Department of Art, Design and Art History
B.F.A. in Graphic Design
Areas of Emphasis
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design degree is a professional program providing directed studies and is designed for students seeking in-depth preparation for specialized educational and career goals.
The curriculum explores the many aspects of graphic design including the physical, cognitive, social, and cultural human factors. It will also explore theories, principles, and practice in relation to typography, illustration, computer graphics, web design, motion graphics, history of graphic design, and creative, critical visual thinking skills that are applicable to professional practice and to meet entrance requirements to graduate school.
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Interactive Multimedia Design
B.F.A. Application Forms
B.F.A. Advising Form
Degree Requirements and Roadmap
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Graphic Design Major Units
Major requirements ……………(72)*
Art and Design Core………… (18)
ARTH 10 and 11…………(6)
ART 13…………………..(3)
ART 20 or ID 43…………(3)
ART 24 or 30 or 40………(3)
ART 50 or 60 or 70………(3)
GD Lower-division requirements….(21)
GD 35, 37, 39, 41, 42, 50, 60
GD Upper-division requirements….(15)
GD 135, 179, 180, ART 116,
ARTH 132 or 136
Area of Emphasis
(I, II or III)………………………….(18)
I.Graphic Design
GD 170, 171, 174, 175, 176, 178
II.Illustration **
GD 163,165,167,169
III.Interactive Multimedia Design
GD 150,153, 155, 157, ART 107, 117
General Education requirements.(48)
Total units (120)*
___________
* This total indicates that a maximum of two courses (6 units) in G.E. Breadth C1 and
G.E. Breadth E1 will be applied to the graphic design major. These courses include
ARTH 10, 11; ART 20, 40, 50 (G.E. C1); and/or ART 13 (G.E. E1). Consult the department
chair or faculty advisor for additional details.
** Consult Illustration Emphasis advisor for approved Illustration electives … (6)
Advising Notes
- A portfolio is required after Lower Division to remain in the BFA in Graphic Design degree.
- The portfolio needs to be submitted for review only after the student has completed the art and design core courses and all the lower division graphic design required courses.
- The student must PASS the portfolio review to continue the BFA in Graphic Design degree.
- For continuation in the BFA in Graphic Design degree, all courses required for the major must receive a letter grade of C or higher.
- Student work may be retained for a limited period for display and accreditation visits.
- The upper-division writing skills requirement can be met by passing the university examination or by completing a W course with a letter grade of C or higher, to be taken no sooner than the term in which 60 units are completed.
- The General Education requirement of 48 units may be exceeded depending upon the selection of courses; such excess units may be counted under the Electives category toward the 120 -unit degree.
Graphic Design Classes
GD 35. Visual Communications Fundamentals
Foundational visual and cognitive organizational processes for the practice of visual communication, presented through lectures and applications through studio exercises. Includes visual perception and organization, visual ideation, and visual problem solving processes techniques and principles. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours) (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 37. Graphic Design: Computer Imaging
Prerequisites: ART 13, GD 35. Emphasis on basic skills, theories, and principles of graphic design including photo manipulation and illustration software applications as related to the graphic design field. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 40) (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 39. Graphic Design: Computer Layout Design
Prerequisite: ART 13, GD 37. Exploration and application of layout design and pre-press software as related to the graphic design field through projects encompassing the basic skills, theories, and principles of graphic design.(Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 41. Typography
Prerequisite: ART 13, GD 37. Typographic principles, elements, and techniques. Type classification, selection, design, and layout. Computer projects. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30). FS
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 42. Graphic Design
Prerequisite: GD 35 and GD 41 or concurrently. Advertising and graphic design projects taken through steps from thumbnail sketches through rough layouts to computer-generated comprehensive presentations. Emphasis on evaluation of market and audience and development of aesthetic solutions to communication problems. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GID 142) (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 50. Web Design
Prerequisites/co-requisites: GD 41, GD 39. Introduction to web design for graphic designers, focusing on current web standards. Emphasis on page structure, typography and user experience design principles. (6 lab hours). (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 60. Illustration Techniques
Prerequisites: ID 43 or ART 20. Introduction to various traditional drawing and painting techniques. Emphasis on the application of rendering solutions to graphic design problems. (6 lab hours). (Course fee, $5). (Formerly GD 143).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 135. History of Graphic Design
Prerequisites: ARTH 10 and ARTH 11. A survey of characteristic design approaches, solutions, materials, and technologies, their relationship to popular culture and trends, and their social and political history. Course includes lectures and studio projects. (2 lecture and 2 lab hours) (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 142. User Experience and Interface Design
Prerequisite: GD 42, GD 50. An Intermediate web design class for graphic designers. The class focuses on user experience design methods and practices to improve the usability and aesthetic of a user interface. Students will use user experience methods to engineer the whole experience surrounding a digital environment, emphasizing how data-driven research can improve the layout, hierarchy, typography, and color scheme of a user interface.
