Pictured | Chelsea Ray-Dye | Graphic Design / Minor in Printmaking | Mishawaka, Indiana (hometown)
Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Graphic Design
The Bachelor in Fine Arts with a Concentration in Graphic Design provides a strong foundation in fundamental art skills, theory and art history and advanced professional training in graphic design theory and technical skills to prepare students for careers in graphic design, multimedia, web and illustration or onward to a graduate degree. Within the degree students can tailor their education to meet various areas of interest in design, print, web, video, photography, printmaking, sculpture, art history, animation or a combination of these areas.
Academic Advising
The Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors each semester prior to registration. Advising holds are placed on all Fine Arts students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major in Fine Arts are advised by Fine Art faculty. Additionally, students may have a secondary adviser if they have also declared a minor, although a minor is not required for a degree in the Fine Arts department. Students can verify their assigned advisor in the student center in One.IU.
Degree Requirements (125 cr.)
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Students receiving the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must complete 125 total credit hours including:
- IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.) to include
- AHST-A 307 Introduction to Non-Western Art (Non-Western Culture)
- FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I (Computer Literacy)
- JOUR-J 210 Visual Communication (Visual Literacy)
- Major Requirements (77 cr.)
- Additional Requirements (15 cr.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level.
- Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
- A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required.
- All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise stated.
Major Requirements (77 cr.)
Foundation Level (12 cr.)
- FINA-F 100 Fundamental Studio-Drawing
- FINA-F 101 Fundamental Studio-3D
- FINA-F 102 Fundamental Studio-2D
Also known as INMS-F 102 - FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I
Also known as INMS-P 273
Art History/Foundation Level (6 cr.)
- AHST-A 101 Ancient and Medieval Art
- AHST-A 102 Renaissance Through Modern Art
Survey Level (9 cr.)
- Three 200–level courses, outside area of concentration
Upper-Level Concentration (38 cr.)
- FINA-P 323 Introdcution to Web Design
- FINA-P 453 Graphic Design III
- FINA-P 454 Graphic Design IV
- FINA-P 455 Advanced Lettering and Typography
- FINA-P 461 Graphic Reproduction Methods I
- FINA-P 475 Computer Art and Design III
- FINA-S 250 Graphic Design I
- FINA-S 300 Video Art; OR
TEL-T 273 Media Program Design; OR
TEL-T 283 Introduction to Production Techniques and Practices - FINA-S 305 Graphic Design Internship (2 cr.)
- FINA-S 323 Intermediate Photoshop
- FINA-S 324 Page Layout and Design
- FINA-S 351 Typography I
- One elective 300–400 level FINA or INMS course
Upper-Level Electives (9 cr.)
- Select three Art History courses at the 300– or 400–level
Senior Level (3 cr.)
It is recommended that students complete the following courses during the final year of study.
- FINA-S 499 Bachelor of Fine Arts Final Review (0 cr.)
- FINA-A 409 Capstone Course
Additional Requirements (15 cr.)
- World Languages (6 cr.) | Select two courses in one world language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish)
- Upper-Level Electives (9 cr.)
- Select three credits at the 100– or 200–level (3 cr.)
- Select six credits at the 300– or 400–level (6 cr.)
Fine Arts Upper-Divisional Review
Completion of the upper divisional review marks a student’s passage from pre-BFA/BA into the BFA/BA program. This review is an opportunity for every art student with 50 to 60 credits toward their degree to present their work to the faculty. This dedicated time is an opportunity to discuss the student’s unique interests and goals. Upon satisfaction of the Upper Divisional requirement, students have distinguished themselves as upper-level BFA/BA candidates, and have made considerable progress towards graduation.