Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design

Visionary Design for Positive Change

We'll help you prepare to become a leader in the visual communications industry and beyond.

Why choose graphic design at Marian?

From start to finish, you will experience real-world design opportunities from visual identity branding to web design. You will learn how to create visual communication solutions for print and digital media with an emphasis in creative strategy formation, design thinking, visual prototyping, and craft development.

Internship experiences are available within the Indianapolis metropolitan area that compliments your classroom learning. Your work as a student designer is supported by a dedicated department design lab featuring seventeen iMac workstations and high-quality large format printing and scanning.

As a Marian graduate, you will not only be job-ready with a professional portfolio and design experiences but will have developed a personal mission for how your gifts as visual communicator can make a positive contribution to our world.

What will you study?

Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design

Foundation program studio courses (12 credits)

• ART 110 Drawing and Design I  (3 credits)
• ART 206 Color Theory and Application (3 credits)
• ART 210 Drawing and Design II  (3 credits)
• ART 255 Photography I  (3 credits)

Art history courses (12 credits)

• ARH 235 Survey of Western Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance (3 credits)
• ARH 236 Survey of Western Art II: Baroque to Contemporary (3 credits)
• 1-  ARH 344 The Modern World or ARH 346 The Contemporary Scene (3 credits)
• 1- 300 level ARH courses  (3 credits)

Graphic design program courses (24 credits)

• ART 226 Typography  (3 credits)
• ART 229 Graphic Design Principles, Methods, and Practices  (3 credits)
• ART 327 Creative Thinking in Graphic Design  (3 credits)
• ART 341 Design for Social Impact  (3 credits)
• ART 343 Design for Print Media  (3 credits)
• ART 349 History, Theory, and Practice in Graphic Design  (3 credits)
• ART 429 Design for Digital Media  (3 credits)
• ART 490 Senior Seminar  (1 credit)
• ART 491 Senior Portfolio and Professional Practices  (2 credits)

Recommended elective course

• ART 460 Internship  (3-6 credits)

The following portfolio reviews are required for continuation in the program:

• Foundation portfolio review: First semester sophomore year
• Junior portfolio review: Second semester junior year
• Senior portfolio review: Senior exhibition semester in senior year

Sample four-year plan and checklist  See our student portfolios

Minor in Graphic Design

18 credits minimum in art and art history including:

• ART 110 Drawing and Design I (3 credits)
• ART 206 Color Theory and Application (3 credits)
• ART 229 Graphic Design Principles, Methods, and Practices (3 credits)
• 1-  ARH 235 Survey of Western Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance (3 credits) or
  ARH 236 Survey of Western Art II: Baroque to Contemporary (3 credits)

Two additional art courses from:

• ART 226 Typography (3 credits)
• ART 255 Photography I (3 credits)
• ART 327 Creative Thinking in Graphic Design (3 credits)
• ART 341 Design for Social Impact (3 credits)
• ART 343 Design for Print Media (3 credits)
• ART 380 on a graphic design topic (credit arrange)

COM 365 can be substituted for one of the courses from the two-additional art courses listed in the outline above.

What are my career paths?

Graphic design career opportunities
The products that graphic designers create touch every aspect of our daily lives. From the user interface on your phone to the logo for your favorite coffee house, graphic designers shape our visual world. Here is a small sampling of possible careers paths you can pursue upon graduating from Marian.