Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog Program: Graphic Design, BFA
This is for planning purposes only, please check with your advisor with questions about your degree progress

Graphic Design, BFA

Students may become Pre-Graphic Design (Pre-GD) candidates at any time during their academic program. To transition from Pre-GD to GD candidate, students must successfully complete the School of Art BFA Portfolio Review and Art Foundation (FYP) courses (ART 1020, ART 1030, and ART 1120), and GD foundation classes of ARTD 2015 and ARTD 2020. Required components of the degree include successful completion of an Internship (ARTD 4890) and a Senior Thesis (ARTD 4070). All transfer students interested in the BFA in Graphic Design degree program will be designated as Pre-Graphic Design candidate by default, until such time that they have successfully completed the School of Art BFA Portfolio Review, and above coursework. Upper-level (3000- and 4000-level) GDSN courses are rarely accepted as transferred and equivalent program course credit, resulting in a minimum of four semesters (typically two years) in the program.

Learning Outcomes for the Graphic Design BFA Degree:

  • Identify and analyze social challenges through the study and application of design thinking, innovative problem solving and integrative design practices;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of visual literacy;
  • Demonstrate conceptual skills to inquire, interpret and illustrate an idea for an unknown audience via empathetic and iterative processes through visual thinking of sketching, prototyping, and implementation;
  • Exhibit skills in team building, collaboration, storytelling and intervention design as well as developing community partnerships along with a professional work ethic;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of graphic design related tools for application of practices and processes of the industry;
  • Apply both verbal and visual presentation skills; and
  • Research, debate and critique complex social problems.

BG Perspective (BGP) Requirements

Must complete at least 1 course in each of the following:

   English Composition and Oral Communication
   _____________________________    ________

   Quantitative Literacy
   _____________________________    ________

Must Complete at least 2 courses in each of the following:

   Humanities and the Arts
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________    

   Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                      

   Social and Behavioral Sciences
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                        

Complete total required BGP credit hours by selecting courses from any of the above categories:

   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________                                                                                    

University Requirements

Designated courses in Humanities and the Arts and the Social and Behavioral Sciences domains may be used to fulfill both the BGP requirement and one of the following university requirements:

Cultural Diversity in the US    ____________
International Perspective       ____________

Composition Requirement:
WRIT 1120                             

Total BGP Credits: Must be at least 36                      

Arts & Sciences Requirements (FL)

Foreign Language (_____ yrs of HS_______)

   ________1010_________________    ________ 
​   ________1020_________________    ________ 

Lab Science  

   _____________________________    ________ 

Multidisciplinary Component

Select from approved offerings, in consultation with an advisor and a faculty mentor. Four courses total, each with a different subject prefix. At least two courses at 3000/4000 level. Courses applied to the Arts & Sciences MDC may not be used to fulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP or other program requirements.   
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________ 
   _____________________________    ________  

Major Requirements

Art Foundations

(3 Courses)
Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ART 1020 - Design Studio: Color, Surface and Process
ART 1030 - Drawing Studio: Perception, Practice, Process
ART 1120 - Media Studio: Space and Time

Graphic Design Studio Core

(2 Courses)
Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ARTD 2015 - Principles of Graphic Design
ARTD 2020 - Typography

Required Graphic Design Studio Area

(8 Courses)
Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ARTD 3010 - Information Design
ARTD 3040 - Three Dimensional Graphic Design
ARTD 3055 - User Experience/User Interface Design
ARTD 3060 - Graphic Design Theory & Methods
ARTD 4015 - Design for Social Impact
ARTD 4030 - Systems-Based Graphic Design
ARTD 4055 - Time Based Graphic Design
ARTD 4890 - Graphic Design Internship (up to six hours in two registrations)

Required Graphic Design Studio Capstone

(2 Courses)

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ARTD 4070 - Graphic Design Senior Thesis
ARTD 4080 - Senior Studio in Graphic Design

Studio Art Support

(6 Courses in ART, ARTC, ARTE, ARTS or GDSN)

  • ART, ARTC, ARTE, ARTS or GDSN
  • Two courses must be at the 3000 or 4000 level; may include ARTD 4060, ARTD 4700, and/or ARTD 4950 

Art History

One Required ARTD Course:

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ARTD 4010 - Graphic Design History and Integrative Models

Choose Two Out of These Courses Listed Below:

Course NameTerms TakenGradeCore
ARTH 1450 - Western Art I

 

ARTH 1460 - Western Art II

or

ARTH 2700 - Survey of World Art

Choose Any One 3000- or 4000-Level ARTH Courses

Additional ART, ARTC, ARTE, ARTH, or GDSN arts courses to reach a minimum of 75 Credit Hours in Major Requirements.

Total Hours: 75 Minimum

University Electives

(to reach a total of at least 122 credit hours):
(These courses may come from in or outside the School of Art.)

For Graduation You Will Need:

  1. 122 credit hours minimum.
  2. Minimum GPA 2.00.
  3. At least 30 credit hours of BGSU course work.
  4. 40 credit hours at the 3000/4000 level.
  5. Completion of all degree requirements, including the BG Perspective Core.
  6. A major, and if required, a minor, specialization or emphasis.

Any substitution or waiver of courses required for your major or minor program must originate in the department/school offering the major or minor and must be approved by the College Office.

To ensure a timely graduation, see a College Advisor during the semester prior to your intended graduation.

Remember to complete an Application for Graduation by the end of the second week of classes during the fall semester or spring regular session, or by the end of the first week of the summer semester. For the specific dates, check your DARS. You may log onto MyBGSU to complete the online application. After the deadlines, you will need to complete an application in person in the College Office.

Notes: