Graphic Design Major
Saint Joseph’s University’s Graphic Design program aims to increase students’ competitiveness for employment and provide hands-on experience through partnerships with local advertising and design firms. The Graphic Design major is a cross-disciplinary major including the Art, Communications and Media Studies, and Marketing departments. Graphic design students develop skills in visual organization, information hierarchy, branding, and typography. They develop an understanding of principles of color and composition and analysis and idea generation using industry-standard graphics software. Students also learn about problem-solving and the role of design in society. The graphic design program at Saint Joseph’s also assists students secure internships that help secure employment after graduation.
Goal 1: Solve communication problems and carry projects from creation to completion; including the skills of research, analysis and idea generation, using relevant industry standard graphics software
Goal 2: Create and develop visual concepts in response to communication problems, including an understanding of the principles of visual organization, information hierarchy, typography, principles of color, and composition
Goal 3: Apply principles of visual communication as they relate to reaching audiences, the role of design in society as a tool to raise awareness and mobilize audiences, in addition to working collaboratively
Goal 4: Create a professional portfolio that demonstrates problem-solving expertise (including advanced typography, creative concepts, and innovative solutions necessary for an entrylevel design position at leading graphic design firm)
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GDS 116 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| GDS 190 | Fundamentals of Graphic Design | 3 |
| GDS 290 | Typography I | 3 |
| GDS 292 | Typography II | 3 |
| GDS 492 | Portfolio & Professional Pract | 3 |
| ART 495 | Senior Project I (Capstone) | 3 |
| ART 496 | Senior Project II (Capstone) | 3 |
| Select three courses from this list | 9 | |
| Commercial Design | ||
| Editorial Design | ||
| User Experience Design | ||
| Visual Identity and Branding | ||
| Intro to Web Design | ||
| Choose three of the following suggested electives for the major: | 9 | |
| Digital Photography I | ||
| Image Manipulation: Photoshop | ||
| 2D Animation | ||
| Commercial Photography | ||
| Experimental Digital Photo | ||
| Visual Design I | ||
| Media and Community Engagement | ||
| Non-Profit Communications | ||
| Special Topics/ Com&Digi Media | ||
| Food Marketing Communication | ||
| International Food Marketing | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Integrated Mktg Communications | ||
| Consumer & Buyer Behavior | ||
| MKT Communications | ||
| Social Media Marketing | ||
| Digital Marketing | ||
| Advertising | ||
| Entertainment Marketing | ||
| Sports Marketing | ||
| Digital Filmmaking | ||
| Commercial Production | ||
| Building Virtual Worlds | ||
| Intro to Computer Science | ||
| CSC I:Programming Fundamentals | ||
| Web Design for All | ||
| Databases for All | ||
| Introduction to Graphics | ||
| Public Speaking & Presentation | ||
| Writing for Organizations | ||
| Writing for Public Relations | ||
| Fact-checking and Fake News | ||
| Intro Media &Cultural Studies | ||
| Advanced News Reporting | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Ethnic & Minority Relations | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Mental Health & Society | ||
| Psychology of Men and Women | ||
| Behavioral Economics | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Sports Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Independent Study Program
Independent study courses may be taken for upper division credit in a student’s major department. Advanced or specialized work in Art and Art History may be pursued under the guidance of a faculty mentor within the independent study program. Students requesting an independent study should contact the faculty member to be involved in the project at least two weeks prior to the registration period. Students must submit a written project proposal which outlines topics and goals.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| GDS 190 | Fundamentals of Graphic Design | 3 |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Non-Native Language | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| GDS 116 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| GDS 290 | Typography I | 3 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Social Science | 3 | |
| GDS 292 | Typography II | 3 |
| Mission Specific Overlay | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 495 | Senior Project I (Capstone) | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 496 | Senior Project II (Capstone) | 3 |
| GDS 492 | Portfolio & Professional Pract | 3 |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 122-124 | |