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Overview
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Learning Outcomes
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Requirements
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Curriculum Details
Program Purpose
The Graphic Design concentration of the BFA in Fine Arts & Design is dedicated to fostering the creative, technical, and critical thinking skills necessary for students to become proficient and innovative graphic designers. Our program is designed to provide a comprehensive education that equips students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of graphic design.
Educational Objectives
The program aims to educate students to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in graphic design software and tools.
- Create visually compelling and effective design solutions for a variety of media and platforms.
- Exhibit the ability to conceptualize and execute design projects from ideation to completion.
- Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to design challenges.
- Understand the ethical and cultural dimensions of design and its impact on society.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively in professional design environments.
- Develop a professional-quality design portfolio showcasing a range of projects and creative development.
Faculty
Program Learning Outcomes
After completing this program, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in graphic design software and tools.
- Create visually compelling and effective design solutions for a variety of media and platforms.
- Exhibit the ability to conceptualize and execute design projects from ideation to completion.
- Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to design challenges.
- Understand the ethical and cultural dimensions of design and its impact on society.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively in professional design environments.
- Develop a professional-quality design portfolio showcasing a range of projects and creative development.
Admissions Requirement
Institutional-wide Admission Criteria
- Completion of high school or equivalent.
- Official Transcript: allow for evaluation of academic performance, relevant coursework, and overall readiness for college-level study.
- Personal Statement: helps reviewers understand the applicant’s motivations and aspirations to pursue the program of study.
- Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or professionals familiar with the applicant’s abilities and potential, and additional insights into the applicant’s character, work ethic, and potential for success in the program.
Program-specific Criteria
- Portfolio Submission: A strong portfolio showcasing the applicant’s artistic and design skills is often crucial. This may include examples of illustrations, digital designs, and other relevant work.
- Academic Qualifications: Applicants are usually required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may also consider academic performance in relevant subjects.
- Letters of Recommendation: Some programs may request letters of recommendation from teachers or professionals who can assess the applicant’s creativity, work ethic, and potential in graphic design.
- Personal Statement or Essay: Applicants may be required to submit a personal statement or essay explaining their interest in graphic design, their career goals, and how the program aligns with their aspirations.
- Interview or Portfolio Review: In some cases, applicants might be required to participate in an interview or portfolio review process to discuss their work, design philosophy, and future goals.
- Color Vision Test: Submission of non-colorblindness test results or take the test, ensuring applicants can effectively perceive and work with a full spectrum of colors.
Graduation Requirement
- The academic requirements for graduation are the successful completion of the curriculum with a grade point average of no less than 2.0.
- In addition, a graduate must have taken at least 50% of all courses from FTC Northern.
Curriculum Overview
BFA in Graphic Design (Graphic Design Concentration) is a 121-semester credit curriculum with three major components: major requirements, general education requirements, and free electives.
Graphic Design Concentration Curriculum
| Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| College Core | 11 |
| Breadth Distribution | 28 |
| Major Requirements | 76 |
| Free Electives | 6 |
| Total Required Credits for Graduation | 121 |
College Core (11 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Success (2 cr) | |||
| LAS102 | College Success | 2 | |
| LAS004 | Career Development | 0 | |
| College English (3 cr) | |||
| ENG101 | Effective English | 3 | |
