BFA in Graphic Design
- Degree Program Description
- Major Program Requirements
- Semester Plan
- Degree Audit
- Major and Career Exploration
Degree Program Description
The School of Visual Studies' BFA in Graphic Design program offers opportunities for creative development, provides instruction in design digital programs as well as design methodology, and trains students in the necessary technical and conceptual skills needed to pursue a career in the expanded Graphic Design industry. Through a variety of studio design courses and related art courses, students learn critical thinking skills, creative problem solving, technical skills, and become life-long learners. The BFA in Graphic Design is considered a professional degree intended to provide a solid foundation for a career in design and related fields. Students who earn a degree in Graphic Design pursue a variety of careers, including professional graphic design, illustration, web design, interactive media design, information design, data visualization, print and publication, packaging design, advertisement, art directors. Almost all businesses and non-profit organizations need designers for creative thinking and innovative problem solving, requiring the skills acquired in the BFA in Graphic Design degree.
Major Program Requirements
Graphic Design majors earning a BFA degree complete School of Visual Studies foundations courses, BFA core requirements, and School of Visual Studies Graphic Design courses. Students enrolled in the BFA degree program may not include graphic design, art or art history courses with a grade of D.
All Graphic Design students are assigned a School of Visual Studies academic advisor. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with the advisor to plan a program of study.
The graduation plan consists of 66-72 credit hours in Graphic Design and Studio Art courses and 12 credit hours of Critical Studies courses. A maximum number of 72 hours of course work may be taken in Graphic Design and Studio Art. Students must complete 35 major and art history credit hours at MU.
Studio courses with a grade of “D” or “F” may not be included in the graduation plan. 30 hours of the 120 needed to graduate must be numbered 3000 and above.
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
All students wishing to pursue a BFA degree in Graphic Design will need to pass the Graphic Design BFA Portfolio Review. A student will need to have completed the SVS Foundation Courses, (ART_VS 1020 Introduction to Visual Studies, ART_VS 1030 2-D Materials and Methods, ART_VS 1040 3-D Materials and Methods, ART_VS 1050 Drawing Materials and Methods, GD_VS 1400 Digital Tools and Concepts), and GD_VS 2410 Introduction to Typography (it is acceptable to be enrolled in the last class(es) the semester the portfolio is submitted) for the BFA.
| Foundation Courses | 15 | |
| ART_VS 1020 | Introduction to Visual Studies | 3 |
| ART_VS 1030 | 2-D Materials and Methods | 3 |
| ART_VS 1040 | 3-D Materials and Methods | 3 |
| ART_VS 1050 | Drawing Materials and Methods | 3 |
| GD_VS 1400 | Digital Tools and Concepts | 3 |
| Core Requirements | 9 | |
| ART_VS 2730 | Screen Printing | 3 |
| or ART_VS 3900 | RISO: An Introduction | |
| ART_VS 2600 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| ART_VS 2310 | Papermaking and Artists' Books | 3 |
| Graphic Design Course Requirements | 33 | |
| GD_VS 2410 | Introduction to Typography | 3 |
| Graphic Design Portfolio Review after GD_VS 2410 | ||
| GD_VS 2420 | Design Methods and Production | 3 |
| GD_VS 2430 | Calligraphy and Hand Lettering | 3 |
| GD_VS 3410 | Interactive Media | 3 |
| GD_VS 3440 | Packaging Design Systems | 3 |
| GD_VS 3442 | Corporate Identity and Branding | 3 |
| GD_VS 3443 | Letterpress | 3 |
| GD_VS 4400 | Design Systems | 3 |
| GD_VS 4400 | Design Systems | 3 |
| GD_VS 4410 | Professional Portfolio Development | 3 |
| GD_VS 4420 | Advanced Interactive Media | 3 |
| GD_VS 4976 | Design - Senior Seminar | 3 |
| School of Visual Studies Studio Electives | 9-15 | |
| DST_VS 1880 | Introduction to Digital Media Production | 3 |
| ART_VS 2100 | Hand-Built Ceramics | 3 |
| ART_VS 2210 | Beginning Color Drawing | 3 |
| ART_VS 2240 | Comics and Cartooning: Writing with Pictures | 3 |
| ART_VS 2700 | Etching and Relief Printmaking | 3 |
| ART_VS 2800 | Beginning Sculpture | 3 |
| DST_VS 2885 | 2D Animation I | 3 |
| ART_VS 3100 | Wheel-Thrown Ceramics | 3 |
| ART_VS 3230 | Beginning Illustration | 3 |
| ART_VS 3300 | Fibers and Material Studies | 3 |
| ART_VS 3600 | Black and White Photography | 3 |
| ART_VS 3700 | Intermediate Printmaking | 3 |
| ART_VS 3800 | Intermediate Sculpture | 3 |
| GD_VS 3430 | Advanced Calligraphy and Hand Lettering | 3 |
| ART_VS 4020 | Internship in Art | 1-3 |
| Critical Studies Requirements | 12 | |
| ARH_VS 1130 | Introduction to the History of Art | 3 |
| ARH_VS Course numbered 2000+ in Art History | 3 | |
| ARH_VS Course numbered 3000+ in Art History | 3 | |
| GD_VS 3441 | The History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| or GD_VS 3441H | The History of Graphic Design - Honors | |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A studen'ts actual plan may vary based on courses choices where optoins are available. Some Graphic Design classes are only offered in Fall or Spring. Talk to an SVS advisor to stay on track.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART_VS 1050 | 3 | GD_VS 1400 | 3 |
| ART_VS 1030 | 3 | ART_VS 1040 | 3 |
| ART_VS 1020 | 3 | ARH_VS 1130 (Humanities from Arts and Science) | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts and Science | 3 | Missouri State Law Requirement, Social Science from Arts and Science | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GD_VS 2410 | 3 | GD_VS 2420 | 3 |
| ART_VS 2600 | 3 | ART_VS 2730 | 3 |
| ART_VS 2310 | 3 | GD_VS 2430 | 3 |
| ARH_VS 3820W (First Writing Intensive, Humanities) | 3 | Biological or Physical Science lab | 3 |
| Behavioral or Social Science | 3 | Humanities (non- Art History) | 3 |
| Graphic Design Portfolio Review (required this semester) | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GD_VS 3410 | 3 | GD_VS 4400 | 3 |
| GD_VS 3443 | 3 | GD_VS 3442 | 3 |
| School of Visual Studies Elective | 3 | GD_VS 3441 | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 | School of Visual Studies Elective | 3 |
| Art History 2000+ level (Humanities) | 3 | Biological, Physical, or Math Science | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GD_VS 4410 | 3 | GD_VS 4410 Professional Portfolio Development (repeatable) | 3 |
| GD_VS 4976W | 3 | School of Visual Studies Elective | 3 |
| GD_VS 3440 | 3 | School of Visual Studies Elective | 3 |
| GD_VS 4420 | 3 | Internship | 3 |
| Second major, minor, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, or elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.