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 150. Advanced Web Design
Prerequisite: GD 50. Advanced application and exploration of web standards-based web design. Emphasis on user experience design methods, and responsive design solutions. (6 lab hours). (Course fee, $30).
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 153. Data and Design
Prerequisite: GD 150. Introduction to programming as a platform for graphic design. Emphasis on fundamental programming concepts, data visualization, creative exploration, and web integration. (6 hours) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 155. Designing for Interactions
Prerequisites::GD 150, GD 157. Integration and development of interactive content for web/multimedia, including new upcoming technologies. Emphasis on experimentation & concept development driven by UX & usability research. Introduction to innovative technologies, & UX design research skills/methods. Students will develop self-driven projects over the course of the semester focusing on research, UX, and development/implementation of new technology. (6 lab hours). (Course fee $30).
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 157. Motion Graphics
Prerequisite: GD 150 (or concurrent). Understand and implement animation principles for time based media. Application of software to create visually integrated, concept driven motion graphics and interactive web animations. Emphasis on research, including usability research, and production of advanced time based media projects.
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
GD 158. Design Practicum
Prerequisites: GD 150, GD 155. Collaborative design and development of a real-world digital product for a non-profit partner. Emphasis on the iterative design process loop of research and analysis, prototyping, visual design, and evaluation.
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 159. Immersive Design
Prerequisites: GD 150 and GD 157 or permission of the instructor. This course explores 3D digital modeling and its incorporation into augmented and virtual environments. Students will research and explore different ways to implement augmented and virtual reality. (6 lab hours)
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 163. Illustration
Prerequisite: GD 60 and ART 116. Understanding how illustration functions with text. Experiences in the conceptualization, and organized development of illustrative images, Creative illustrative strategies applied to design situations. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 146, Advanced Rendering).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 165. Digital Illustration Techniques
Prerequisite: GD 42, GD 60, and GD 163. Introduction to digital illustration, appreciation of its strengths. Applying basic digital illustration techniques to characteristic graphic design problems and formats. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 147, Advertising Illustration) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 167. Advanced Illustration
Prerequisites: GD 163, Illustration. Advanced techniques in non-digital illustration. Creative illustrative visual solutions to a range of problems in graphic design, including complex, and abstract subjects. Developing distinctive individual work. (6 lab hours).
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 169. Advanced Digital Illustration
Prerequisites: GD 163, and GD 165. Advanced digital illustration techniques. Analyzing and applying components of a visual style. Combining traditional and digital illustrative components. (6 lab hours).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 170. Typographic Design
Prerequisite: GD 41 and GD 42. Advanced principles of typography, including design of typefaces utilizing contemporary software. Exploration of sophisticated typographical projects incorporating commercial and student designed fonts. Emphasis is placed upon typographical experimentation. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 141) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 171. Advanced Typographic Design
Prerequisite: GD 170. Creation of unique typefaces for use in typographic solutions to projects such as brand identity, packaging design, environmental graphics, and publication design. (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 174. Graphic Systems
Prerequisite: GD 41 and GD 42. Examination of the structures of primary/secondary and co-equal communication systems as applied to identity, packaging and other graphic design projects. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 142) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 175. Graphic Concept Development
Prerequisite: GD 174. Examination of the importance of an underlying concept development to successful graphic design solutions. Emphasis placed on the development of strong concepts in projects such as identity applications and environmental graphics. (6 lab hours) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 176. Packaging Design
Prerequisite: GD 171 and GD 175. Advanced projects in packaging with emphasis on the application and exploration of the socio-cultural, physical, and legal requirements of packaging systems. (6 lab hours) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall
GD 178. Professional Advertising Design
Prerequisites: GD 171, GD 174. Advanced advertising/graphic design projects from concept development to finished product. Emphasis on complex methods and approaches relating to advertising media, production procedures, and professionalism. (Course fee $30) (Formerly GD 148)
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 179. Professional Practices In Graphic Design
Prerequisites: GD 176 and GD 178, or GD 155 and GD 157, or GD 167 and GD 169. Advanced exploration of the fields of graphic and advertising design, and the standards and practices common in advertising agencies and design studios. Covers workplace structures, time and record-keeping, estimating, self-promotion, and working with vendors and employees. (6 lab hours). (Formerly GD 149) (Course fee $30).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 180. Graphic Portfolio Development
Prerequisites: (GD 176 and GD 178), or (GD 155 and GD 157), or (GD 167 and GD 169). Organization and creation of a professional portfolio. Advanced approaches and production of various media and professional applications including practices encompassing the portfolio, exhibitions and competitions. (6 lab hours).
Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring
GD 190. Independent Study in Graphic Design
See Academic Placement - Independent Study. Approved for RP grading.
Units: 3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GD 198I. Internship in Graphic Design
Prerequisites: permission of instructor and supervising agency. Experience in graphic design related professions with a design studio or advertising agency or for a publication under the supervision of graphic design faculty. Maximum credit toward a graphic design option is 6 units. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum of 3 field hours per unit.)
Units: 1-6
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring