| Ranking | School | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Top 1% |
| 2 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Top 1% |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Top 1% |
| 4 | University of North Texas | Top 1% |
| 5 | Arizona State University | Top 1% |
| 6 | University of Texas at Austin | Top 1% |
| 7 | University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) | Top 2% |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati | Top 2% |
| 9 | Kent State University | Top 2% |
| 10 | The Ohio State University | Top 2% |
| 11 | San Diego State University | Top 2% |
| 12 | University of Kansas | Top 2% |
| 13 | Oregon State University | Top 3% |
| 14 | University of Georgia | Top 3% |
| 15 | Portland State University | Top 3% |
| 16 | Utah State University | Top 4% |
| 17 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Top 4% |
| 18 | University of Arizona | Top 4% |
| 19 | University of Washington | Top 4% |
| 20 | Temple University | Top 4% |
| 21 | Texas State University, San Marcos | Top 5% |
| 22 | Queens College | Top 5% |
| 23 | San Jose State University | Top 5% |
| 24 | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | Top 5% |
| 25 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Top 6% |
Our 2018 list of the Top 25 Public Graphic Design School Programs in the US. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) was founded in 1887. The school is home to nearly 33,800 students enrolled in 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Known as “the school of 100+ startups and spinoffs,” NC State houses 12 colleges and 65 departments. The College of Design is home to the Graphic Design program which offers two degree paths—a Bachelor of Graphic Design and a Master of Graphic Design. The College has recently established a PhD in Design/Information Design Concentration as well. The undergraduate and graduate degrees are NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) accredited and the PhD program is set to receive NASAD approval after graduating its first class.
Per the College of Design, students in the undergraduate program study comparative ideas about, and methods for, creating visual communication. Sequenced core studios, typography courses, and image-making courses “progressively introduce and develop skills, processes, and sensitivities across a range of media.” Graduate students will “closely examine the cultural and technological situatedness of graphic design and its products, and to seek understanding of the people who use and interact with the things that graphic designers make.”
Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) began as a training institution for aspiring architects, artists, drawing teachers, and designers. The school offers than 20 undergraduate art programs, nearly a dozen graduate programs, and seven Certificate programs to 1,985 students.
The Graphic Design Department offers BFA in Graphic Design that focuses on “learning by doing” in studio classes. Per the school, students in the program are exposed to intensive critique as well as discussions and lectures “through a sequenced combination of required courses in the major, studio electives, technical workshops and computer lab-based courses.”
Also available is a 38 credit hour Graphic Design Certificate Program (GDC) designed for working adults who are interested in advancing into a career in graphic design. Thanks to an excellent reputation in the design community, graduates of the Certificate program obtain jobs in all areas of the industry.
Established in 1838, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is home to 31,231 students enrolled in around 226 degree and certificate programs across 15 colleges and schools. The School of the Arts, which serves more than 3,000 students, offers 25 degree programs. An additional four programs are offered at VCU’s Qatar campus. The School of the Arts, Department of Graphic Design, has several programs for aspiring graphic designers. Options include BFA degrees in Graphic Design and Communication Arts, and an MFA with a Concentration in Design/Visual Communications.
Per the Department, students in the MFA program “concentrate on the philosophical, communicative, and aesthetic relationships of visual problem solving and the interacting skills leading to the effective articulation of concepts.” BFA students will take courses in the areas of Publication and Print Design, Sequential and Motion Design, and Interaction Design, “along with a series of related Studio and Seminar courses.” Both BFA options prepare students to create effective visual communications.
Founded in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teachers’ Training Institute, University of North Texas (UNT) is the fourth-largest university in Texas. Home to more than 26,500 students, the school offers 93 bachelor's, 125 master's and 47 doctoral degree programs across 11 colleges and schools. The College of Visual Arts & Design is home to the Design Department, which houses the Communication Design Program. Program options for aspiring graphic designers include BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in Communication Design.
The BFA program covers the basic principles of design, image making, color theory and typography. It is also designed to “help students learn to be effective conceptual thinkers and, most importantly, creative problem solvers in the disciplines of Advertising and of Graphic Design.” The 36 credit hour MA in Communication Design and the 60 credit hour MFA in Communication Design are both taught as concentrations in Design Research.
