Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design at Academy of Art University develops skills in typography, print, packaging, branding, user experience and motion graphics. Faculty are nationally recognized professionals who guide studio projects. Degree rules require a minimum grade of C- in core and major courses (including LA 107 or 108), a minimum 2.0 GPA, and completion of listed general-education requirements.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue roles as graphic designer, branding designer, packaging designer, UX/UI designer, motion graphics artist, typographer, art director, or creative director; they can work in agencies, studios, publishing, product-design, or freelance and entrepreneurship.
The School of Graphic Design’s BFA program guides students through the nuanced skill-development process required to achieve excellence in typography, print, packaging, branding, user experience, and motion graphics. The faculty is comprised of nationally recognized professionals who challenge their students to reach their personal creative potential.
Unit Requirements
Degree Requirements
BFA Graphic Design Degree Requirements
- Minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
And the following general education requirements:
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Critical & Creative Thinking
- Identify appropriate audiences for defined problems
- Demonstrate the resourcefulness and flexibility necessary to conceive appropriate design solutions
Conceptual Skills
- Develop and prototype potential design solutions for specific problems
- Create visual communications that are audience-appropriate
- Develop design solutions that function within a defined context recognizing physical, cognitive, cultural and social human factors
Formal Skills
- Create visual communications demonstrating competent formal design skills based on design principles: composition, balance, hierarchy, harmony, and contrast
- Create visual communications demonstrating competent formal design skills based in aesthetics: appropriate typography, composition, and construction of meaningful imagery
- Utilize the appropriate media, materials, tools, technology, platforms, and techniques to create visual communications
Professional Readiness
- Effectively present and communicate ideas
- Demonstrate the skills necessary for a chosen career path through the presentation of a satisfactory body of work
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Semester 1
- GR 102: Design Technology: Digital Publishing Tools
Core / 3 Units - GR 150: Introduction to Visual Communication
Core / 3 Units - LA 242: History of Graphic Design
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - WNM 105: Design Technology: Visual Design Tools
Core / 3 UnitsSemester 2 - ADV 236: Digital Photography
Core / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - FND 122: Color Fundamentals
Core / 3 Units - GR 107: Introduction to Interaction Design
Major / 3 Units - GR 122: Typography 1: Hierarchy and Form
Core / 3 Units - LA 108: Composition for the Artist
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - WNM 249: Web Design 1
Core / 3 UnitsSemester 3 - GR 221: Graphic Design 1: Visual Communication
Core / 3 Units - GR 310: Typography 2: Formalizing Structure
Core / 3 Units - LA 291: Designing Careers
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - WNM 205: Motion Graphics 1
Major / 3 Units - WNM 250: Web Design 2
Major / 3 UnitsSemester 4 - GR 321: Package Design 1: 3D Thinking/Making
Core / 3 Units - GR 324: Branding Principles
Major / 3 Units - GR 327: Graphic Design 2: Integrating Principles
Core / 3 Units - LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - WNM 305: Motion Graphics 2
Major / 3 Units Semester 5 - GR 322: Package Design 2: Executing 3D Design
Major / 3 Units - GR 330: Typography 3: Complex Hierarchy
Major / 3 Units - GR 360: Graphic Design 3: Nature of Interaction
Major / 3 Units - LA 306: Creatively Speaking: Presentation for Designers
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 435: The Power of Signs: Semiotics & The Visual Arts
Liberal Arts / 3 UnitsSemester 6 - GR 350: Visual Systems 1
Major / 3 Units - GR 365: Strategies for Branding
Major / 3 Units - GR 370: Package Design 3: Advanced 3D Branding
Major / 3 Units - LA 127: Topics in World Art
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 133: Short-Form Writing
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 254: Human-Centered Design
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 359: Urban Sociology
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summerSemester 7 - ADV 498: Collaborative Project: The Agency
Elective / 3 Units - GR 425: Visual Systems 2
Major / 3 Units - GR 426: Package Design 4
Major / 3 Units - GR 434: Typography 4: Refinement of Form
Major / 3 Units - LA 222: 20th Century Art
Liberal Arts / 3 Units Semester 8 - GR 460: Senior Portfolio
Core / 3 Units - GR 500: Internship in Graphic Design
Elective / 3 Units - LA 110: Writing the Short Story
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 315: Social Media Strategies
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - WNM 349: Web Design 3
Elective / 3 Units