Course variations

Course summary

This program helps students to conceptualize and execute projects for a specific target audience. As students progress through the program, they create a body of work that demonstrates their creativity, analytical thinking and expertise in graphic design techniques. Students learn to combine typography and images to create a wide variety of designs such as magazine and newspaper advertisements, television storyboards, product packaging and displays. Assignments also include using design to clearly communicate both a corporate image and a personal identity. Design students must develop finely tuned analytical skills. Their assignments are based on learning to analyze the needs of a client, create a concept that will meet those needs, and clearly articulate that concept, both visually and verbally. Professional communication skills and business acumen are essential to success in the design field. A variety of methods and tools are applied in the completion of projects. Design students will learn to use industry-standard graphic arts equipment and software to produce fully functioning electronic files. Project management is also an important component of the program. Students must learn to plan and execute projects with multiple deadlines in an efficient and professional manner.

Program modules

The modules are Semester 1: Fundamentals of Art I 5; Beginning Life Drawing I 5; English Language Arts I 3; Freshman Seminar 1; Semester 2: Fundamentals of Art II 5; Beginning Life Drawing II 5; Anatomy 3; Semester 3: Introduction to 2-D Design 5; Digital Graphic Foundations 5; English Language Arts II 3; Art History Survey I 3; Semester 4: Intermediate 2-D Design and Typography 5; Graphic Design 5; Art History Survey II 3; (One of four) Film and Society; Film and Society: World Cultures; Contemporary Visual Culture; or Art and Activism 3; Semester 5: Advertising 5; Electronic Imaging 5; Quantitative Literacy 3; Marketing 3; Semester 6: Digital and Pre-press Production 5; Packaging Design 5; (One of three) Intro to Lab Science; Vision, Light and Color; or Advanced Anatomy 3; (One of seven) Survey of American Illustration; History of Graphic Design; 20th Century and Contemporary Art History; Art History: Renaissance and Baroque; Art History: Art and Technology; Art History: Rococo and Neo-Classical; or World Art 3; Semester 7: Environmental Design 5; Studio Elective 200/300 or 400 Level 5; Studio Elective 200/300 or 400 Level 5; Semester 8: Portfolio: Visual Communications 3; (One of three) Web Design I; Multimedia I: Interactive Graphics; or Internship 5; (One of four) Film and Society; Film and Society: World Cultures; Contemporary Visual Culture; or Art and Activism 3; Professional Writing 3.

Entry requirement for international students

Applicants whose native language is not English can submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable TOEFL scores are 500 paper-based total, 173 computer-based total and 61 Internet-based total.

Qualification

Bachelor degree

Awarding body

American Academy Of Art

Department name

American Academy of Art