Design Degrees Online

Graphic Design

USC Upstate awards a BFA Art Studio, emphasis Graphic Design, that includes a portfolio review requirement to be completed by the sophomore year. Recent data from The American Institute of Graphic Arts indicates that more than nine out of ten graphic artists have a college degree and the most significant trend in graphic design is an extraordinary demand for good designers that far exceeds supply.

The Upstate Graphic Design program prepares students for careers and graduate work in the field of graphic design including illustration and web/electronic design. Students prepare skills for professional practice by integrating the content areas of design theory, production, history, criticism, and aesthetics. Coursework provides a foundation in creativity, critical thinking, and problem analysis. The curriculum integrates traditional art techniques with industry standards of digital technology. Graduates of the BFA program are employed in creative departments of corporations, retail establishments, advertising/design firms, publishing and public relations firms.

The Digital Graphic Design program focuses on bridging the gap between creative and digital innovation. Students develop a diverse skill set by exploring graphic art techniques and digital software applications so they may bring their visual ideas to life artistically and with technical efficiency. Print and web media are explored as students develop concepts and solutions to graphic design problems through traditional design processes. Students produce a multitude of graphic design applications and work together to plan a public showing of their work completed in this program.

The Digital Graphic Design program is intended for individuals with a strong artistic interest who wish to develop both their graphic arts knowledge and technical skills using the latest industry standard digital tools. Further, understanding of the mechanics of successful output is an essential part of the program. While no previous experience is required, a basic understanding of computers is strongly recommended.

Upon completion of this program graduates are qualified for a number of entry-level positions including: junior graphic designer, assistant designer, intern, prepress operator and junior illustrator. These positions are in a variety of industry sectors including: design firms, advertising agencies, print houses and service bureaus, retail, communications industries, public and private companies as well as freelance contracting. Students can also build a solid portfolio for the purpose of future competition and admission into degree-granting art institutes.

Illustration & Design — Bachelor of Fine Arts
Illustrators express visually what they see, what they imagine, or what they understand in order to communicate ideas. They combine the fine-art techniques of painting, drawing, and design with narrative skills to create imagery for books, magazines, newspapers, and the Web. The Art Institute’s program in illustration offers students the opportunity to learn the technical skills of illustration and to develop their personal expressive style as illustrators.

The illustration program highlights the areas of conceptualization, imaging techniques, design and presentation. Students begin the program by developing their skills in art foundations: drawing, 2D design, and color theory. As they study art history and the history of graphic design, they begin to develop their own visual vocabulary. They progress with this knowledge into the technical aspects of illustration in the digital world, and later begin to develop their own styles in painting and illustration classes. Students learn photography, project management, print production, typography, and layout skills, which are important to their success as professional illustrators. Throughout the program, the business of illustration is a focus as students learn marketing, self-promotion, and career planning, as well as business and communication skills. Students also learn to construct their own Web site, which is an important aspect of an illustration career, allowing them to showcase their work to a wide audience.

The full-time faculty in illustration are themselves professional illustrators who bring to the students not only the artistic skills of illustration but also the know-how to develop a successful career in the competitive world of illustration. They share their knowledge as they lecture and critique student work throughout the program. As students near graduation, they compile their best work in illustration into a professional-quality portfolio which is displayed to the industry at the quarterly Portfolio Show. Illustration is an artistic field that may require students to start their careers as assistants while they build a reputation on their way to becoming commercial or freelance illustrators or graphic artists. Some illustrators advance into positions as assistant art directors or art directors in advertising, publishing, or other fields.
Total Credit Hours: 192
12 Quarters

Aesthetics and Art History Course
The aim of this course is to study a range of ancient through modern global art history and aesthetics, while at the same time practicing actual studio works including paintings, sculptures and crafts. Learning diverse practical information supports students’ thesis writing.
During the master’s program, besides supplementing actual analysis of materials and art techniques, students focus on their researching themes that are studied according to the following subjects : aesthetics, craft history, and Japanese, Asian and Western art histories. The goal for students enrolled in the doctoral course is the completion of a dissertation based on the students’ individual specialized interests.

USC Upstate awards a BFA Art Studio, emphasis Graphic Design, that includes a portfolio review requirement to be completed by the sophomore year. Recent data from The American Institute of Graphic Arts indicates that more than nine out of ten graphic artists have a college degree and the most significant trend in graphic design is an extraordinary demand for good designers that far exceeds supply.
The Upstate Graphic Design program prepares students for careers and graduate work in the field of graphic design including illustration and web/electronic design. Students prepare skills for professional practice by integrating the content areas of design theory, production, history, criticism, and aesthetics. Coursework provides a foundation in creativity, critical thinking, and problem analysis. The curriculum integrates traditional art techniques with industry standards of digital technology. Graduates of the BFA program are employed in creative departments of corporations, retail establishments, advertising/design firms, publishing and public relations firms.