| World Civilizations (6 cr) | |||
| CIV111 | Western Civilization | 3 | |
| CIV112 | Chinese Civilization | 3 | |
| CIV113 | World Civilization | 3 | |
| Breadth Distribution (28 cr) *5cr fulfilled by major requirements |
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| Humanities (6 cr) | |||
| HUM125 | U.S. Society and Government | 3 | |
| HUM204 | Survey of Western Literature | 3 | ENG101 |
| HUM221 | The Making of the Modern World | 3 | |
| HUM222 | Topics in Chinese History | 3 | |
| Writing and Rhetoric (3 cr) | |||
| ENG104 | Public Speaking | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG201 | Academic Writing | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG205 | Writing for Media | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG221 | Debate and Argumentation | 3 | ENG101 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3 cr) | |||
| MAT101 | Mathematics in Applied Context | 3 | |
| STA101 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| MAT201 | Linear Algebra | 4 | |
| MAT104 | Applied Calculus | 3 | |
| MAT105 | Calculus I | 4 | |
| MAT106 | Calculus II | 4 | MAT105 |
| Scientific Reasoning (5 cr) *Natural science (2cr) |
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| BMS132 | Nutrition, Health and Wellness | 3 | |
| ART102A | Art Anatomy A | 2 | |
| *Social Science (3cr) | |||
| ECO101 | Principles of Economics | 3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | Required for Graphic Design |
| Art and Aesthetics (5 cr) | |||
| ART111 | Visual Literacy I | 2 | |
| ARH131 | History of Graphic Design | 3 | |
| Values and Ethics (3 cr) | |||
| PHL130 | Philosophical Perspectives I | 1 | |
| PHL131 | Philosophical Perspectives II | 1 | |
| PHL231 | Philosophical Perspectives III | 1 | PHL130 & 131 |
| LAS005 | Self-cultivation Practice | 0 | |
| World Language and Literature (8 cr) | |||
| CLC111 | Elementary Chinese I | 4 | Placement test |
| CLC112 | Elementary Chinese II | 4 | CLC111 |
| CLC211 | Intermediate Chinese I | 4 | Placement test |
| CLC212 | Intermediate Chinese II | 4 | CLC211 |
| CLC311 | Advanced Chinese I | 4 | Placement test |
| CLC312 | Advanced Chinese II | 4 | CLC311 |
| Total Required Credits | 39 | ||
Major Requirements (76 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing Fundamental Skills and Training (8 cr) | |||
| DRP102 | Beginner Painting | 4 | |
| DRP101 | Drawing I | 4 | |
| Art History and Theory (12 cr) | |||
| ART111 | Visual Literacy I | 2 | |
| ARH131 | History of Graphic Design | 3 | |
| ART221 | Graphic Design Psychology | 3 | ART211 |
| ART213 | Theory of Graphic Print Production | 2 | DSG104 |
| ART211 | Visual Literacy II | 2 | ART111 |
| Professionalism and Career Development (9 cr) | |||
| BUS121 | Fundamentals of art management | 3 | |
| AMG211 | Brand Identity | 2 | |
| Choose one of:* | |||
| DSG351 | Junior Internship | 3 | DSG351A |
| DSG461 | Senior Capstone | 4 | DSG351B |
| Major Core – Graphic Design (44 cr) | |||
| Fundamental Design Skills (41 cr) | |||
| DSG101 | Design Studio I | 3 | |
| DSG102 | Computer Graphics | 3 | |
| DSG104 | Typography Design I | 5 | DSG102 |
| DSG204 | Typography Design II | 5 | DSG104 |
| DSG111 | Photography | 3 | |
| DSG212 | Video production | 3 | DSG111 |
| DSG302 | Web design | 5 | DSG204 |
| DSG303 | Brand Identity of Design | 5 | AMG211, DSG104 |
| DSG311 | Motion Graphics Studio I | 3 | DSG102 |
| DSG321 | Motion Graphics Studio II | 3 | DSG311 |
| DSG443 | Portfolio Design | 3 | DSG351B |
| Design Elective (3 cr) | |||
| DSG351 | Junior internship | 3 | DSG351A |
| DSG351A | Portfolio preview I | 0 | Soph or Junior |
| DSG351B | Portfolio preview II | 0 | Junior or Senior |
| BUS331 | Arts and Entertainment Law | 3 | |
| DRP121 | Traditional handwriting art | 1 | |
| DSG332 | Advertising Design | 5 | DSG103 |
| DSG442 | Packaging design | 3 | DSG304 |
| DSG441 | Environmental Graphic Design | 3 | DSG321 |
| DSG102 | Emerging Technologies in Design | 5 | ART211 |
| DSG304 | Infographic Design | 3 | DSG102 |
| DSG121 | 3D Modeling & Printing | 3 | |
| Total Required Credits | 76 | ||
Free Electives (6 credits)
Students are free to choose 6 credits beyond major and General Education requirements from any university level courses offered by FTC Northern.
The BFA in Design is a 121-semester credit curriculum.
Minor in Graphic Design (20 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Skills and Training (4 cr) | |||
| DRP101 | Drawing I | 4 | |
| Fundamental Design Skills (12 cr) | |||
| DSG101 | Design Studio I | 3 | |
| DSG103 | Computer Graphics | 3 | |
| DSG111 | Photography | 3 | |
| DSG212 | Video Production | 3 | |
| Art Theory Requirement (4 cr) | |||
| ART111 | Visual Literacy I | 2 | |
| ART211 | Visual Literacy II | 2 | ART111 |
| Total Required Credits | 20 | ||
