Graphic Design, BA

Requirements

Students in Graphic Design should carefully review the degree map (see tab above) because not all courses are offered every term. Consult an academic advisor in the program if you have questions.

Students complete a total of 12 courses (36 credit hours) for the major in Graphic Design, including 10 core courses and two major electives. Highlights of the program include:

  • COMM 201 COMMUNICATION IN THE INFO AGE  is the gateway to the program. We recommend students take COMM 201 as soon as they complete ENG 102. Transfer students may have an equivalent course that can be substituted.
  • Students complete a required internship and portfolio course, DES 380 INTERNSHIP AND PORTFOLIO.
  • Students conclude their program with a required capstone project, DES 368 DESIGN CAPSTONE.
  • Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours at Roosevelt.

Note these guidelines:

  •  100-level courses do not count toward the Graphic Design major.
  • Letter grades (not pass/fail) are required for courses in Graphic Design. 
  • Grades below C (not C-) in courses in the major are not acceptable.
  • Minimum GPA in the major is 2.0.
DES 200INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN AND HISTORY3
DES 207INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY3
DES 235DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION AND IMAGING3
DES 253DESIGN INTERACTION FOR WEB3
DES 291TYPOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC DESIGN3
DES 308VIDEO FOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS3
DES 325VISUAL IDENTITY AND BRANDING3
DES 330PACKAGING DESIGN3
or DES 352 PUBLICATION DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
DES 368DESIGN CAPSTONE3
DES 380INTERNSHIP AND PORTFOLIO3
Students choose any two 300-level electives from: DES 312 2D Animation; DES 337 Design Interaction for Mobile; DES 346 Advanced Digital Illustration and Imaging; DES 351 Business in Design6
CORE General Education and Electives84
Total Credit Hours120

CORE Requirements (General Education)

First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course
FYS 101FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE1
or TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101
Communication Requirement
ENG 101COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING3
ENG 102COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH3
COMM 101PUBLIC SPEAKING (or program specific CORE communications course)3
Ideas of Social Justice
3 credits in coursework categorized as Ideas.3
Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Art History, English (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 102), History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Communication and Women's and Gender Studies9
Mathematics
MATH 110QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or above) 13
Science
One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab).7-8
Social Sciences
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies9
Experiential Learning
6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning. 6
Total Credit Hours47-48
1

Higher level of Math may be required by major

These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.

  • Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
  • Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
  • Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
  • Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
  • Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
  • Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
  • Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
  • Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

Year 1
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ENG 1013ENG 1023
FYS 10111COMM 1013
Social science #13Physical science23
MATH 1103Ideas of Social Justice 3
BIOL 111 or 11224Social Science #23
 14 15
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
COMM 201 (can be used as social science #3)3Humanities #23
DES 2003DES 2353
Humanities #13DES 2533
General elective33DES 2913
General elective33General elective33
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
DES 2073DES 3253
DES 3083DES 3XX43
DES 3XX43Experiential Learning #153
Humanities #33General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
General elective31 
 16 15
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
DES 330 or 3523DES 3683
Experiential Learning #253DES 3803
General elective33General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
 15 15
Total Credit Hours 120
1

The First-Year Success course is required of freshmen with fewer than 12 hours and is taken in the first semester at RU.

2

One Natural Science course must have a lab.

3

General electives are courses outside the major. A course counting toward a minor may be taken here in place of a general elective.

4

Choose from DES 312 2D ANIMATION, DES 337 DESIGN INTERACTION FOR MOBILE, DES 346 ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION AND IMAGING and DES 351 BUSINESS IN DESIGN

5

The university requires two Experiential Learning courses, designated with the EXL attribute in the course schedule. Additional Experiential Learning courses are optional.