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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Graphic Design (B.F.A.)
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 Return to: Program Descriptions
Bachelor of Fine Arts Graphic Design
Department of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6709 ~ Art and Design
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 Art student. Students wishing to pursue the B.F.A. Graphic Design can declare an intent to apply for the B.F.A. Graphic Design program through the First-Year Portfolio. Once accepted, students must apply for formal acceptance into the B.F.A. Graphic Design program through the Second-Year Portfolio.
Student Learning Outcomes: 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: 30
General Education Requirements
The General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:
- Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1 Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2 Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3 Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
- Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4 Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5 Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6 Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7 Artistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8 Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
- At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness
Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements.
General Education Recommendations
Below is a list of courses that are recommended for you to complete as part of your General Education program.
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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, including AD 11100-History of Art I and AD 11201-History of Art II. This is followed by two additional advanced Art History courses or 6 credits. AD 11100 and AD 11201 are prerequisites for most advanced Art History courses. First-Year Foundation Studio Courses: Credits 18
First-Year Foundation Portfolio Review
The First-Year Portfolio is a mandatory evaluative review for all students to ensure students have met the competency level in the first-year foundations program. Once a student is enrolled in or has completed five of six first-year foundation courses, they must submit a portfolio to be reviewed by the Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of the foundation-level courses will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. Students will continue in the Second-Year foundation courses upon a satisfactory portfolio review. The Department of Art and Design will send out a portfolio template and detailed information regarding the portfolio review process. Students who do not meet the minimum score of 70% will be deferred and asked to re-submit a First-Year portfolio after taking more foundation courses. Students wishing to pursue a Graphic Design (B.F.A.) degree who successfully pass the First-Year portfolio may formally apply for acceptance to the program in the Second-Year Portfolio Review. Second-Year Foundation Studio Courses: Credits 18
Second-Year Foundation Portfolio Review
The Second-Year Portfolio is a mandatory evaluative review for all students to ensure students have met the competency level in the second-year foundations program. Once a student is enrolled in or has completed five of six second-year foundation courses, they must submit a portfolio to be reviewed by the Department of Art and Design faculty. Work from outside of the foundation-level courses will not be accepted for consideration; therefore, careful documentation and storage of one’s work is essential for success. Students will continue in the third-year studio courses upon a satisfactory portfolio review. The Department of Art and Design will send out a portfolio template and detailed information regarding the portfolio review process. Students who do not meet the minimum score of 90% will be deferred and asked to re-submit a Second-Year portfolio after taking more design-related courses. 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. The Second-Year Portfolio Review serves as a formal application for acceptance into the B.F.A. Graphic Design. 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-year portfolio for review. The portfolio must contain 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 thesis and exhibition courses. Portfolio review approval is a prerequisite for registration for Thesis Seminar I and Internship, if applicable. Students whose work does not meet the standards of the department reviewers (90%) may be required to change their degree program back to the Art and Design Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program. A deferred student will be asked to re-submit their portfolio for re-admittance into the B.F.A. program after taking additional courses in the area of study. Denied students may apply one additional time for re-admittance into the B.F.A. program with permission from the department chair. Graphic Design Major: Credits 42
Electives
Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120. The Department recommends Advanced-level studio courses to fulfill the credit requirements which will enhance your degree program. 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. Recommendations, Requirements, Transfers, and Policies
Recommendations Students should schedule classes within the B.A. program under the guidance of the official departmental academic advisor. Residence Requirements For a bachelor’s degree, registration in and completion of at least 33 credits of resident course credit at the Second-Year Studio Foundation level or above, including at least 15 credits at the Junior level or above, in courses applicable to the major. Transfer and Returning Student Credit All studio and art history courses transferred from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs must be evaluated by appropriate faculty in the Department of Art and Design program before they may be applied to a student’s degree requirements. See Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review. Transfer and Returning Student Credit Review Courses in studio art that have been transferred to Purdue Fort Wayne from another institution or former Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne art programs are not counted as part of the Art and Design major unless they have been reviewed by the Art and Design faculty. For a review of transferred studio credit, the student should provide the viewer with a portfolio consisting of representative work in each area (e.g. painting, sculpture, etc.) for which the transfer credit is desired. The portfolio should include both studies and finished work and be as encompassing as possible. Academic Notice/Separation Policies If a student does not meet the university’s GPA standard, they will be notified that they have been placed on academic notice and will be asked to make progress towards meeting campus standards. Department of Art and Design programs have their own academic standards as stated above. If a student is not meeting these standards, they will be notified and placed on departmental academic notice. If a student does not make positive progress towards meeting the academic standards of the department within twelve (12) credit hours of study, they will be subject to academic separation from the Department of Art and Design program. Repeat Limits
Advanced III and Advanced IV studio courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 9 credits each. No courses may be repeated in Graphic Design or Imaging and Photography concentrations. Self-Paced Courses
Independent Study classes are sometimes available and at the discretion of both the course instructor and chair of the department. Total Credits: 120 minimum
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. |
Return to: Program Descriptions
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