Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design educates students to become effective designers and leaders in society. The program provides a multifaceted approach that encourages the concept, process and realization of designs that meet today’s communication needs. Enriched with a liberal arts curriculum, the program is committed to encouraging the growth of the student as a whole. The ever-changing forms that constitute contemporary graphic design are addressed through the study of various methodologies, audiences, contexts, prototypes, aesthetics, human interaction, technology, and media. Conceptual thinking, visual identity, bilingual typography, and diverse image-making practices are integrated at the core of the curriculum.
Mission
The mission of the BFA in Graphic Design program is to educate designers with proficient skills, an appreciation of art, and broad cultural knowledge that allows them to become visual thinkers who will drive the creative economy. The program takes a multifaceted approach to art and design, and focuses on developing conceptual skills for a range of increasingly media-based careers.
Vision
The vision of the BFA in Graphic Design program is to provide international exposure within the growing community of Lebanese designers. It challenges students to produce innovative, socially responsible design that uses bilingual typography and the latest technology.
Program Objectives
The program aims to:
- foster design practices for the betterment of society,
- actively participate in creative industries through design initiatives,
- engage in intellectual and practice-based inquiry grounded in design research, history and theory, and
- design through diverse approaches, with a focus on user experience and communicative meaning.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the BFA in Graphic Design will be prepared to:
- create design that is socially conscious within diverse contexts,
- apply understandings of bilingual typography to enrich communicative qualities in designed projects,
- participate as active designers in creative industries,
- analyze design through understandings of history and theory in scholarly research,
- apply understandings of user experience to enhance design practices,
- design initiatives based on inquiry and research within a studio environment, and
- produce a collection of designed works that demonstrates the use of various methods and media.
Curriculum
A total of 110 credits are required to graduate, distributed as follows:
- Foundation Requirements (25 credits)
- Program Core Requirements (44 credits)
- Thematic Workshops (4 credits)
- Professional Electives (12 credits)
- Art History Electives (6 credits)
- LAC Requirements (18 credits)
- PED Requirement (1 credit)
Foundation Requirements (25 credits)
Program Core Requirements (44 credits)
Thematic Workshops (4 credits)
- GRDE300 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
- GRDE400 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
Professional Electives (12 credits)
- GRDE311 Illustration II (3 cr.)
- GRDE312 Print Media (3 cr.)
- GRDE313 Advertising Design (3 cr.)
- GRDE314 Silkscreen Printing and Binding (3 cr.)
- GRDE315 International Traveling Studio (3 cr.)
- GRDE316 Designing for Social Change (3 cr.)
- GRDE317 Design Management (3 cr.)
- GRDE410 Motion Design (3 cr.)
- GRDE411 User Experience (3 cr.)
- GRDE412 Package Design (3 cr.)
- GRDE413 Introduction to 3D Animation (3 cr.)
- GRDE462 Introduction to 2D Animation (3 cr.)
- PHO301 Studio Photography (3 cr.)
- PHO311 Digital Imaging Technologies (3 cr.)
Art History Electives (6 credits)
- ART331 History of Art I (3 cr.)
- ART332 History of Art II (3 cr.)
- ART335 Islamic Art of the Middle East (3 cr.)
- ART431 Modern Art (3 cr.)
- TVF221 Art of Film (3 cr.)
- TVF324 History of Film (3 cr.)
- JSC224 Social Media (3 cr.)
- JSC312 Media and Society (3 cr.)
- PHO231 History & Theory of Photography (3 cr.)
LAC Requirements (18 credits)
PED Requirement (1 credit)
Recommended Study Plan
Year One
Fall (16 credits)
- FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.) OR FND202 Photography for Foundation (3 cr.)
- FND231 Design Studio IA (3 cr.)
- FND232 Studio IB (3 cr.)
- FND235 Shop Techniques (1 cr.)
- FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.) OR FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
Spring (15 credits)
- FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.) OR FND202 Photography for Foundation (3 cr.)
- FND236 Design Studio II (6 cr.)
- FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.) OR FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
Summer (10 credits)
- ART222 Drawing II (3 cr.)
- GRDE240 Imaging Practices (3 cr.)
- Art History Elective (3 cr.)
- PED (1 cr.)
Year Two
Fall (16 credits)
- GRDE300 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
- GRDE310 Illustration I (3 cr.)
- GRDE330 Typography I (3 cr.)
- GRDE340 Branding (3 cr.)
- Art History Elective (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
Spring (16 credits)
- GRDE300 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
- GRDE320 History of Graphic Design (3 cr.)
- GRDE331 Typography II (3 cr.)
- GRDE341 Publication (3 cr.)
- Professional Elective (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
Summer (7 credits)
- GRDE350 Internship (1 cr.)
- Professional Elective (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
Year Three
Fall (16 credits)
- GRDE400 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
- GRDE420 Visual Culture (3 cr.)
- GRDE421 Design Research (3 cr.)
- GRDE430 Typography III (3 cr.)
- GRDE440 Interactive Media (3 cr.)
- Professional Elective (3 cr.)
Spring (14 credits)
- GRDE400 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
- GRDE431 Graphic Design in the Middle East (3 cr.)
- GRDE441 Senior Project (3 cr.)
- GRDE450 Portfolio Design (1 cr.)
- Professional Elective (3 cr.)
- LAC (3 cr.)
