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 13 courses (39 credit hours) for the major in Graphic Design, including:

  • 10 Required courses in the major
  • 2 electives in the major
  • 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.

Highlights of the program include:

  • 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.

Note these guidelines:

  • Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours at Roosevelt.
  • 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.
COMM 201COMMUNICATION IN THE INFO AGE3
DES 130COLOR AND DESIGN 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
Major Electives (Choose 2):6
DES 312
2D ANIMATION
DES 337
DESIGN INTERACTION FOR MOBILE
DES 346
ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION AND IMAGING
DES 351
BUSINESS OF DESIGN
CORE General Education and Electives81
Total Credit Hours120

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 #13DES 2353
DES 1303Ideas of Social Justice 3
MATH 1103BIOL 111 or 11224
Physical Science23 
 16 16
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
COMM 201 (can be used as social science #3)3DES 2533
DES 2913Humanities #23
Humanities #13Social Science #33
Social Science #23General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
DES 2073DES 3253
DES 3083DES 3XX43
Humanities #33Experiential Learning #153
General Elective33General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
 15 15
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
DES 330 or 3523DES 36853
DES 3XX43DES 38053
General elective33Experiential Learning #253
General Elective33General Elective33
General Elective33General Elective33
 General Elective31
 15 16
Total Credit Hours 123
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 OF DESIGN

5

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