Students in all Graphic Design programs have the opportunity to complete an internship, study abroad, and access “valuable resources” consisting of over 1,000 reference books, magazines and paper/print samples of photography, illustration, typography, graphic design and advertising.
Arizona State University (ASU) was founded in 1885. It is home to more than 98,000 students (2016) enrolled in over 290 academic undergraduate programs and hundreds of graduate programs across 17 colleges and schools. The Tempe campus is home to nearly 52,000 students, making it the largest campus in the ASU system.
The ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts houses the Design School, which offers programs in the areas of Architecture, Environmental Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Visual Communication Design/VCD (Graphic Design). Visual Communication Design (VCD) options include a BSD in Graphic Design, an MSD with a Concentration in Visual Communication Design (VCD MSD), and a Master of Visual Communication Design (MVCD).
The BSD allows students to work on projects in the areas of Information Design, Interaction Design, Exhibition Design, Animation, Motion Graphics, Branding, Publication Design, Web Design, Interface Design and multiple contemporary facets of sensorial design. The MSD for individuals interested in “advanced studies in visual language, history, theory, criticism and methodology, design processes and technology.” The degree “develops an understanding of contemporary graphic design issues through specialized research and design skills. It also prepares the graduate student for a career in graphic design education.”
The MVCD has two options—a two-year studio-based program and a 3+ program. The two-year studio program is designed for students with a degree in VCD or Graphic Design and a 3+ program is designed to be a first professional degree for those students who do not have an undergraduate degree in VCD or Graphic Design.
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) opened in 1883. It is home to more than 51,000 students enrolled in over 500 degree programs and fields of study across 18 colleges and schools. Programs for aspiring graphic designers are offered through the College of Fine Arts, Department of Art and Art History. Options include BA, BFA and MFA degrees in Design, and a BFA in Visual Studies.
Regardless of the degree level, all students have the opportunity to participate in the school’s internship program, which may include working at major companies with offices in the Austin area. Just a few include Google, Dell, IBM, Apple, Samsung, Frog, Pentagram, and EA Games.
Founded in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is home to nearly 45,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries. The UCLA College and 12 professional schools offer more than 5,000 courses in 125 undergraduate degree programs, 98 master’s programs, 109 doctoral and professional programs, and 91 minors.
The School of Arts and Architecture is home to the Department of Design Media Arts (DMA), which offers both BA and MA degrees in Design Media Arts. Per the school, the DMA program “emphasizes innovative creation with digital and mass media within the context of a public research university.” The curriculum highlights “a solid foundation in form, color, space, motion, typography, and interactivity, followed by a broad selection of area studies courses in video, visual communication, network media, game design, and narrative.” The senior project allows students to focus on individual interests within the areas of Visual Communication and Image, interactivity and games, or video and animation.
“This uniquely challenging and diverse program invites students to balance aesthetic sensibility with logical reasoning, formal theories with practical application, and contemporary thought with historical perspective.” With courses that are taught as studios of no more than 22 students, individual growth and a sense of community within the department is encouraged.
The University of Cincinnati (UC) was founded in 1819. It is home to nearly 44,800 students enrolled in 370 degree programs across 13 colleges and a graduate school. The College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) houses the School of Design, which offers a BS in Communication Design. The program, which takes five years to complete, offers three Concentration areas including Graphic Design, Motion Design, and Interaction Design.
Students in the BS program will take a broad range of courses such as Foundational Drawing and Design, Kinetic Communication, Typography, Photodesign, and Design Ideation. Courses are supplemented with general education requirements, directed electives, design history, and interdisciplinary courses in design thinking and user-centered design. Per the school, studios “will refine and develop specific or general skills and be enhanced with further study in design history, methodology, research methods, and global studies.”
Besides the BS in Communication Design, aspiring graphic designers might consider another program offered through UC’s Blue Ash College. The Art and Visual Communication Department here offers a two-year Associate Degree in Applied Graphic Communication. The program is designed for “students seeking foundational skills appropriate for further study in the design field or for employment in areas of design support.” Classes are small, so students receive considerable personal attention and direction from faculty. Though the program is a two-year degree, students may take up to three years to complete the program.
