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Graphic Design Major

Are you interested in Graphic Design?

The greatest asset to learning more about graphic design is being around other creatives for inspiration. Graphic design is the ability to strategically deliver a message to an audience. At Stritch you can get hands-on experience through relevant courses formulated to enhance your creativity and develop a marketable skillset for your future career. 

Program Overview

Our graphic design major employs a multidisciplinary approach of teaching visual ideation and digital media skills that generate creative solutions. You will develop your skills in design and layout, marketing, branding and typography, digital photography and time-based media. A graphic designer works in all areas of visual communication and is prepared to pursue a wide variety of creative careers as an art director, graphic artist, public relations specialist, photographer and web designer.

Program Concentrations

This program is made up of the following concentrations. Learn more about concentrations.

Concentration Overview

The Digital Arts concentration is for students who want a focus on visual communication through art and digital design (e.g., computer graphics, photography, time based media, and web design). Communicating ideas in the workplace, in the classroom, or online demands clarity, precision, efficiency, visual impact, and an awareness of diverse audiences.

Concentration Overview

The Graphic Design Concentration will develop your skills in graphic design and visual communication (e.g. typography and page layout, digital photography, marketing and video production). We prepare you for a visually complex world and across multiple platforms of creative design solutions.

Concentrations on this page are required for this program. Additional courses or concentrations may need to be added to meet program or credit requirements.

Program Coursework

The specific degree requirements on the website are for illustrative purposes and may change at any time. Please contact the Registrar's Office, Academic Advising or refer to the course catalog for detailed program requirements.

Liberal Arts Core

The Liberal Arts Core Curriculum is rooted in the Liberal Arts and our Franciscan heritage. It is designed to create a framework to develop knowledge, skills, and responsibilities necessary to educate students so that they will be prepared to contribute to the world guided by a concern for issues of justice and ethical behavior.

LEADERSHIP:  4 credits
  • Freshman Seminar (1 cr.)
  • Spiritual & Ethical Literacy (3 cr.) 
FOUNDATIONAL LITERACIES/SKILLS:  12 credits
  • Personal Branding Communication (3 cr.)
  • Writing for the 21st Century (3 cr.)*
  • Quantitative Problem Solving (3 cr.)*
  • Language & Culture (3 cr.)
*For ‘Writing for the 21st Century’ (English) and ‘Quantitative Problem Solving’ (Math), you may need additional courses depending on your placement.

CORE LITERACIES:  15 credits – Choose one (1) course from each broad theme. Course options can be found in the course catalog or on the academic advising page. Broad themes are:
  • Narratives of Identity       (3 cr.)
  • Science, Environment & Culture (3 cr.)   
  • Social Tensions (3 cr.)    
  • The American Experience (3 cr.)
  • Approving the Better Things (3 cr.)

Professional Core

Culminating Experience

Culminating Experience – Professional Core (9 credits)

Giving students a culminating experience as well as practical work experience, the Professional Core is a graduation requirement for every Stritch student in a bachelor’s degree program. This bachelor’s degree program includes completion of the Professional Core consisting of three courses:
  • Pre-Internship
  • Internship
  • Capstone
Man and woman looking at computer

Graphic Design Jobs

Graphic design is in high demand and the opportunities are limitless

  • Graphic Designer
  • Creative Director
  • User Experience (UX) Designer
  • User Interface (UI) Designer
  • Production Artist
  • Product Developer
  • Art Director
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Multimedia Artist/Animator
  • Freelancer
Contact admissions or the program faculty with questions about this program.

Admissions

Tim G. Abler

Chair - Visual and Performing Arts|Faculty - Art