Learn More and ApplyGraphic Design (BFA)

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Graphic design integrates a range of media and technologies—from web, interaction, and coding to typography, illustration, branding, and packaging—to communicate to diverse audiences. Students engage with both theory and practice, and develop skills to research, concept, prototype, design and document their work. ​ ​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Major Requirements 140
Open Electives 16
Total hours required 208

Learning Outcomes

​Students will be able to:

  • Address social, ethical, and user-centered concerns related to visual communication.
  • Generate a design portfolio blending typography with graphic imagery that demonstrates technical skill, conceptual strategy, and aesthetic direction.
  • Engage in graphic design discourse and critique, referencing graphic design history and theory.
  • Use research, inquiry, and iteration to organize and transform complex visual information across a range of visual and interactive platforms.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 3 4
Senior Year
Capstone
Required in major 1
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain.  The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned  in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

3

GD 380 recommended.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  •  2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 1 Course Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 Lab Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 1 Course Required 

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

Major Requirements

First Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
ART 106BEGINNING DRAWING4
FILM 265DIGITAL STILL PHOTOGRAPHY4
or ART 224 BEGINNING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
GD 101CREATIVE STUDIO METHODS4
GD 105INTRO TO VISUAL DESIGN4
GD 109WEB DESIGN TOOLS WORKSHOP2
GD 150ILLUSTRATOR WORKSHOP2
GD 200GRAPHIC DESIGN: FORM4
GD 230TYPOGRAPHY: FORM4
UXD 101DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN4
or ANI 101 ANIMATION FOR NON-MAJORS

Second Year 

Course Title Quarter Hours
GAM 240PLAYGRAMMING4
GD 110WEB DESIGN4
GD 151PHOTOSHOP WORKSHOP2
GD 152INDESIGN WORKSHOP2
GD 201INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL DESIGN RESEARCH4
GD 205GRAPHIC DESIGN: CONCEPT4
GD 210DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION I4
GD 220HISTORIES OF DESIGN4
Eight (8) credit hours of Major Electives8

Third Year 

Course Title Quarter Hours
ANI 361MOTION GRAPHICS4
or POST 110 EDITING I
or UXD 210 INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
GD 215WEB DESIGN FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS4
or GD 216 WEB DESIGN FOR ARTISTS
GD 221TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY GRAPHIC DESIGN4
GD 232TYPOGRAPHY: SYSTEMS4
GD 270SEMIOTICS AND VISUAL DESIGN4
GD 300GRAPHIC DESIGN: PROJECTS4
GD 330TYPOGRAPHY:PROJECTS4
Twelve (12) credit hours of Major Electives12

 Fourth Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
Fourth Year
GD 340PUBLICATION DESIGN4
GD 356LOGO, BRANDING, AND VISUAL IDENTITY4
GD 360ADVERTISING DESIGN4
GD 381GRAPHIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT4
GD 394
GD 395
CAPSTONE PROJECT I
and CAPSTONE PROJECT II
8
Eight (8) credit hours of Major Electives8

Major Electives

Students must complete 28 Major Elective credit hours from any undergraduate courses in CDM or the College of Business, or from PRAD in the College of Communication. Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in all major elective courses.

Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in all major elective courses.

Open Electives

Open Elective credit hours are required to meet the minimum graduation requirements of 208 hours. Open Electives may be taken from any unit at DePaul.

Degree Requirements

Students in this degree must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of 208 credit hours (generally 54 courses). 
  • Earn a grade of C- or higher in WRD 103WRD 104, and all Major and Minor courses.
  • Earn a grade of D or higher in all other Liberal Studies and Open Elective courses.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Program Combination Restrictions

Students pursuing the BFA in Graphic Design are forbidden from pursuing the Minor in Graphic Design.