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Willamette University

Graphic Design Curriculum

Courses

The Graphic Design curriculum gets you thinking from the micro to the macro levels, about craft and concept, and combines physical making with digital skills to help you grow your unique voice as a designer. You'll find you have plenty of options to tailor your experience.

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (9 cr. required)
IS101 Core Seminar 1 3
IS102 Core Seminar 2 3
IS106 Place-Based Inquiry 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP100 Introduction to Creative Citizenship 3
First-Year Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100 **First Year Seminar 1
Studio Courses (3 cr required)
Studio Elective 3
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101  Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102 Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105  Drawing 1 3
FD111  3D Design 3
FD112  Time Arts 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 31 cr. earned to date 31

**FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all first-years with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
IS213 History of Design Arts 3
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP200 Creative Entrepreneurship 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
GD241 Design I: Signs and Symbols. 3
GD242  Design Studio I: Psychology of Seeing 3
GD245  Typography I 3
GD246  Typography II 3
GD247  Production 3
GD251  Fundamentals of Interactive Design 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Second Year: 61 cr. earned to date 61
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr. required)
GD445 or ACP301 Center for Design or Applied Learning Internship 3
Studio Courses (21 required cr.)
GD341  Design Studio II: Culture & Audience 3
GD342  Design Studio II: Rhetoric and Persuasion 3
GD351  Motion Graphics 3
GD344  Marketing & Branding 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective from menu of courses below* 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 91 cr. earned to date 91

*Menu of courses:

AA231 Animation 1: Materials, Methods & Motion, ACP300, ACP301, ACP302, GD310 Graphic Design Special Topics (any section:Possible topics include Apparel Design, Experimental Typography, Mixed Realities, Microinteractions + Motion, Environment & Experience Design, 3D + Advanced Motion, and more), GD350 Interface & Structure, IL252 Visual Techniques, IL254 Digital Media Strategies 1, IL256 Digital Media Strategies 2, IL257 Illustration: Special Topics, IL259 Picture Book, IL351 Visual Vocabulary, IL354 Design + Image, PH272 Concept / Capture / Print 1, PH273 Studio Lighting Essentials, PR282 Screenprint and Lithography , PR288 Textile Relief and Screenprint, PR286 Letterpress + Book, PH211 Fundamentals, Cinematography.

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (3 cr. required)
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (12 cr. required)
ACP400 Senior Seminar 3
ACP453 Thesis Critique Development 3
ACP499 Thesis Project 6
Studio Courses (15 required cr.)
GD443  Graphic Design Advanced Studio* 3
GD444  Graphic Design Advanced Studio II 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective from menu of courses below** 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 121 cr. earned to date 121

*GD 443 contributes to the Advanced Applied Creative Practice requirement in General Education.

**Menu of courses:

AA231 Animation 1: Materials, Methods & Motion, ACP300, ACP301, ACP302, GD310 Graphic Design Special Topics (any section). , Possible topics include Apparel Design, Experimental Typography, Mixed Realities, Microinteractions + Motion, Environment & Experience Design, 3D + Advanced Motion, and more., GD350 Interface & Structure, IL252 Visual Techniques, IL254 Digital Media Strategies 1, IL256 Digital Media Strategies 2, IL257 Illustration: Special Topics, IL259 Picture Book, IL351 Visual Vocabulary, IL354 Design + Image, PH272 Concept / Capture / Print 1, PH273 Studio Lighting Essentials, PR282 Screenprint and Lithography , PR288 Textile Relief and Screenprint, PR286 Letterpress + Book, PH211 Fundamentals, Cinematography.

Willamette University

Graphic Design