OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Graphic Design Major (B.F.A.) |
Major code BF6321
College of Fine Arts
School of Art + Design
Seigfred Hall 528
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4290
www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/art
JP Rhea,
Assistant Professor of Instruction in Graphic Design/contact person
jprhea@ohio.edu
Program Overview
The Graphic Design area at Ohio University places emphasis on providing an understanding of the designer’s personal and social responsibility, developing the student’s capacity for critical thinking, and stimulating imagination and innovation. Understanding graphic design within a cultural context is an essential component of a designer’s education.
In the School of Art + Design, students in the Graphic Design area accomplish visual research in printmaking, sculpture, digital art, ceramics, painting, and photography while studying in their design studio classes. Studio classes, inside and outside the Graphic Design program, as well as liberal arts courses, prepare students for an immediate goal, the design practice, and a long term goal, continuing intellectual, personal, and creative growth.
Admissions Information
All incoming first year students who wish to pursue a degree in Art +Design are encouraged to submit a portfolio for talent scholarship consideration. Students who wish to pursue a BFA degree in Studio Art, Interior Architecture or Graphic Design should submit a portfolio at the time of application. All students will have the opportunity to submit an updated portfolio for program and concentration application during the fall and spring semesters.
Current Ohio University Undergraduate students wish to begin pursuing a degree in the School of Art+ Design should complete the application to the BFA programs offered in Fall and Spring. Students who are unsure of BFA concentration can elect to begin their studies through the BA in Studio Art and apply to a concentration the following term. Students who elect to pursue the BA in Studio Art may update their program plan without a portfolio review.
All incoming transfer students who wish to pursue a degree in Art +Design are encouraged to submit a portfolio for talent scholarship consideration. Students who wish to pursue a BFA degree in Studio Art, Interior Architecture or Graphic Design should submit a portfolio at the time of application. All students will have the opportunity to submit an updated portfolio for program and concentration application during the fall and spring semesters.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Many graduating designers secure positions within top design firms nationally and internationally. Through the rigor of their academic studies and practical training, graduating designers are prepared also to enter advanced degree programs.
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for conferral of a bachelor’s degree. However, the Graphic Design major requires a minimum of 128 semester hours. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
School of Art + Design Requirements
All majors in the School of Art + Design (B.A. and B.F.A. degrees) require an accumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.75 GPA in the major.
Introductory Art History
Complete the following two courses:
- AH 2110 - From Caves to Calligraphy: Global Art + Design I Credit Hours: 4
- AH 2130 - From Gutenberg to Google: Global Art + Design II Credit Hours: 4
Art History 3000/4000-Level Courses
Complete one of the following two courses. In addition, complete one additional AH 3000/4000-level course, except AH 4711 , AH 4920 , and AH 4930 .
- AH 3540 - Modern Architecture and Design Credit Hours: 3
- AH 3591 - History of Graphic Design Credit Hours: 3
Foundations
Complete the following courses:
- ART 1200 - Description + Drawing Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2520 - Typography Credit Hours: 4
- JOUR 1330 - Precision Language for Journalists Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 1000 - Introduction to Studies in Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 1414 - Introduction to Visual Communication Skills: Design Credit Hours: 3
-
and either
- ART 1141 - Introduction to Digital Photography Credit Hours: 4
-
or
- ART 2820 - Digital Photography Credit Hours: 4
-
or
- VICO 1421 - Introduction to Visual Communication Skills: Photography Credit Hours: 3
Studio Art 2000-Level Courses
Complete three of the following courses:
- ART 2110 - Digital Art + Technology I Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2120 - Creative Coding for Artists I Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2210 - Ceramics Hand Building Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2220 - Ceramics Wheel Throwing Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2310 - Sculpture: Contemporary Objects & Traditions Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2320 - Sculpture: Environments & Actions Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2330 - Sculpture: Casting Contemporary Explorations Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2410 - Lithography/Monotype Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2420 - Etching/Relief Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2430 - Screenprinting Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2710 - Painting: Color, Form, Context Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2720 - Painting: Alternative, Digital, Temporal Modes Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2810 - Film Photography Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2820 - Digital Photography Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2900 - Studio Art Topics Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2902 - Figure and Gender Credit Hours: 4
Studio Art 3000/4000-Level Courses
Complete one of the following courses:
- ART 3110 - Digital Art + Technology II Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3120 - Creative Coding for Artists II Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3210 - Advanced Ceramics Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3220 - Glaze Calculation & Materials Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3230 - Ceramics Wheel Throwing II Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3310 - Public Spheres & Dissemination Tactics Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3320 - Content & Concept in Material & Form Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3330 - Anatomical Modeling: Traditional Anatomical Sculpting and Casting Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3410 - Advanced Printmaking Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3420 - Papermaking Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3710 - Advanced Painting and Drawing: Investigative modes; Defining trajectories Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3730 - Anatomical Drawing and Figure Drawing Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3810 - Advanced Photography Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3820 - Photographic Arts Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3900 - Studio Art Topics Credit Hours: 4
- ART 4900 - Studio Art Topics Credit Hours: 4
Design-Related Studios
Complete seven of the following courses:
- ART 3510 - Graphic Design Studio I Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3520 - Graphic Design Studio II Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3530 - Letterpress and Bookmaking Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3540 - Media Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3550 - Animation Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3571 - Type Design: Designing, Drawing, and Developing Typefaces Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3960 - Student Design Agency: OU Design Collaborative in the Community Credit Hours: 4
- ART 4510 - Graphic Design Studio III Credit Hours: 4
Design-Related Studios Additional Options
Up to two courses can be included from the list below to meet the Design-Related Studios requirement. ART 2110 , ART 2120 , ART 3110 , and ART 3120 can count for EITHER the Design-Related Studios requirement OR to meet the Studio Art requirement, but not both.
- ART 2110 - Digital Art + Technology I Credit Hours: 4
- ART 2120 - Creative Coding for Artists I Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3110 - Digital Art + Technology II Credit Hours: 4
- ART 3120 - Creative Coding for Artists II Credit Hours: 4
- VICO 2161 - Interactive I: Web Design Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 2162 - Interactive II: Advanced Web Design Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3400 - Illustration I: Digital Imaging Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 2435 - Visual Communication Picture Editing Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3111 - Design II: Informational Graphics Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3115 - Design III: Advanced Publication Design Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3141 - Illustration II: Editorial Illustration Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3173 - Interactive III: Interactive Media Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 3420 - Visual Communication Topic Seminar II Credit Hours: 1 - 6
- VICO 3921 - Synthesis Storytelling for Visual Communication Credit Hours: 1 - 6
Graphic Design Thesis
Complete the following courses:
- ART 4520 - Graphic Design Studio IV Credit Hours: 4
- ART 4954 - Graphic Design Practicum Credit Hours: 2
- ART 4956 - Graphic Design BFA Exhibit Credit Hours: 2