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Bachelors

Graphic Design BS

Drexel University
Philadelphia , United States
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Tuition Fee
Not Available
Start Date
Not Available
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
4 years
Details
About Program
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Details
Program Details
Degree
Bachelors
Major
Digital Media | Graphic Design | Visual Communications
Area of study
Arts | Information and Communication Technologies
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview

Graphic Design BS

The Graphic Design BS program at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design provides a balance of theory and practice in rigorous design study enhanced by general education coursework in the humanities and the physical and social sciences. Students learn to conceptualize, visualize, and realize visual communications through the rigor of project-based exploration and experimentation based on the formal foundations of typography, image-making, aesthetics, and critical thinking.


About the Program

Graphic Design students are immersed in all aspects of visual communications, such as motion, web, and interactive design, books, magazines, and publications (print and screen-based), posters, advertising, packaging, exhibition design, and data visualization. Working on two- and three-dimensional projects and electronic media, students utilize the latest applications and emerging technologies to stay current with the industry. Graphic Design students can also pursue advanced elective coursework in web and motion graphic design, environmental graphic design, experimental publication design, and other interdisciplinary special topics projects.


Degree Requirements

  • Major: Graphic Design
  • Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
  • Calendar Type: Quarter
  • Minimum Required Credits: 192.0
  • Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
  • Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0409
  • Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:

General Education Requirements

  • CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement (1.0)
  • COOP 101: Career Management and Professional Development (1.0)
  • ENGL 101: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research (3.0)
  • ENGL 102: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing (3.0)
  • ENGL 103: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres (3.0)
  • MATH 119: Mathematical Foundations for Design (4.0)
  • PHYS 175: Light and Sound (3.0)
  • PHYS 176: Computational Lab for Light and Sound (1.0)
  • UNIV A101: The Drexel Experience (2.0)
  • Arts and Humanities: Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
    • Any AFAS (Africana Studies)
    • Any ARCH (Architecture)
    • Any ARTH (Art History)
    • Any COM (Communication)
    • Any DANC (Dance)
    • Any ENGL (English)
    • Any FMST (Film Studies)
    • Any GST (Global Studies)
    • Any HIST (History)
    • Any INTR (Interior Design)
    • Any IST (International Studies)
    • Any JWST (Jewish Studies)
    • Any LANG (Language)
    • Any MENA (Middle East & North Africa Studies)
    • Any MUSC (Music)
    • Any PHIL (Philosophy)
    • Any PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics)
    • Any PBHL (Public Health)
    • Any RELS (Religious Studies)
    • Any SCRP (Screenwriting & Playwriting)
    • Any THTR (Theater)
    • Any TVST (Television Studies)
    • Any VSCM (Graphic Design)
    • Any WGST (Women's and Gender Studies)
    • Any WRIT (Writing)
  • Natural Science: Select 4.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
    • Any BIO (Bioscience & Biotechnology)
    • Any CHEM (Chemistry)
    • Any ENVS (Environmental Science)
    • Any GEO (Geoscience)
    • Any PHEV (Physics-Environmental Science)
    • Any PHYS (Physics)
  • Social Science: Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
    • Any AFAS (Africana Studies)
    • Any ANTH (Anthropology)
    • Any CJS (Criminology and Justice Studies)
    • Any CS (Computer Science)
    • Any ECON (Economics)
    • Any ENSS (Environmental Studies & Sustainability)
    • Any ENVS (Environmental Science)
    • Any PSY (Psychology)
    • Any PBHL (Public Health)
    • Any SOC (Sociology)
    • Any WGST (Women's and Gender Studies)
  • Free electives: 23.0
  • Visual Studies Requirements
    • ARTH 101: History of Art I (3.0)
    • Select two courses from the following: (6.0)
      • ARTH 102: History of Art II
      • ARTH 103: History of Art III
      • ARTH 301: Asian Art and Culture
      • ARTH 302: Art of India
      • ARTH 303: Art of China
      • ARTH 314: Contemporary Art
      • ARTH 315: History of African-American Art
      • ARTH 316: African Art
      • ARTH 318: Latin American Art
      • ARTH 321: Material Matters in Contemporary Art
      • ARTH 331: Global Material Culture
      • ARTH 340: Women in Art
    • PHTO 110: Photography (3.0)
    • VSST 101: Design I (4.0)
    • VSST 102: Design II (4.0)
    • VSST 103: Design III (4.0)
    • VSST 110: Introductory Drawing (3.0)
    • VSST 111: Figure Drawing I (3.0)
    • VSST 301: Painting I (4.0)
    • VSST 321: Screenprint I (4.0)
    • Visual Studies (VSST 200-400) elective (4.0)
  • Graphic Design Requirements
    • ARTH 300: History of Modern Design (3.0)
    • BUSN 101: Foundations of Business I (4.0)
    • PHTO 210: Intermediate Photography (3.0)
    • VSCM 100: Computer Imaging I (3.0)
    • VSCM 200: Computer Imaging II (3.0)
    • VSCM 220: Web Graphics I (4.0)
    • VSCM 221: Web Graphics II (4.0)
    • VSCM 222: Web Graphics III (4.0)
    • VSCM 230: Visual Communication I (4.0)
    • VSCM 231: Visual Communication II (4.0)
    • VSCM 232: Visual Communication III (4.0)
    • VSCM 240: Typography I (4.0)
    • VSCM 241: Production (3.0)
    • VSCM 242: Typography II (4.0)
    • VSCM 322: Motion Graphics I (4.0)
    • VSCM 332: Visual Communication IV (4.0)
    • VSCM 333: Visual Communication V (4.0)
    • VSCM 340: Typography III (4.0)
    • VSCM 350: Graphic Design: 20th Century and Beyond (3.0)
    • VSCM 430: Visual Communication VI (4.0)
    • VSCM 440: Book Design (4.0)
    • VSCM 460: Professional Practice (3.0)
    • VSCM 496: Senior Capstone (3.0)
  • Total Credits: 192.0

