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 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.
Major Requirements
Students will take 46 credits of core Graphic and Media Design coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with their advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University 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 235 | 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
Year One — Spring
| ART 105 | Drawing I | 3 |
| VIS 121 | Intro to Digital Tools | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Two — Fall
| GMD 200 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
| GMD 202 | Illustration I * | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| GMD 203 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| GMD 255 | Typography | 3 |
| GMD 231 | Intro to UX/UI Design | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 1st WI course if not already completed * | |
Year Three — Fall
| GMD 305 | Publication Design | 3 |
| GMD 308 | Web and Social Media Design | 3 |
| | One (1) writing for industry program elective | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - GP course if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| GMD 205 | Video Production: Promotional and Informational Communication | 3 |
| GMD 301 | History of Graphic Design * | 3 |
| | |
| GMD 360 | Communication and Design Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 360SL | Communication and Design Studio * | 3 |
| | |
| | One (1) writing for industry program elective | |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline * | 3 |
Year Four — Fall
| GMD 405 | Portfolio | 1 |
| | 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 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course - POL 104, ECO 210, ECO 211 recommended * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Spring
| GMD 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| OR | |
| GMD 400SL | Internship * | 3 |
| | |
| | Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd WI course if not already completed * | |
| | One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.