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Graphic and Media Design (B.A.)

Marymount’s Graphic and Media Design program prepares students for careers as creative, proficient, and ethically responsible graphic and media designers. The curriculum provides a foundation in graphic and media design theory and the development of research, writing, critical thinking, and creativity. Students develop the conceptual and technical skills to create graphic and media designs, digital photography, illustration, video productions, and motion graphics. Coursework includes branding and marketing campaigns, publication design, poster and brochure design, and social media campaigns. The program emphasizes communication design solutions for the contemporary media environment, including print, online publications, websites, and social media.

In addition to learning the fundamentals of the graphic and media design discipline, students also choose a specialty area of study, including:

•    Graphic Design
•    Media Design
•    Visual Communication
•    Web Design

Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in graphic and media design at corporations; nonprofits; institutions; government agencies; design studios; advertising agencies; public relation firms; book, magazine, and newspaper publishers; web and mobile app developers; and exhibit design, video, and motion graphic production companies.

Upon successful completion of the graphic and media design major, students will be able to

  • communicate effectively to a wide variety of audiences verbally, in writing, and electronically;
  • utilize knowledge of typography, graphics, photography, and video to communicate ideas and information visually via print, web, mobile, and social media; and
  • apply critical thinking and aesthetic judgments in creating print and digital media.

Internship Prerequisites: A minimum of 90 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to register for the internship.

Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C is required in any course within the graphic and media design major.

Program Requirement: Students entering the sophomore-level graphic and media design curriculum are required to have a personal computer, a color printer, and the software supported by the major. Recommended computer specifications are available from an advisor or the Marymount website.

Residency Requirement: Students must complete 21 credits of their graphic and media design major or specialty courses at Marymount.

Degree Requirements — Graphic and Media Design

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements

See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Media design majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement by choosing among COMM 209 Contemporary Journalism, COMM 315 Writing for Digital Media, GMD 301 History of Graphic Design (graphic design specialty requirement), and other WI courses in the Liberal Arts Core or university electives.

Major Requirements

Students will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.

Required for All Majors

All Graphic and Media Design students will take these 10 courses for a total of 28 credits. 

COMM 100Introduction to Media Communication

3

GMD 102Visual Communications and Design

3

GMD 200Electronic Publishing

3

GMD 203Digital Photography

3

GMD 255Typography

3

GMD 305Publication Design

3

GMD 308Web and Social Media Design

3

GMD 360Communication and Design Studio *

3

GMD 400Internship *

3

GMD 405Portfolio

1

Writing and Presentation

Choose two (2) courses from the following:

COMM 209Contemporary Journalism *

3

COMM 302Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques

3

COMM 307Broadcast Writing and Delivery

3

COMM 315Writing for Digital Media *

3

Specialty Courses

All majors are required to choose a specialty within the discipline or a minor approved by advisor for a total of 15 credits.

Graphic Design
FA 105Drawing I *

3

GMD 202Illustration I *

3

GMD 301History of Graphic Design *

3

MKT 301Principles of Marketing

3

Two (2) major electives

FA 105: as the required Liberal Arts Core FNA course

Media Design


COMM 204Video Production: Multimedia Communication

3

GMD 205Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication

3

GMD 360Communication and Design Studio *

3

Two (2) major electives

GMD 360: The specialty requires a second three credits, for an overall total of six credits in GMD 360.
Visual Communication


COMM 204Video Production: Multimedia Communication

3

OR

GMD 205Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication

3

 

Two (2) additional writing and presentation courses

Two (2) major electives

Web Design


IT 125Web Development

3

IT 130Java Programming

4

IT 225Advanced Web Development

3

IT 310Database Technology

3

One (1) major elective

Electives within the Major


COMM 204Video Production: Multimedia Communication

3

GMD 205Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication

3

GMD 303Illustration II

3

GMD 360Communication and Design Studio *

3

GMD 404Performance Media Lab *

3

GMD 421Project

1

GMD 433Research *

1

MKT 301Principles of Marketing

3

MKT 319Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications

3

MKT 412Marketing Research

3

Recommended Electives


GMD 103Adobe Photoshop

1

GMD 104Adobe Illustrator

1

GMD 105Video Editing

1

GMD 106Motion Graphics

1

GMD 107Media Techniques

1

Sample Degree Plan — Graphic and Media Design

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students should consult with an advisor in making course selections.

Year One — Fall


GMD 102Visual Communications and Design

3

FA 105Drawing I *

3

EN 101Composition I *

3

MA
Mathematics (MT) core course *

3-4

DSC 101DISCOVER First-Year Seminar *

3

EN 101: WR core course

FA 105: Required FNA for the graphic design specialty; students in other specialties may take FA 105 or another FNA course

Year One — Spring

COMM 100Introduction to Media Communication

3

GMD 200Electronic Publishing

3

EN 102Composition II *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *

4

EN 102: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS-1 core course

Year Two — Fall

One (1) specialty course

One (1) writing and presentation course

PH 100Introduction to Philosophy *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3

One (1) general elective

PH 100: PH-1 core course

Year Two — Spring

GMD 203Digital Photography

3

GMD 255Typography

3

One (1) writing and presentation course

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3

One (1) general elective

Year Three — Fall

GMD 305Publication Design

3

GMD 308Web and Social Media Design

3

One (1) specialty course

PH
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course *

3

One (1) general elective

3

Year Three — Spring

GMD 360Communication and Design Studio *

3

HI
Introductory History (HI-1) core course *

3

EN
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course *

3

One (1) general elective

3

Year Four — Fall

GMD 405Portfolio

1

One (1) major elective

Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *

3

Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) core course *

3

Two (2) general electives

Year Four — Spring

GMD 400Internship *

3

One (1) specialty course

One (1) major elective or one (1) general elective

Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course *

3

One (1) general elective

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.