Sample Plan of Study

4-year, 1 co-op (Fall/Winter)

  • First Year
    • Fall: ARTH 101 (3.0), ENGL 101 (3.0), UNIV A101 (1.0), VSST 101 (4.0), VSST 110 (3.0)
    • Winter: ENGL 102 (3.0), PHYS 175 (3.0), PHYS 176 (1.0), UNIV A101 (1.0), VSST 102 (4.0)
    • Spring: BUSN 101 (4.0), ENGL 103 (3.0), MATH 119 (4.0), VSCM 100 (3.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0)
    • Summer: Vacation
  • Second Year
    • Fall: PHTO 110 (3.0), VSCM 200 (3.0), VSCM 220 (4.0), VSCM 230 (4.0), VSCM 240 (4.0)
    • Winter: COOP 101 (1.0), PHTO 210 (3.0), VSCM 221 (4.0), VSCM 231 (4.0), VSCM 241 (3.0), VSCM 242 (4.0)
    • Spring: VSCM 222 (4.0), VSCM 232 (4.0), Free Elective (3.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Summer: ARTH 300 (3.0), CIVC 101 (1.0), VSST 321 (4.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0), Natural Science (4.0)
  • Third Year
    • Fall: COOP EXPERIENCE
    • Winter: COOP EXPERIENCE
    • Spring: VSCM 322 (4.0), VSCM 332 (4.0), VSCM 340 (4.0), VSST 103 (4.0), VSST 301 (4.0)
    • Summer: VSCM 333 (4.0)
  • Fourth Year
    • Fall: VSCM 430 (4.0), VSCM 440 (4.0), Free Elective (3.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Winter: VSCM 496 (3.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0), Free Electives (6.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Spring: VSCM 460 (3.0), VSCM 496 (3.0), Free Electives (8.0)

4-year, 1 co-op (Spring/Summer)

