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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Graphic Design (B.F.A.)
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 Return to: Program Descriptions
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Department of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6709
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree with a major in Graphic Design is a focused studio and academic program for students interested in pursuing a professional career in the field of graphic design.
Each student enters the program as a Bachelor of Arts in Art student. Students wishing to pursue the B.F.A. in Graphic Design must apply through the First-Year Portfolio to attain preliminary acceptance into the B.F.A. in Graphic Design program. Once accepted students must apply through the Second-Year Portfolio for formal acceptance into the degree program.
Upon completion of their degree, B.F.A. students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Utilize research data, perceptual and conceptual skills to solve programs creatively in graphic design media.
- Implement 2D and 3D design principles to create compelling and effective works of design in a variety of traditional and digital media.
- Demonstrate an understanding and competency of technical skills in traditional and digital design media to effectively communicate and express ideas.
- Effectively analyze and critique works of design in verbal and written forms, using visual vocabulary and familiarity with the works and intentions of major designers and movements of the past and present.
- Demonstrate effective visual, verbal, and written communication skills and an aptitude to apply those skills.
- Apply functional knowledge of design practices and opportunities, as well as professional ethics to enhance the effectiveness of design solutions.
- Exhibit general design competencies in portfolio review submissions and senior thesis exhibitions.
- Utilize research and apply data on a set demographic to ensure a successful resolution to the design problem.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of design production processes.
Accreditation:
Program Delivery:
- Department of Art and Design courses are offered on campus, with some distance and hybrid course offerings.
General Requirements
General Education Requirements Credits: 33
- Click on the Purdue University Fort Wayne General Education Requirements link above for a listing of all general education requirements.
- A grade of C- or higher is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements. Courses may be retaken if the minimum grade requirement is not met.
- B.F.A. students may not take the following Art and Design courses for General Education credits; this includes AD 11100, AD 11201, AD 10101, AD10301, AD 10801, AD11001, AD 13300, AD 16500, AD 19600, AD 23900
- Cat A1 Written Communication -ENGL 13100 and ENGL 23301 Cr. 6.
- Cat A2 Speaking and Listening - COM 11400 or THTR 11400 * (recommended for Art and Design students) or other approved A2 course Cr. 3
- Cat A3 Quantitative Reasoning - STAT 12500 * (recommended for Art and Design students) or other approved A3 course Cr. 3
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College Scorecard
The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=5007&fos_credential=3
Program Requirements
A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the minor.
Graphic Design (B.F.A.) 4-Year Plan
Graphic Design Content Field: Credits 48
Art History Course Requirements: Credits 12
Graphic Design B.F.A. students are required to take 12 credit hours of Art History courses; three courses are specified, while one Art History is an elective.
First-Year Foundation Studio Courses: Credits 18
First-Year Portfolio Review Checkpoint
Once a student is enrolled in or has completed their first-year foundations courses, usually in the spring semester, they are required to submit a portfolio of first-year foundations-level studio work to be reviewed by the Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of first-year foundation-level courses will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. The review is a checkpoint to assure that students have met the competency level in the first-year foundations program. This review is a mandatory evaluative review for all students and is meant to provide feedback to students regarding their status in meeting learning outcomes set for these foundational courses. Upon a satisfactory portfolio review, students will continue in the second-year foundation courses. The Department of Art and Design will send out detailed information regarding the portfolio review process.
B.F.A. Portfolio Review Outcome
A student applying for acceptance into the B.F.A. program from the B.A. program may be accepted, deferred, or denied. A student’s acceptance into the B.F.A. program will allow them to advance into junior and senior-level studio classes as a declared B.F.A. major. A deferred student will be asked to re-submit their portfolio for B.F.A. consideration after re-taking the requested classes. A student denied entry into the B.F.A. program will continue in the B.A. program. Denied students can apply one additional time for review into the B.F.A. program with permission from the department chair.
Second-Year Foundation Studio Courses: Credits 18
Second-Year Portfolio Review Checkpoint
This review is a checkpoint to ensure that students have met the competency level in the second-year foundations program. It may serve as an application for formal acceptance into the B.F.A. in Graphic Design. Once a student is enrolled in or has completed their second-year foundations courses, usually in the spring semester, they are required to submit a portfolio of second-year level foundations studio work to be reviewed by the Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of second-year foundation-level classes will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success.
This review is a mandatory evaluative review for all students and is meant to provide feedback to students regarding their status in meeting learning outcomes set for these foundational courses. Upon a satisfactory portfolio review, students may continue in their courses toward completing the degree. The Department of Art and Design will send out detailed information regarding the portfolio review process.
B.F.A. Portfolio Review Outcome
A student applying for acceptance into the B.F.A. program from the B.A. program may be accepted, deferred, or denied. A student’s acceptance into the B.F.A. program will allow them to advance into junior and senior-level studio classes as a declared B.F.A. major. A deferred student will be asked to re-submit their portfolio for B.F.A. consideration after re-taking the requested classes. A student denied entry into the B.F.A. program will continue in the B.A. program. Denied students can apply one additional time for review into the B.F.A. program with permission from the department chair.
Third-Year Portfolio Review
Students at the end of their junior year, or upon completion of 84 credit hours, of which 48 credit hours must be studio courses, will submit a third portfolio for review. The portfolio must contain 10-12 pieces from the graphic design major. The department will send out detailed information regarding this review to students prior to the review. Successful students will be allowed to enroll in their remaining coursework in both advanced studio and senior thesis and exhibition courses. Portfolio review approval is a prerequisite for registration for Senior Thesis I and Internship, if applicable.
Students whose work does not meet the standards of the department reviewers may be required to change their degree program back to the Art and Design Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program.
Graphic Design Major: Credits 39
First-Year GPA Requirement
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Successful students will progress with the second-year courses.
GPA Requirements for the Remainder of Degree
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and maintain this minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA until graduation. Successful students will progress with the third-and fourth-year coursework.
Minimum Grade Requirement
Students must have a minimum grade of C- or better in all AD classes for credit toward their degree. Classes below a C- grade may be retaken for a qualifying grade as needed.
Repeat Limits
All advanced-level studio courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 18 credits. No courses may be repeated in the Graphic Design concentration.
Self-Paced Courses
Independent Study classes are sometimes available and at the discretion of both the course instructor and chair of the department.
Student Responsibility
You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.
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Return to: Program Descriptions
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