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.
Writing and Presentation
Choose two (2) courses from the following:
| COMM 209 | Contemporary Journalism * | 3 |
| COMM 302 | Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques | 3 |
| COMM 307 | Broadcast Writing and Delivery | 3 |
| COMM 315 | Writing for Digital Media * | 3 |
Specialty Courses
All majors are required to choose a specialty (graphic design, media design, visual communication, or web design) within the discipline or a minor approved by their academic advisor for a total of 15 credits.
Graphic Design
| FA 105 | Drawing I * | 3 |
| GMD 202 | Illustration I * | 3 |
| GMD 301 | History of Graphic Design * | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| | Two (2) major electives | |
FA 105: as the required Liberal Arts Core FNA course
Major electives should be selected from the list below.
Media Design
| COMM 204 | Video Production: Multimedia Communication | 3 |
| GMD 205 | Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication | 3 |
| | |
| GMD 360 | Communication and Design Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 360SL | Communication 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.
Major electives should be selected from the list below.
Visual Communication
| COMM 204 | Video Production: Multimedia Communication | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 205 | Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication | 3 |
| | |
| | Two (2) additional writing and presentation courses | |
| | Two (2) major electives | |
Major electives should be selected from the list below.
Web Design
| IT 125 | Web Development | 3 |
| IT 130 | Java Programming | 3 |
| IT 225 | Advanced Web Development | 3 |
| IT 310 | Database Technology | 3 |
| | One (1) major elective | |
Major electives should be chosen from the list below.
Major Electives
Recommended Electives
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 102 | Visual Communications and Design | 3 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| DSC 201 | New Student Seminar * | 1 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA) core course * | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
EN 101: WR core course
FA 105 required for graphic design specialty. Students in other specialties may take FA 105 or another FNA course.
Year One — Spring
| COMM 100 | Introduction to Media Communication | 3 |
| GMD 200 | Electronic Publishing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Two — Fall
| | One (1) specialty course | |
| | One (1) writing and presentation course | |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 1st WI course if not already completed * | |
PH 100: PH-1 core course
Writing and Presentation course: COMM 209 or COMM 315 recommended as these courses will also fulfill a WI requirement.
Year Two — Spring
| GMD 203 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| GMD 255 | Typography | 3 |
| | One (1) writing and presentation course | |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline * | |
| | One (1) elective - 2nd WI course if not already completed * | |
Year Three — Fall
| GMD 305 | Publication Design | 3 |
| GMD 308 | Web and Social Media Design | 3 |
| | One (1) specialty course | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - GP course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| GMD 360 | Communication and Design Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 360SL | Communication 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) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 2nd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Four — Fall
| GMD 405 | Portfolio | 1 |
| | One (1) specialty course | |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Spring
| GMD 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 400SL | Internship * | 3 |
| | |
| | Two (2) specialty courses | |
| | Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd WI course if not already completed * | |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.