
Introduction to Photography  
Introduction to Painting  
Introduction to Ceramics  
Introduction to Sculpture  
Introduction to Jewelry  
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
ART 222 Art History I 3
BUAD 270 Principles of Marketing 3
CS 160 Introduction to Web Design 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 223 Art History II (GT-AH1) 3
DES 270 Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration 3
DES 271 Typography 3
BUAD 335 Marketing Communications 3
CS 160 Introduction to Web Design 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
 Credits18
Year Three
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 246
Introduction to Photography
or Introduction to Printmaking
3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
ElectiveBAUD, COM, or SOC Elective 3
ARTART Elective 3
Select 3 credits from the following to be used for DES 425: 3
Internship in Art  
Sales I  
Monuments and Museums  
Directed Study  
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
FILM 346 Multimedia Communication 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
WWGE 301/302/303/304Delta 1
ARTART Elective 3
ElectiveCareer Pathways Elective 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
DES 471 Senior Project in Design 3
DES 499 Internship in Design 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
ElectiveCareer Pathways Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course  
Western WatershedWestern Watershed Course 3
ART 400 Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition 3
DES 499 Internship in Design 3
ARTUpper Division ART Elective 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits120

Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.