Founded in 1910, Kent State University (KSU or Kent State) is home to 29,000 students enrolled in more than 300 degree programs across dozens of colleges and schools. The College of Communication and Information, School of Visual Communication Design, offers several programs for aspiring graphic designers including BFA, MA, and MFA degrees in Visual Communication Design and a Design Minor.
Per the School, the BFA program consists of approximately two-thirds of the coursework in the "creation and study of the visual arts," with the remainder in general studies. Because of the greater emphasis on upper-level studio courses, the BFA allows majors the opportunity to build greater expertise in a given area of the field.
The MFA is one of only three programs in the state to offer the Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design and was the first to offer the terminal degree in the field, the Master of Fine Arts. The MA is a 32 credit hour program that prepares students to work in emerging markets such as social media, branding, digital media and user experience design. The MFA “serves students with a strong undergraduate and/or professional experience in design who wish to advance into leadership roles.” Graduates “typically pursue careers in design education, but also stand out in the industry for their ability to solve problems from a research-based design perspective."
The Design Minor provides students with “grounding in the fundamental elements of graphic design, including design research and history, graphic software, industry standards and professional ethics.” All School of Visual Communication Design students must complete 300 hours of internship before graduation. Most internships are paid and students have the opportunity to work at major companies across Cleveland and in Chicago, San Francisco and New York.
Established in 1870, The Ohio State University (OSU) is home to just over 66,000 students enrolled in more than 200 majors, specializations, and minors across 12+ colleges and schools. The College of Arts and Sciences is home to the Department of Design, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Design (BSD) in Visual Communication Design and a Design Thinking Minor.
Per the school, students in the program use digital tools, “including advanced computing technology, to visualize and present translations of complex data and ideas.” Students will “study and explore research-based approaches to the visual design of information, the development of brand identities based on present and future conditions, and the creation of way-finding systems for navigating complex environments.”
The production of printed materials such as books, brochures, packaging, and posters is also part of the program. Sample courses include Design Media 1 for Visual Communication Design, Typographic Design, Materials + Processes for Visual Communication Design, Design Research, Collaborative Design, Professional Practices, Sustainability and the Built Environment, and Design Matters. In their senior year, designers will complete a final project “that demonstrates each student's comprehensive knowledge and ability to work independently.”
The Design Thinking Minor is a 15 credit hour program introduces students to new and creative ways to solve problems. Courses include Design Practice, Design History, Exploring Design Thinking, Visualization as Thinking, and Presentation as Thinking.
San Diego State University (SDSU) was founded in 1897 and it is home to nearly 34,000 students, making it the oldest and largest university in San Diego and the third largest in California. The school offers nearly 160 undergraduate majors and minors, 16 pre-professional programs and nearly 100 graduate degrees and credentials across seven colleges.
The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA) has 10 core departments and schools, including the School of Art + Design. Here, students can earn a BA in Applied Arts and Sciences with an Emphasis in Graphic Design or Multimedia and an MA or MFA with an Emphasis in Graphic Design or Multimedia. Students may also focus on Book Arts or Illustration by choosing from an extensive collection of electives.
The Graphic Design program features participation in a large internship program that “places students in professional settings in graphic design firms, interior design offices, galleries, museums and schools in the Southern California region and, specifically, the San Diego community.” The active study abroad program offers experiences in places such as Turkey, Scotland, Mexico, and Japan. Graphic design students are also involved in professional organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Art (AIGA), the American Craft Council, and the Society of Photographic Education.
Graduates of the art and design programs at SDSU hold titles such as Graphic Designer, Corporate Image Designer, Layout/Production Artist, Advertising Artist, Print Production Specialist, Graphic Illustrator, Technical Illustrator, and many others.
Founded in 1865, the University of Kansas (KU) welcomed its first class in 1866. The school is home to nearly 28,500 students enrolled in more than 370 programs across 14 schools and one college—including the only schools of pharmacy and medicine in the state. The School of Architecture, Design and Planning is home to The Department of Design, which offers a BFA in Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design) and a Certificate in Book Arts.
