Graphic Design
Program Transfer Guide
Stevenson University
Effective
Fall, 2026 - Current
Instruction Methods
In person
About the Program
The Department of Art & Graphic Design within the School of Design, Arts, and Communication grants a B.S. or B.A. degree in graphic design. This major is designed to prepare students for professional practice and graduate study in graphic design or related fields. The courses in the program address theoretical and practical questions about visual literacy, graphic design and visual communication theory, participation in design culture, the complexity of problems and solutions, connecting physical and digital experiences, and career preparation.
Mirroring how design works as a profession, the objectives of individual courses overlap to explore and reinforce the interconnectedness of theory and practice, digital media and physical materials. The program does not present standalone academic surveys of a specific topic. Classes introduce segments of the continuum that is design discourse and practice.
While acquiring discipline-specific skills, students learn the design process. Initial steps involve working to identify and research a complex problem. Following preliminary work, students devise, test, revise, and ultimately present design solutions to hypothetical and client-based briefs. Each assignment is an opportunity to put into practice principles, skills, and concepts including design fundamentals, graphic design theory, digital production, traditional materials and methods, rich-media experiences, visual storytelling, design thinking, human systems, and collaboration.
Along the way, students produce and present their design work in a portfolio. Students participate in portfolio reviews with faculty members in the first and second year. In the third and fourth year, art and graphic design professionals from outside of the University review student portfolios. In the final year, the portfolio development course affords students the guidance and structure to create professional presentations of their design work and process in preparation for entry into graphic design fields. Successful students acquire the necessary confidence to communicate about how they arrive at design solutions.
Because students in the major explore a breadth of topics, a graphic design degree may lead to many different options for the individual student. From the first-year seminar course through the internship experience and senior portfolio reviews, students are introduced to a wide scope of career possibilities. Students are encouraged to explore career goals while developing their portfolio. The required internship provides students with hands-on professional experience. Graduates from the graphic design program work independently and collaboratively in businesses devoted to design and in creative positions within larger institutions. Potential careers include advertising, marketing communications, electronic or print publishing, web and interactive design, photography and digital imaging, motion graphics, and related fields.
Four-year Suggested Course Sequence
Four-year Suggested Course Sequence