Graphic Design, Minor

Program Description

The Graphic Design minor is intended for students interested in augmenting their academic major with the physical, technological, aesthetic, and conceptual skills associated with a design discipline. Courses will include foundational emphasis on visual communications, design methodologies, image making, typography, and the production of work in both physical and digital form. Coursework may also include an introduction to communication theory; contemporary issues in communication, audience, and context; and formal research methodology. Advanced courses in the minor degree will apply the students’ design acumen towards practical coursework within the context of their declared major. A Minor Capstone Studio will situate students within an appropriately rigorous environment for the application of design methods.

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is a professional field of visual communication, creative thinking, and complex problem-solving. Practitioners connect people with ideas, products, environments, and experiences. Graphic design explores systems, technologies, methods, and strategies for integrating typography, imagery, and form into a visual language that informs, instructs, and persuades. It is an engaging and evolving knowledge for advancing the human experience.

You Might Like This Program If...

• Bad typography on billboards and passing trucks drives you nuts.
• You love words and images and colors.
• You are engaged and creative, digital and analog.
• You like art, advertising, psychology, and entrepreneurship.
• You defy classification and don't like being stuck in ruts.

Designers are agile thinkers and creators who blend concepts and craft, art and ideas. If you’re interested in everything and love challenges, graphic design could be your ‘thing.’

Entrance to Minor

Entrance into the graphic design minor is based on a portfolio review. The portfolio will consist of examples of visual work, an original poster design, and a statement of intent.

Entrance Procedures

Additional information on entrance procedures, please visit the website for the College of Arts and Architecture.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the Minor

For a minor in Graphic Design a minimum of 21 credits is required.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
GD 100	Introduction to Graphic Design	3
GD 101	Design Foundation I	3
GD 102	Design Foundation 2	3
GD 200	Graphic Design Studio I	3
GD 201	Typography	3
GD 405	Minor Advanced Studio	3
GD 406	Minor Capstone Studio	3

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Kyrie Harding
Director of Advising
104 Borland Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-9523
kyrie@psu.edu

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
121 Stuckeman Family Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0345
ndb2@psu.edu

https://arts.psu.edu/academics/department-of-graphic-design/