Graphic design degree
Sacramento, USA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: Shape ideas into visual experiences. This hands-on programme offers real-world experience and internships. McGeorge has educated lawyers in California, across the US and worldwide since 1924. The programme supports portfolio development, visual communication, typography, illustration, UI design and exhibition design.
Career Outcomes: Graduates build portfolios for art director, illustrator, exhibition designer and UI designer roles. They work in studios, corporate teams or agencies, or pursue further study. Employer links include internships with Campus Ink and DreamWorks; alumni have designed at Amazon, Walmart, Disney and Five Star Bank. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a mean annual income in California of $80,000. Includes branding and UX.
Shape ideas into visual experiences. With a graphic design degree from Pacific, you'll craft compelling messages that connect and inspire by exploring typography, layout and image-making and learning to solve design challenges with creativity and purpose. You will develop artistic and professional skills to work independently or collaboratively in studio, entrepreneurial, or corporate settings.
Hands-on, real-world experience: Each year of the program students collaborate with a different Pacific department to design tangible products for specific users or industries. Coursework and projects include partnerships with campus units and real clients, and students frequently showcase work on campus and in the community.
Internship paths: Students gain practical experience designing flyers, product labels, packaging and other materials for real clients; many students convert these experiences into internships with local and national companies.
Program structure and curriculum highlights:
- Foundation-level classes in studio and design that build visual literacy and technical skills.
- Study areas include typography, layout, image manipulation, space and time as communicative elements, and color.
- Intermediate coursework emphasizes design problem solving through critical inquiry and research.
- Advanced coursework explores a wide range of design endeavors and culminates in a portfolio of design projects ready for job applications.
- Electives may be chosen from Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Media Arts and Production to support interdisciplinary work.
- Experiential learning includes internships, collaborative projects with other university units, exhibition design and professional development opportunities.
Graduates build portfolios to pursue careers such as art director, illustrator, exhibition designer, and UI designer. The program prepares students for positions in studios, corporate design departments, agencies, and for further study.
Examples of employer connections and outcomes include internships or work with Campus Ink and DreamWorks and alumni designing at companies including Amazon, Walmart, Disney and Five Star Bank. The page cites a mean annual income for graphic designers in California of $80,000, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This program is designed for students who want to develop a strong foundation in visual communication and build a professional design portfolio. It suits individuals who aim to work in studio, entrepreneurial, or corporate design roles, who enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary projects, and who may wish to combine graphic design study with related majors such as media arts and production, marketing, communication, or computer engineering.
