Graphic design allows you to blend creativity and technology. From designing cutting-edge websites—to creating eye-catching logos, this field provides the opportunity to express your own creative vision in a variety of in-demand careers.
Program Overview
Design your education.
In Western’s Graphic Design program, you’ll learn to acquire the creative and technical skills you’ll need to produce different kinds of media using professional tools and equipment. In small classes, attentive faculty will help you expand your conceptual abilities and improve your personal communication and presentation skills.
In the program, you’ll be encouraged to take cross-disciplinary studies as paired electives or independent projects to broaden your knowledge and expertise. You’ll also have the unique opportunity to participate in independent study courses that will help develop your individual interests in print production, illustration, fonts, package or web design and other creative or experimental directions.
Blending creativity and technology
Through a mixture of training and experience, the Graphic Design emphasis develops students’ creative and problem-solving capabilities while expanding technical and visual skills across industry-relevant media and materials.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
All majors require a minimum of 60 credits and completion of one of the following career pathways for 18 credits. A senior exhibition is required of all majors. A quality representation of the student’s artwork from their junior and senior years is used for the senior exhibition.
A minimum of 60 credits is required and completion of one of the following career pathways:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Base Curriculum (BA): | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 119 | Foundation Drawing I | 3 |
ART 171 | Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional | 3 |
ART 172 | Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional | 3 |
ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
ART 222 | Art History I | 3 |
ART 223 | Art History II (GT-AH1) | 3 |
ART 246 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
ART 257 | Introduction to Printmaking | 3 |
ART 400 | Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition | 3 |
DES 270 | Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration | 3 |
DES 271 | Typography | 3 |
DES 370 | Intermediate Graphic Design | 3 |
DES 425 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
DES 470 | Advanced Design and Illustration I | 3 |
DES 471 | Senior Project in Design | 3 |
DES 499 | Internship in Design | 1-3 |
And the following Required courses: | ||
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
BUAD 335 | Marketing Communications | 3 |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | 3 |
CS 160 | Introduction to Web Design | 3 |
One of the following Career Pathways: | ||
Art and Design Career Pathway | 18 | |
select 18 credits of ART electives, including the following two required courses: | ||
ART 219 | Foundation Drawing II | |
ART 319 | Intermediate Drawing | |
and 12 credits of the following: | ||
ART 203 | Introduction to Ceramics | |
ART 230 | Introduction to Sculpture | |
ART 235 | Introduction to Jewelry | |
ART 280 | Introduction to Painting | |
ART 286 | Introduction to Watercolor | |
ART 346 | Intermediate Photography | |
ART 357 | Intermediate Printmaking | |
Strategic Communications Career Pathway | 18 | |
COM 151 | Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2) | |
COM 241 | Media Writing | |
COM 264 | Introduction to Media Production I | |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | |
COM 323 | Media/ Arts Management | |
COM 351 | Media Theory and Research | |
COM 375 | Social Media Skills | |
COM 474 | Campaign Planning in Advertising and Public Information | |
Film and Theatre Career Pathway | 18 | |
COM 119 | Introduction to Film | |
COM 231 | Stagecraft I | |
COM 234 | Aesthetics, Lighting and Film Theory | |
COM 235 | Introduction to Acting | |
COM 261 | Introduction To Audio Communication | |
COM 264 | Introduction to Media Production I | |
COM 306 | Scriptwriting | |
COM 330 | Stagecraft II | |
COM 331 | Scenography in Film and Theatre | |
COM 335 | Intermediate Media Production II | |
COM 352 | Advanced Cinema Studies | |
COM 361 | Multi-Camera Studio Production | |
COM 385 | Experimental Media Production | |
COM 389 | Media Production: Narrative | |
COM 390 | MEDIA PRODUCTION: DOCUMENTARY | |
COM 490 | Advanced Media Production | |
Computer Science Career Pathway | 18 | |
CS 120 | Professional Computer Skills | |
CS 170 | Information Security and Hacking | |
CS 190 | Computer Science I | |
CS 191 | Computer Science II | |
CS 195 | Database Management Systems | |
CS 250 | Web Applications Development I | |
CS 280 | Data Structures | |
CS 350 | WEB APPL DEVELOPMENT II |
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 119 | Foundation Drawing I | 3 |
ART 171 | Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional | 3 |
ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MATH 105 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 172 | Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional | 3 |
ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 222 | Art History I | 3 |
ART 246 or ART 257 |
Introduction to Photography or Introduction to Printmaking |
3 |
CS 160 | Introduction to Web Design | 3 |
DES 270 | Introduction to Graphic Design and Illustration | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 223 | Art History II (GT-AH1) | 3 |
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
DES 271 | Typography | 3 |
DES 370 | Intermediate Graphic Design | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 246 or ART 257 |
Introduction to Photography or Introduction to Printmaking |
3 |
DES 425 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
Elective | Career Pathway Elective | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
BUAD 335 | Marketing Communications | 3 |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | 3 |
DES 470 | Advanced Design and Illustration I | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
Elective | Career Pathway Elective | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ART 400 | Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition | 3 |
DES 471 | Senior Project in Design | 3 |
DES 499 | Internship in Design | 3 |
Elective | Career Pathway Elective | 6 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
Elective | Career Pathway Elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective | 9 |
Credits | 12 | |
Total Credits | 118 |
Spotlight
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Gallery Exhibits: Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
- Pathfinder Magazine: An annual publication for student creative work.
- Student Art League: A branch of the Council for Creative expression, the Student Art League is dedicated to providing visual arts, experiences, professional development, educational opportunities and outreach for Art students.
Creative expression
Graphic Design students develop skills in print production, illustration, fonts, packaging, web design and other creative or experimental directions.
News & Research
Department Information
Art & Design Department
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Quigley Hall 202
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231