Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 60
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Thesis, Practicum, and Studio Courses 1 | ||
| DES 8001 | Graduate Design Thesis 1 (2 terms) | 6 |
| DES 8002 | Graduate Design Thesis 2 (2 terms) | 6 |
| DES 8021 | Graduate Design Practicum 1 (2 terms) | 6 |
| DES 8022 | Graduate Design Practicum 2 (2 terms) | 6 |
| DES 8101 | Graduate Design Studio 1 (2 terms) | 6 |
| DES 8102 | Graduate Design Studio 2 (2 terms) | 6 |
| Art and Design History Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
DES 5401 | Graduate: History of Modern Graphic Design | |
or ARTH 5460 | Topics in Contemporary Art | |
DES 5497 | Graduate: Graphic Design Theory | |
or ARTH 5097 | Graduate Design: Graphic Design Theory | |
DES 5403 | Graduate: History of Illustration | |
or ARTH 5101 | History of Illustration | |
| ARTH 5000+ (seminar) | 3 | |
| ARTH 5000+ | 3 | |
| Professional Preparation Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
ART 8985 | Teaching in Higher Education 2 | |
CLA 8985 | Teaching in Higher Education: Liberal Arts 2 | |
DES 5121 | Graduate: GAID Portfolio 3 | |
DES 5221 | Graduate: User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Portfolio 3 | |
DES 5321 | Graduate: Illustration Portfolio 3 | |
DES 5596 | Graduate: Studio Management 3 | |
| Studio Elective Courses | ||
| Studio Electives 4 | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Courses are sequenced to be taken in the Fall and Spring terms. The Graduate Thesis, Practicum, and Studio 1 and 2 courses are each taken twice.
- 2
Course is only offered in the Fall semester.
- 3
Course is only offered in the Spring semester.
- 4
Course descriptions can be viewed on the Class Schedule. Note that enrolling in any course under 5000 for graduate credit requires prior approval from the studio program head.
Academic Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| DES 8001 | Graduate Design Thesis 1 | 3 |
| DES 8021 | Graduate Design Practicum 1 | 3 |
| DES 8101 | Graduate Design Studio 1 | 3 |
| DES, ART, or ARCH Studio Elective | 3 | |
| DES or ARTH course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| DES 8002 | Graduate Design Thesis 2 | 3 |
| DES 8022 | Graduate Design Practicum 2 | 3 |
| DES 8102 | Graduate Design Studio 2 | 3 |
| DES, ART, or ARCH Studio Elective | 3 | |
| DES or ARTH course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DES 8001 | Graduate Design Thesis 1 | 3 |
| DES 8021 | Graduate Design Practicum 1 | 3 |
| DES 8101 | Graduate Design Studio 1 | 3 |
| DES, ART, or ARCH Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
DES or ARTH course 1 | ||
ART 8985 or CLA 8985 | Teaching in Higher Education or Teaching in Higher Education: Liberal Arts | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| DES 8002 | Graduate Design Thesis 2 | 3 |
| DES 8022 | Graduate Design Practicum 2 | 3 |
| DES 8102 | Graduate Design Studio 2 | 3 |
| DES, ART, or ARCH Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
DES or ARTH course 1 | ||
DES 5121 or DES 5221 or DES 5321 or DES 5596 | Graduate: GAID Portfolio or Graduate: User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Portfolio or Graduate: Illustration Portfolio or Graduate: Studio Management | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Students must select three courses in Art and Design History at the 5000 level or higher. Of these three, either DES 5401, ARTH 5460, DES 5497, ARTH 5097, DES 5403, or ARTH 5101 are required. For the additional 6 credits of Art History, one must be an Art History Seminar. Students may choose from the full range of graduate ARTH offerings for their third course.
- 2
Students take a professional preparation course, either (ART 8985 or CLA 8985) in the Fall of their second year OR (DES 5121, DES 5221 , DES 5321, or DES 5596) in the Spring of their second year.
Culminating Event:
Thesis Exhibition with Slide Show:
An approved thesis exhibition, with a written statement and slide portfolio, is required at the final review in order to meet the MFA requirements. Approval of the student's graduate committee is required.