;

**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Art and Design B.A. – Graphic Design Concentration

Program Overview

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Location: Guggenheim 101

Telephone: 970-351-2143

Fax: 970-351-2299

Website: https://arts.unco.edu/art/

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

Contact the Art office for more information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Graphic Design concentration prepares you to work as a visual thinker and communicator using a variety of traditional print and emerging digital media. Coursework integrates practice, theory, critical thinking, visual literacy and conceptual problem solving. Students plan, analyze, create, and evaluate visual solutions to communication problems in a full range of areas such as Editorial Design, Corporate and Brand identity Design, Advertising, Publication, Environmental Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Typography, Web, Motion and Interactive Design.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

  • New Art & Design students must complete the Foundations requirements before they can begin their advanced art studies. The Foundations Courses include ART 134, ART 180, ART 183, and ART 184. Students must also successfully complete the Foundations Portfolio.
  • Transfer students who have articulated coursework from another institution will only submit artwork completed in courses taken at UNC. Students who have completed ART 134, ART 183, and ART 184 at another accredited university are exempt from the Foundations Portfolio.
  • Three hours of internship (ART 492) is required.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 63 required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any course to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies, and International Studies — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

ART 181ART 182, and ART 185 are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and the additional 3 credits required in Arts & Humanities or History or Social & Behavioral Sciences and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

Students are encouraged to choose a History course with an IS designation, and choose a Social and Behavior Sciences course with an MS designation. 

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 63 credits

Take all of the following courses — 12 credits:

Complete the following four Foundations Courses first.

ART 134Introduction to Drawing

3

ART 180Contemporary Art History

3

ART 1832D Design

3

ART 1843D Design

3

Take all of the following courses — 12 credits:

ART 181Ancient Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 182Medieval to Rococo Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 185Neoclassic to Modern Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 237Introduction to Digital Media

3

Choose 2 of the following courses — 6 credits:

ART 231Introduction to Painting

3

ART 233Life Drawing

3

ART 250Introduction to Printmaking

3

ART 331Painting Concepts and Methods

3

ART 334Drawing Concepts and Methods

3

ART 350Screen Printing

3

ART 353Intaglio Printmaking

3

ART 356Monotypes and Letterpress

3

Choose 1 of the following courses — 3 credits:

ART 210Introduction to Ceramics

3

ART 261Introduction to Sculpture

3

ART 265Metalsmithing

3

Choose 1 of the following courses — 3 credits:

ART 268Introduction to Game Design

3

ART 275Motion Graphics

3

ART 279Introduction to Video

3

Take all of the following — 27 credits

ART 270Graphic Design I

3

ART 271Introduction to Photography

3

ART 370Graphic Design II

3

ART 376Typography

3

ART 469Interactive Design

3

ART 470Narrative Design

3

ART 473Brand Identity Design

3

ART 479Senior Project

3

ART 492Internship in Art

1- 5

ART 492: Take 3 credits

3. University-Wide Credits — 26 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 26 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

ART 180Contemporary Art History

3

ART 1832D Design

3

ART 237Introduction to Digital Media

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ART 134Introduction to Drawing

3

ART 181Ancient Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 1843D Design

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

ART 182Medieval to Rococo Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 270Graphic Design I

3

Major Elective

3

Major Elective

3

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ART 185Neoclassic to Modern Art HistoryLAA1

3

ART 370Graphic Design II

3

Major Elective

3

LAC Natural and Physical Sciences with LabLAS1LASL

4

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

ART 376Typography

3

ART 469Interactive Design

3

Major Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ART 271Introduction to Photography

3

ART 470Narrative Design

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 29 credits

Fall Semester

ART 473Brand Identity Design

3

ART 492Internship in Art

1- 5

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

ART 492: Take 3 credits

Spring Semester

ART 479Senior Project

3

University-Wide Elective

2

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Back to Top