BFA in Graphic Design
The BFA in Graphic Design is a specialized degree primarily in one studio art discipline. Students must pass a portfolio review for admission to the BFA program the semester before enrolling in 3000 level design courses. The Department also offers the BA in Studio Arts, a more general degree that offers a broad education in the visual arts.
Transfer work to be credited toward the degree must be evaluated by the Chair of the Department.
Program Requirements
Please consult FAU Catalog Course Descriptions for information about courses and their prerequisites.
Core Program Prerequisites (24 credits/seven courses)
ARH 2000 Art Appreciation or equivalent (pass/fail not permitted), 3 credits
ART 1201C Design, 3 credits
ART 1300C Drawing I, 3 credits
ART 2205C Color Fundamentals, 3 credits
ART 2330C Drawing II: Figure Drawing, 4 credits preq: ART 1300C
GRA 2190C Graphic Design I, 4 credits prereq: ART 1201C, 1300C, 2205C
GRA 2191C Graphic Design II, 4 credits prereq: ART 2190C
Portfolio Review – students are advised to submit their portfolio for review during the last semester of their core program.
Required Courses in Graphic Design (16 credits/four courses)
These courses must be taken in sequence. Plan carefully.
GRA 3104C Computers in Design, 4 credits prereq: GRA 2190C, 2191C
GRA 3112C Typographic Design, 4 credits prereq: GRA 3104C
GRA 4118C Design Methodology, 4 credits prereq: GRA 3104C, 3112C
GRA 4115C Senior Design Studio, 4 credits prereq: GRA 3104C, 3112C, 4118C
ART 4955C BFA Senior Seminar, 4 credit (Plan carefully: Senior Seminar is offered only in Fall and Spring terms. The Department requires that students take this course in the last semester of degree course work.)
Be sure that you have completed the prerequisites for each of the courses that you are planning to take. Check the prerequisites in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History section of the FAU catalog.
Broward campus students may make an appointment on the Davie or Fort Lauderdale campuses with the Arts & Letters Student Academic Services for advisement.
Out-of-Concentration Studio Art Electives (12 credits/three courses from three different disciplines)
Recommended:
ART 2400C Printmaking I, 4 creditsART 3161C Alternative Media, 4 credits
ART 3383C Narrative Drawing, 4 credits
ART 4173 Handmade Books: Structure & Binding, 4 credits
ART 4311C Advanced Drawing, 4 credits
PGY 4440C Photography for Designers or Digital Photography 2, 4 credits
Be sure that you have completed the prerequisites for each of the elective courses that you are planning to take. Check the prerequisites in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History section of the FAU catalog
Art History (minimum of 12 credits/three courses at the 4000 level)
Prerequisite: Art Appreciation or equivalent.
ARH 4724 History of Graphic Design, 4 credits Required
ARH 4450 Modern Art, 4 credits (recommended)
Graphic Design Electives (Highly recommended for professional opportunity)
GRA 3102C Principles of Visual Communication *, 4 creditsGRA 3174C Poster Design *, 4 credits
GRA 4154C Advanced Digital Imaging for Graphic Design *, 4 credits
GRA 4521C Graphic Design for the Web , 4 credits Permission of Instructor
GRA 4932C Topics: Graphic Design, 4 credits Permission of Instructor
* Pre-requisites: GRAC 2190, 2191, 3104, 3112
Transfer students should note that at least 50% of all upper-division courses for the BFA must be taken in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History at FAU.
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Foreign Language Requirement
The language requirement for the BFA degree has two components:
(1) State law requires that all FAU graduates meet the Foreign Language Entry Requirement. This can be met with two years of the same language at secondary (high school) level or two semesters of the same language (or demonstration of equivalent proficiency) at the college level. The state of Florida mandates the acceptance of American Sign Language for this requirement.
(2) BFA students who enter FAU with fewer than 30 credits must meet the University Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. The Foreign Language Graduation Requirement is a proficiency requirement. It can be met by successfully completing the second semester (e.g., FRE 1121) of any foreign language at the college level or by demonstrating equivalent proficiency. (Note: American Sign Language proficiency does not satisfy this requirement.) If you took a language in high school and have sufficient proficiency in it to take the second semester of it at the college level (for example, FRE 1121), the successful completion of that single course will meet the requirement. If you believe that your proficiency is equivalent to that attained by the end of the second semester course in a language (e.g., FRE 1121), you may take a proficiency exam. If you wish to be assessed for your proficiency in French, German, or Spanish, you can contact University Testing and Evaluation ( Boca campus 561-297-3160 or Davie campus 954-236-1220) for information about how to register for a CLEP exam. For information about proficiency assessment for all other languages, contact the Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature (561-297-3860, Boca Raton campus). Only the CLEP exam will generate college credit.
BFA students who are admitted to FAU with 30 or more credits only need to meet the Foreign Language Entry Requirement (#1, above).