The Graphic Design Program highlights courses such as Typographic Systems, Design Understanding, Designer as Author, Book Arts, Designing Information, Designing for Change, Environmental Graphics, Motion Graphics, and Designing for Social Interactions. Graduates of the program are prepared to pursue careers in a wide range of areas such as traditional print media, magazine and book design, corporate marketing communications, branding, packaging design, exhibition and environmental design, motion graphic design, website design, interface design and many others.
Certificate students “learn art and craft production across the “whole book”— papermaking, typography, printing, and binding, informed by the history of the book.” The 12 credit hour program highlights unique courses such as Expanded Media: The Artists’ Book, Relief Printing, Special Problems in Book Arts, and Advanced Design Studies - Typography, Printing and Papermaking in Italy.
Founded in 1868 and home to 32,000 students, Oregon State University (OSU) is the state’s largest university. Academic offerings include some 200 undergraduate and 80-plus graduate degree programs across 11 academic colleges and campuses in Corvallis, Bend, Newport and Portland. The College of Liberal Arts-School of Arts and Communication offers a BFA in Graphic Design featuring “a hybrid curriculum that incorporates courses in new media, digital communications, art and design, as well as an innovative course on collaboration.” Graduates of the program are prepared for positions in a variety of areas such as print media, editorial design, marketing, advertising, branding, package design, web design, app design, interface design, interaction design, information design, motion graphics and more.
University of Georgia (UGA) was established in 1785. It is home to more than 37,500 students enrolled in 170 majors and academic programs across 17 colleges and schools. The Lamar Dodd School of Art offers a BFA in Art with Concentrations in Graphic Design, Printmaking & Book Arts, and ArtX: Expanded Forms. An Interdisciplinary Art & Design A.B. (BA), a Minor in Studio Art, and MFA degrees in ArtX and Printmaking are also on the menu.
Per the school, “all BFA degrees include the Studio Art Core, comprised of a year-long survey of art history, introductory-level studio foundations, secondary-level ideation and methodologies, and upper-level interdisciplinary thematic studio and professional practice courses. Students pursuing the BFA degree enter the School of Art as Intended Art majors. In most studio programs, students are required to present an exhibition or final portfolio that serves as a capstone experience before graduation, demonstrating their achievement in developing a mature and cohesive body of work.”
All art and design students have access to a large study abroad program that offers experiences on all seven continents and UGA campuses in Costa Rica, Central America, Cortona, Italy, and Oxford, England.
In the summer of 1946, Portland State University (PSU) opened its doors to just 220 students. Today, PSU houses nine colleges and schools, 226 degree programs, and 28,400 students, including 1,700 international students from 91 countries. The College of Arts is home to the schools of Architecture, Art + Design, Music, and Theater + Film.
With 1,400 students enrolled, the School of Art + Design offers BA, BS, BFA degrees and Minors in areas from Art History to Graphic Design. The Graphic Design Program has two options a BFA and a Minor. Program highlights include mostly studio-based courses, opportunities to engage in professional internships, and summer study abroad experiences such as Printmaking in Mexico and Art History in Rome.
Founded in 1888, Utah State University (USU) is a land grant, public research university with regional campuses in Brigham City, Tooele, and Uintah Basin, and a regional college with campuses in Price and Blanding, and extension offices in 28 of 29 Utah counties and at the Ogden Botanical Center, Thanksgiving Point, and Utah Botanical Center. Not surprisingly, the school is home to more than 28,000 students, making it the fifth largest post-secondary institution in Utah.
Utah State University offers 168 undergraduate degrees and 143 graduate degrees through nine colleges and schools. Programs for aspiring graphic designers are offered through Cain College of the Arts, Department of Art + Design. Options include a BFA in Graphic Design. Per the school, the four-year program “delivers a comprehensive professional education in the study and practice of visual communication design. Education in design theory and practice prepares students to become leaders in the various disciplines that constitute today's design profession.”
Students receive training in theory, innovation, collaboration, professional practice, creative processes, sustainability, technical competence, and history, This “competitive” 120 credit hour program “culminates in the creation of a professional portfolio” that helps graduates land jobs with “prestigious national and international design studios and advertising agencies.”
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was established in 1982. It is home to more than 30,500 students, making it the largest university in Chicago. The school, which has regional campuses in Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana, IL, and The Quad Cities, offers 248 degree programs and 32 certificates across 15 colleges. The College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts houses the School of Design, which offers a Bachelor of Design (BDes) and a Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design.
