Graphic Design BS

Major: Graphic Design
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 189.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0409
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
27-1024

About the Program

Westphal College's Graphic Design curriculum 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. 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.

Additional Information

For more information about the major, visit the Graphic Design program webpage or contact Program Director Bill Rees.

Degree Requirements 

General Education Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
MATH 119Mathematical Foundations for Design4.0
PHYS 175Light and Sound3.0
PHYS 176Computational Lab for Light and Sound1.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience2.0
Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits **9.0
Required Natural Science-students elect a minimum of 4.0 credits ***4.0
Required Social Science-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits 9.0
Free electives23.0
Visual Studies Requirements
ARTH 101History of Art I3.0
Select two courses from the following:6.0
History of Art II
History of Art III
Asian Art and Culture
Art of India
Art of China
Contemporary Art
History of African-American Art
African Art
Latin American Art
Material Matters in Contemporary Art
Global Material Culture
Women in Art
PHTO 110Photography3.0
VSST 101Design I4.0
VSST 102Design II4.0
VSST 103Design III4.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 111Figure Drawing I3.0
VSST 301Painting I4.0
VSST 321Screenprint I4.0
Visual Studies (VSST 200-400) elective4.0
Graphic Design Requirements
ARTH 300 [WI] History of Modern Design3.0
BUSN 101Foundations of Business I4.0
PHTO 210Intermediate Photography3.0
VSCM 100Computer Imaging I3.0
VSCM 200Computer Imaging II3.0
VSCM 220Web Graphics I4.0
VSCM 221Web Graphics II4.0
VSCM 222Web Graphics III4.0
VSCM 230Visual Communication I4.0
VSCM 231Visual Communication II4.0
VSCM 232Visual Communication III4.0
VSCM 240Typography I3.0
VSCM 241Production3.0
VSCM 242Typography II3.0
VSCM 322Motion Graphics I4.0
VSCM 332Visual Communication IV4.0
VSCM 333Visual Communication V4.0
VSCM 340Typography III3.0
VSCM 350 [WI] Graphic Design: 20th Century and Beyond3.0
VSCM 430Visual Communication VI4.0
VSCM 440Book Design4.0
VSCM 460Professional Practice3.0
VSCM 496Senior Capstone3.0
Total Credits189.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480 in AFAS, ARCH, ARTH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, WRIT.

***

Select from 100-499 level courses in ANAT, BIO, CHEM, ENVS, GEO, PHEV, PHYS.

Select from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480, in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSCI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, WGST.

Writing-Intensive Course 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.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study  

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

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0BUSN 1014.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0PHYS 1753.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV A1011.0PHYS 1761.0MATH 1194.0 
VSST 1014.0UNIV A1011.0VSCM 1003.0 
VSST 1103.0VSST 1024.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0 
 Art History Elective3.0  
 14 15 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PHTO 1103.0COOP 101*1.0VSCM 2224.0ARTH 3003.0
VSCM 2003.0PHTO 2103.0VSCM 2324.0CIVC 1011.0
VSCM 2204.0VSCM 2214.0VSCM 2413.0VSST 321 or 3014.0
VSCM 2304.0VSCM 2314.0Free Elective3.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0
VSCM 2403.0VSCM 2423.0Social Science Elective3.0Natural Science4.0
 VSST 1113.0  
 17 18 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEVSCM 3224.0VSCM 3334.0
  VSCM 3324.0VSCM 3503.0
  VSCM 3403.0VSST 1034.0
  Art History Elective3.0VSST 301 or 3214.0
  VSST Elective**4.0 
 0 0 18 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
VSCM 4304.0VSCM 496 (or Free Elective)3.0VSCM 4603.0 
VSCM 4404.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0VSCM 496 (or Free Elective)3.0 
Free Elective3.0Free Elective6.0Free Electives8.0 
Social Science Elective3.0Social Science Elective3.0  
 14 15 14 
Total Credits 189
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Choose any upper-level VSST course for Visual Studies (VSST) elective.

See degree requirements for list of Graphic Design electives.

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

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0BUSN 1014.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0PHYS 1753.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV A1011.0PHYS 1761.0MATH 1194.0 
VSST 1014.0UNIV A1011.0VSCM 1003.0 
VSST 1103.0VSST 1024.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0 
 Art History Elective3.0  
 14 15 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PHTO 1103.0PHTO 2103.0COOP 101*1.0ARTH 3003.0
VSCM 2003.0VSCM 2214.0VSCM 2224.0CIVC 1011.0
VSCM 2204.0VSCM 2314.0VSCM 2324.0VSST 321 or 3014.0
VSCM 2304.0VSCM 2423.0VSCM 2413.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0
VSCM 2403.0VSST 1113.0Free Elective3.0Natural Science4.0
  Social Science Elective3.0 
 17 17 18 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
VSCM 3224.0VSST 1034.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
VSCM 3324.0VSCM 3334.0  
VSCM 3403.0VSCM 3503.0  
Art History Elective3.0VSST 301 or 3214.0  
VSST Elective**4.0   
 18 15 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
VSCM 4304.0VSCM 496 (or Free Elective)3.0VSCM 4603.0 
VSCM 4404.0Arts and Humanities Elective3.0VSCM 496 (or Free Elective)3.0 
Free Elective3.0Free Electives6.0Free Electives8.0 
Social Science Elective3.0Social Science Elective3.0  
 14 15 14 
Total Credits 189
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Choose any upper-level VSST course for Visual Studies (VSST) elective.

See degree requirements for list of Graphic Design electives.

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:

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:

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.  

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.

Graphic Design Faculty

Joshua Gdovin, BS (Drexel University). Associate Teaching Professor. Graphic design; web graphics; motion graphics, and capstone.
Jody Graff, BS (Drexel University). Associate Professor. Graphic design; publication design, annual report design, three-dimensional graphics and packaging, environmental graphic design (exhibition and wayfinding), and capstone.
Eric Karnes, MFA (Virginia Commonwealth University). Assistant Professor. Graphic design; logo design, corporate identity, typography, advanced typography, publication design, book design, professional portfolio, capstone.
William Rees, BS (Drexel University) Program Director, Graphic Design. Teaching Professor. Graphic design; logo design, corporate identity, publication design, electronic imaging, print production, professional portfolio, and thesis.
Mark Willie, MFA (Boston Museum School of Fine Arts) Associate Program Director. Teaching Professor. Graphic design; typography, logo design, corporate identity, publication design, book design, professional portfolio, and capstone.
Shushi Yoshinaga, BFA (Philadelphia College of the Arts). Associate Professor. Graphic design; letterform, typography, and capstone.

Emeritus Faculty

Sandy Stewart, BFA (Tyler School of Art, Temple University). Associate Professor Emeritus. Graphic design, logo design, corporate identity, publication design, three-dimensional graphics and packaging, and capstone.
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