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.
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 grade of a C or better is required in any course required for the degree.
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 courses at Marymount.
Degree Requirements - Graphic and Media Design
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
Students will take Graphic and Media Design coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with their advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Writing and Presentation
Students will choose two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits from the following for the writing for industry component of the degree:
| 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 |
| EN 181 | Digital and Nonlinear Storytelling * | 3 |
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
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| VIS 101 | User Centered Design | 3 |
| VIS 121 | Intro to Digital Tools | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year One - Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| VIS 111 | Intro to Color and Design * | 3 |
| VIS 112 | Drawing I * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Two - Fall
| GMD 202 | Illustration I | 3 |
| VIS 224 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
| | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | 3 |
Year Two - Spring
| GMD 255 | Typography | 3 |
| GMD 231 | Intro to UX/UI Design | 3 |
| VIS 225 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| HI | History (HI) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three - Fall
| GMD 305 | Publication Design | 3 |
| GMD 308 | Web and Social Media Design | 3 |
| | One (1) writing for industry program elective | |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| | Depth in Faith and Reason core course * | 3 |
Year Three - Spring
| GMD 205 | Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication | 3 |
| | | |
| GMD 301 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| | OR | |
| VIS 204 | History of Modern Design | 3 |
| | | |
| GMD 360 | Communication and Design Studio | 3 |
| | OR | |
| GMD 360SL | Communication and Design Studio | 3 |
| | | |
| | One (1) writing for industry program elective | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four - Fall
| VIS 327 | Portfolio | 3 |
| | Depth in Humanities core course | 3 |
| | Three (3) electives | 9 |
Year Four - Spring
Note: Students only need 120 credits to graduate. Fourth elective could be 2 credits.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.