The four-year BDes program highlights studio-based instruction, while the two-year MDes focuses on an independent master’s research project. A third option is the MDes Prelim Program. Offered to applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in design, the Prelim Program is a customized yearlong program that prepares students for the two-year MDes.
Established in 1885, the University of Arizona (UA) is home to more than 42,200 students enrolled in over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 20 colleges, 11 schools, and three campuses. The College of Fine Arts, School of Art offers several programs for aspiring graphic designers including a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in 2-D, 3-D & Extended Media, Illustration + Design, or Photography and MFA degrees in Studio Art-Visual Communications or Illustration + Design. The most popular options for aspiring graphic designers are the BFA and MFA in Studio Art with an Emphasis in Illustration + Design (I+D).
Per the school, the I+D BFA program “encompasses a diverse faculty with expertise in graphic design, illustration, letterpress, book arts, visual narratives, animation, motion graphics, information design, and interdisciplinary collaborations with the environmental sciences. These specializations are reflected in a broad array of curricular offerings including: field trips, team projects with community clients, internships, and study abroad programs. Through an exploration of the relationship between authorship, personal expression, visual problem solving, and communication, students develop a body of self-authored work consistent with the breadth of the expanding profession. With a high quality portfolio and web presence, students are prepared to go directly into the field and/or apply to graduate programs.”
Students in the MFA program “participate in interdisciplinary, graphic design and illustration courses; seminars, and independent studies developing a body of self-authored work that contributes to the broad and expanding field of illustration, design and art. Focused studio and course structures explore the theory, philosophy, and making of contemporary illustration, design and art. The program provides a range of opportunities for focus in visual narratives, community engagement, social practice, environmental projects, and technology, with a firm grounding in contemporary and historical contexts.”
The School of Art and I+D regularly host internationally known artists, designers, illustrators and alumni to participate with the graduate students in workshops and studio critiques.
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington (Seattle campus) is home to more than 46,000 students (2017) enrolled in over 165 majors across 16 colleges and schools and in 79 departments. The College of Arts & Sciences is home to the School of Art + Art History + Design (SoA+AH+D), which offers a Bachelor of Design (BDes) in Visual Communication Design and a Master of Design (MDes).
One of the largest undergraduate programs at the University of Washington, Visual Communication Design emphasizes “visual problem solving, organizational skills, and information theory.” Students in the programs engage in all phases of typography, information design, design systems, exhibition design, publication design, new media, and visual methods/processes. Sample courses for the BDes include Typography, Human Centered Design, Color + Composition, Interface Design, Motion Design, Visual Systems, Information Design, and Publication Design.
Sample MDes courses include advanced Design Foundations, Design Methods, Typography, Industrial Design, Interface Design, Case Studies in Corporate Identity, Exhibition and Installation Design, Interaction Design, Information Design, Design Graduate Studio, and Graduate Student Teaching Mentorship.
Students in both programs will have the opportunity to compete for more than 100 seats in the SoA+AH+D study abroad program to explore art, art history, and design in an international context. Past students have studied in Rome, Japan, Spain, and Tuscany.
Charted in 1888 as “The Temple College,” Temple University is home to more than 39,500 students enrolled in over 400 academic programs across 17 schools and colleges. The Tyler School of Art is home to the Graphic and Interactive Design program, which has two degree offerings—a BFA and MFA in Graphic and Interactive Design. The programs cover design concepts, and it teaches students “how to make images, to work with typography, and to master a wide range of new and traditional media.”
According to the School, graduates of both programs are “employed by studios and agencies around the country and abroad. They work in print and web design studios, advertising agencies, publishing companies, film and television, music packaging and promotion, product design and packaging, in design departments of major corporations, and as freelance illustrators.”
Founded in 1899 as “Southwest Texas State Normal School,” Texas State University opened its doors in 1903 with 303 students. Today, the school is home to around 38,700 students enrolled in 98 bachelor’s, 90 master’s and 12 doctoral degree programs through nine academic colleges. The College of Fine Arts & Communication houses the School of Art and Design, which offers several programs for aspiring graphic designers. Options include BFA and MFA degrees in Communication Design.
