These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic and Interactive Design may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Graphic and Interactive Design majors must complete the BFA curriculum and General Education requirements.
The required Junior/Senior courses must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements.
Requirements for BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design
Sophomore Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GAD 2001 | Graphic Design | 3 |
| GAD 2021 | Computers for Design | 3 |
Note:
- A minimum final grade of C- in GAD 2001 and in GAD 2021 along with the approved portfolio review is required to be accepted to the major.
- Graphic and Interactive Design majors who plan to study abroad should do so in the second semester of their sophomore year if they plan to graduate in four years. These students should see the Area Head for advising prior to leaving.
GAID Protocol for Portfolio Reviews
There will be two portfolio review cycles in Graphic and Interactive Design (GAID) each academic year: the end of the Fall semester (December) and the end of the Spring semester (May). The portfolio reviews will take place in the week after final studio course reviews. Specific dates for the reviews will be announced at the beginning of each semester in the GAD 2001 classes. They will also be posted on Canvas and in the GAID suite. All full-time GAID faculty will serve on the GAID Portfolio Review Admissions Committee.
Applicants must have completed all Tyler Foundations courses (or had approved transfer courses as noted by the Tyler Admissions Office) and the 2 prerequisites for the major: GAD 2001 and GAD 2021 with a C-minus or better.
Application and Notification
The complete policy and application process is detailed on the Graphic and Interactive Design web site at https://tyler.temple.edu/programs/graphic-interactive-design.
Application forms will be available for eligible students on Canvas.
Students who have completed or who are currently enrolled in the two prerequisites for the GAID major (GAD 2001 and GAD 2021) and intend to submit an application for the Portfolio Review will be able to obtain an application form, portfolio template and detailed application instructions on Canvas by mid-semester.
Students who fail to submit all of the required materials for the Portfolio Review will be disqualified, but may re-apply at the next review cycle as a first-time submitter. Late submissions will not be reviewed.
Applicants to the GAID major will receive one of the following decisions from the committee after the review is completed: (i) accepted, (ii) not accepted, or (iii) revise and submit. Students who receive a "(iii) revise and submit" evaluation should re-apply in the next portfolio review cycle.
Students who pass the portfolio review for admission to the GAID major will be informed via TUmail. Within 2 weeks of receiving this e-mail, admitted students must reply to the acceptance e-mail to confirm that they definitively want to major in GAID. Students who do not confirm by that deadline will forfeit their admission to the major and will need to re-apply in the next GAID portfolio review cycle as a second-time submitter. Students are limited to no more than two applications to the major.
Junior Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GAD 3001 | Advanced Graphic Design (fall only) | 3 |
| GAD 3002 | Advanced Graphic Design (spring only) | 3 |
| GAD 3011 | Typography | 3 |
| GAD 3021 | Intermediate Computer Graphics | 3 |
| Electives strongly recommended | ||
| GAD 3013 | Advanced Typography | 3 |
| or GAD 3015 | Advanced Typography | |
| GAD 3023 | Interactive Design | 3 |
| or GAD 3025 | Interactive Design | |
| GAD 3027 | Digital Narratives | 3 |
| GAD 3031 | Illustration | 3 |
| or GAD 3033 | Illustration | |
| GAD 3041 | Advertising Design | 3 |
| GAD 3096 | The Business of Design (WI) | 3 |
| GAD 3101 | Collaborative Design Workshop in Rome | 3 |
Note:
- In the junior year, Advanced Graphic Design must be taken in sequence (GAD 3001 in Fall / GAD 3002 in Spring).
- The prerequisites for Senior level design courses are the four required courses at the junior level: GAD 3001 (Fall), GAD 3002 (Spring), GAD 3011 (Fall or Spring), and GAD 3021 (Fall or Spring). GAD 3023 or GAD 3025 is strongly recommended for students taking GAD 3027. GAD 3023 or GAD 3025 is required for GAD 4007.
- Students who plan to have an interactive portfolio only should take GAD 3023 or GAD 3025. GAD 3021 is the prerequisite for this course.
- GAD 3096 (Fall or Spring) is Writing Intensive and must be passed with a C- or better to be recognized as Writing Intensive credit. It can replace a Writing Intensive requirement in Art History. In that case the Art History requirement can be fulfilled with an Art History course that is not Writing Intensive.
Senior Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two specialized courses in Senior Graphic Design from the following: | 6 | |
GAD 3013 | Advanced Typography | |
or GAD 3015 | Advanced Typography | |
GAD 3027 | Digital Narratives | |
GAD 3041 | Advertising Design | |
GAD 4000 | Senior Design: Special Topics | |
or GAD 4010 | Senior Design: Special Topics | |
GAD 4001 | Senior Graphic Design: Senior Design Workshop | |
GAD 4002 | Senior Graphic Design: Hybrid Design | |
GAD 4003 | Senior Graphic Design: Art Direction | |
GAD 4004 | Senior Graphic Design: Packaging | |
GAD 4005 | Senior Graphic Design: Publishing | |
GAD 4006 | Senior Graphic Design: Brand Identity | |
GAD 4007 | Senior Interactive Design | |
GAD 4008 | Senior Graphic Design: Projects in Authorship | |
GAD 4011 | Senior Graphic Design: Design for the Public Good | |
GAD 4111 | Senior Illustration | |
or GAD 4112 | Senior Illustration | |
| Select one specialized course from the Senior Graphic Design list or one of the following: | 3 | |
GAD 3031 | Illustration | |
or GAD 3033 | Illustration | |
GAD 3023 | Interactive Design | |
or GAD 3025 | Interactive Design | |
GAD 3096 | The Business of Design (WI) | |
GAD 3101 | Collaborative Design Workshop in Rome | |
| Specialized Course Requirement | ||
| GAD 4009 | Senior Graphic Design: Projects in Authorship (spring only) | 3 |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| GAD 4196 | Senior Portfolio (WI, Capstone, spring only) | 3 |
Note:
- Additional 3xxx and 4xxx level GAD courses may be taken as studio electives.
- The capstone GAD 4196 Senior Portfolio and GAD 4009 Senior Graphic Design: Projects in Authorship are offered in spring semesters only. These two courses must be taken in addition to the three required senior (or equivalent) GAD courses listed above.