  • First Year
    • Fall: ARTH 101 (3.0), ENGL 101 (3.0), UNIV A101 (1.0), VSST 101 (4.0), VSST 110 (3.0)
    • Winter: ENGL 102 (3.0), PHYS 175 (3.0), PHYS 176 (1.0), UNIV A101 (1.0), VSST 102 (4.0)
    • Spring: BUSN 101 (4.0), ENGL 103 (3.0), MATH 119 (4.0), VSCM 100 (3.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0)
    • Summer: Vacation
  • Second Year
    • Fall: PHTO 110 (3.0), VSCM 200 (3.0), VSCM 220 (4.0), VSCM 230 (4.0), VSCM 240 (4.0)
    • Winter: PHTO 210 (3.0), VSCM 221 (4.0), VSCM 231 (4.0), VSCM 241 (3.0), VSCM 242 (4.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Spring: COOP 101 (1.0), VSCM 222 (4.0), VSCM 232 (4.0), Free Elective (3.0)
    • Summer: ARTH 300 (3.0), CIVC 101 (1.0), VSST 321 (4.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0), Natural Science (4.0)
  • Third Year
    • Fall: VSCM 322 (4.0), VSST 103 (4.0), VSCM 332 (4.0), VSCM 340 (4.0), VSCM 350 (3.0), VSST 301 (4.0)
    • Winter: COOP EXPERIENCE
    • Spring: COOP EXPERIENCE
    • Summer: COOP EXPERIENCE
  • Fourth Year
    • Fall: VSCM 430 (4.0), VSCM 440 (4.0), Free Elective (3.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Winter: VSCM 496 (3.0), Arts and Humanities Elective (3.0), Free Electives (6.0), Social Science Elective (3.0)
    • Spring: VSCM 460 (3.0), VSCM 496 (3.0), Free Electives (8.0)

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Potential employers include advertising agencies, publishers, printers, independent and in-house design studios, museums and galleries, magazines and newspapers, and television. Training in visual communication prepares an individual for careers in many fields because the problem-solving methods and organizational skills it builds are widely applicable.


Co-op Experiences

The following is a sampling of graphic design co-op employers:


  • Comcast
  • Esquire
  • The Franklin Institute
  • Hasbro
  • National Constitution Center
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Quirk Books
  • Razorfish
  • WebLinc

Career Opportunities

Our Graphic Design alumni go on to successful careers in a range of positions including lead designer, creative director, art director, interaction designer, user experience director, and owner or partner of firms. Some of the companies where you will find our alumni include:


  • AgileCat
  • America's Test Kitchen
  • Ann Taylor Inc
  • Apple
  • Bloomberg
  • Blue Cadet
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Comcast Corporation
  • Conde Nast
  • eCity Interactive
  • ESPN
  • exit
  • Facebook
  • The Franklin Institute
  • Kikkerland
  • Longwood Gardens
  • Marvel Entertainment
  • Michael Graves Design Group
  • National Constitution Center
  • QVC
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Sesame Workshop
  • Time Inc.
  • Under Armour
  • Vera Bradley

Facilities

The Graphic Design studios are located on the fourth floor of the URBN Center in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. There are five dedicated studios equipped with up-to-date electronic and traditional tools. Studios have work surfaces for traditional practices that will accommodate fifteen students and wall surfaces for critiques or posting examples of printed work. In addition, students have access to a dedicated, non-scheduled graphic design "open lab" equipped with all necessary technology and work surfaces.


Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:


  • Demonstrate the ability to think critically and logically as applied to the design process
  • Demonstrate strong verbal communication, writing, and presentation skills
  • Demonstrate high levels of professionalism in the workplace
  • Demonstrate a mastery of conceptual thinking/problem solving
  • Demonstrate an understanding of environmental concerns
  • Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
  • Demonstrate a mastery of analog skills combined with digital technology to effectively develop, evaluate, refine, and complete projects in a wide variety of settings where effective visual communication is required
  • Demonstrate a mastery of self-evaluation techniques

Graphic Design Faculty

  • Joshua Gdovin, BS (Drexel University), Associate Teaching Professor
  • Jody Graff, BS (Drexel University), Associate Professor
  • Eric Karnes, MFA (Virginia Commonwealth University), Assistant Professor
  • William Rees, BS (Drexel University), Program Director, Graphic Design, Teaching Professor
  • Mark Willie, MFA (Boston Museum School of Fine Arts), Associate Program Director, Teaching Professor
  • Shushi Yoshinaga, BFA (Philadelphia College of the Arts), Associate Professor

Emeritus Faculty

  • Sandy Stewart, BFA (Tyler School of Art, Temple University), Associate Professor Emeritus

Writing-Intensive Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid "clustering" these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.


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