Considered one of the largest public programs in the country, the Communication Design Program (undergraduate) allows students to pursue interests within four areas of professional study: Graphic Design, Art Direction, Interactive Media, and Illustration. Courses for the program are taught in a studio environment, with class sizes limited to 20.
The graduate program is designed to provide advanced study in the areas of Corporate Advertising, Art Direction, Graphic Design, and Digital Media Design. Per the school, students and graduates of the Communication Design programs at Texas State have received recognition in design journals by having their work published in CMYK, Step Inside Design, Graphis New Talent Annual, and PRINT. Students have also received recognition in competitions such as The One Show, American Advertising Federation Awards, National DSVC Student Show, Creative Summit, Art Director's Club of Houston, Austin Addy Awards, and San Antonio Addy Awards.
Queens College was established in 1937 and it is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). Current enrollment is close to 19,000 matriculated students from over 170 countries across the globe. The school offers 69 undergraduate programs, 62 graduate programs and more than 40 certificate programs across four divisions including Arts and Humanities, Education, Mathematics and the Natural Sciences, and the Social Sciences. The Arts and Humanities Division houses the Design Program, which offers a BS in Design with a Concentration in Communication Design (Graphic Design), Interaction Design, or Animation and Illustration.
Minors in Graphic Design, Digital Graphics, and Imagemaking are also on the menu as well as an MFA in Studio with a Concentration in Media or other area with approval. Per the school, students in all Queens College Design programs “learn visual communication using industry-standard technology across interactive, time-based, digital and traditional media.” Graduates are prepared for a career in design or for graduate study.
San Jose State University (SJSU) was founded in 1857, making it the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. Home to more than 32,100 students, the school offers 145 areas of study with an additional 108 concentrations, through eight colleges. The College of Humanities and the Arts houses the Department of Design, which offers a BFA and a Minor in Graphic Design.
This unique program admits every student as a BA Design Studies Major. Upon completion of DsGD 100 and portfolio review, students are eligible to apply for pre-admission to the Graphic Design Program. Once admitted to the program, students will learn how to apply the principles of color, composition, hierarchy, and typography as they relate in the various media—digital, print, motion, 3-D, etc.—that exist in design. Per the school, students will graduate with the ability to “create and develop original concepts, build prototypes, integrate feedback, carry projects through to the production process, and apply principles of visual communication as they relate to reaching audiences, the role of design in society, and the ability to work cooperatively.”
Graduates will show “fluency in the breadth of disciplines that graphic design encompasses, with deep exploration into information architecture, user interface design, interactive design, motion graphics, iterative image-making, exhibition design and typeface design. They will “demonstrate understanding of the design process, design thinking and professional standards and practices, including real-project learning scenarios and a transition into preparing a portfolio to enter the workforce.”
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) was established in 1969. The school is home to 29,790 students enrolled in more than 250 degree programs across 19 schools. Several programs are available for aspiring graphic designers through Herron School of Art + Design. Offerings include BFA and MFA degrees in Visual Communication Design, an MFA in Visual Art, and degree-enhancing Minors in Design Production, Studio Art and Technology, and Book Arts.
Technologies and tools utilized in the Visual Communication programs include, but are not limited to, drawing, offset printing, photography, and time-based and interactive media (film, video, computer multimedia). Students also learn how to perform basic business practices, including organizing design projects and working productively as a member of teams. All students, Art, Design or otherwise, have access to internship and study abroad opportunities.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I or UIUC) is one of the original 37 public land-grant institutions created after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862. Founded in 1867, the school is home to nearly 48,000 students enrolled in more than 150 programs across 15 Colleges and Instructional Units. The College of Fine and Applied Arts, School of Art and Design offers BFA degrees in Graphic Design and New Media, an MFA in Graphic Design and a Minor in Art + Design. The MFA in Painting, Sculpture, and New Media complements Graphic Design.
All design students may study for a semester abroad and they have access to internship opportunities at regional, nationwide and international companies. Design students have gone on to land positions in Interaction Design, Art Direction, Publication Design, Motion Graphics, Photography, Type Design, Environmental Design, and Social/Service Design at advertising agencies, marketing firms, PR firms, studios, publishers, and more.