Academic Catalog 2021–2022

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BFA in Graphic Design

Overview

The 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 liberal arts and sciences, 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:

  1. foster design practices for the betterment of society,
  2. actively participate in creative industries through design initiatives,
  3. engage in intellectual and practice-based inquiry grounded in design research, history and theory, and
  4. 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:

  1. create design that is socially conscious within diverse contexts,
  2. apply understandings of bilingual typography to enrich communicative qualities in designed projects,
  3. participate as active designers in creative industries,
  4. analyze design through understandings of history and theory in scholarly research,
  5. apply understandings of user experience to enhance design practices,
  6. design initiatives based on inquiry and research within a studio environment, and
  7. 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, after Freshman Year [or the equivalent Lebanese Baccalaureate Part II], distributed as follows:

  • Foundation Requirements (22 credits)
  • Program Core Requirements (48 credits)
  • Professional Electives (12 credits)
  • Art and Art History Electives (9 credits)
  • LAS Requirements (18 credits)
  • PED Requirement (1 credit)

Foundation Requirements (22 credits)

  • FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.)
  • FND231 Studio I-A (3 cr.)
  • FND232 Studio I-B (3 cr.)
  • FND235 Shop Techniques (1 cr.)
  • FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.)
  • FND237 Studio II Visual Dynamics (3 cr.)
  • FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
  • ART222  Figure Drawing (3 cr.)

Program Core Requirements (48 credits)

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.)
  • GRDE318 Introduction to 2D Animation (3 cr.)
  • GRDE411 User Experience (3 cr.)
  • GRDE412 Package Design (3 cr.)
  • GRDE413 Introduction to 3D for Animation (3 cr.)
  • PHO301 Studio Photography (3 cr.)
  • PHO311 Digital Imaging Technologies (3 cr.)

Art and Art History Electives (9 credits)

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.)

Art Electives (3 credits)

  • ART301 Speculative Drawing (3 cr.)
  • ART211 Ceramics (3 cr.)
  • ART212 Ceramics wheel throwing (3 cr.)
  • ART334 Printmaking (3 cr.)
  • ART341 Painting I (3 cr.)
  • ART342 Painting II (3 cr.)
  • ART351 Sculpture I (3 cr.)
  • ART352 Sculpture II (3 cr.)
  • PHO301 Studio Photography (3 cr.)
  • PHO311 Digital Imaging Technologies (3 cr.)
  • PHO330 Black & White Analog Photography (3 cr.)
  • PHO342 Landscape Photography (3 cr.)
  • PHO344 Fashion Photography (3 cr.)
  • PHO341 Architectural Photography (3 cr.)
  • FAS XXX Textile Design (3 cr.)

LAS Requirements (18 credits)

PED Requirement (1 credit)

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

  • FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.)
  • FND231 Studio I-A (3 cr.)
  • FND232 Studio I-B (3 cr.)
  • FND235 Shop Techniques (1 cr.)
  • FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (LAS Core) (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • FND237 Studio II Visual Dynamics (3 cr.)
  • FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
  • PHO201 Introduction to Photography (3 cr.)
  • ART222  Figure Drawing (3cr.)
  • GRDE330 Introduction to Type (3 cr.)
  • PED (1 cr.)

Summer (9 credits)

  • COM203 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (LAS Core) (3 cr.)
  • Art History Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • GRDE300 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
  • GRDE310 Illustration (3 cr.)
  • GRDE320 History of Graphic Design (3 cr.)
  • GRDE340 Branding (3 cr.)
  • GRDE410 Motion Design (3 cr.)
  • Art Elective (3 cr.)

Spring (16 credits)

  • GRDE300 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
  • GRDE331 Typography II (3 cr.)
  • GRDE341 Publication (3 cr.)
  • GRDE420  Visual Culture (3 cr.)
  • GRDEXXX Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • Art History Elective (3 cr.)

Summer (7 credits)

  • GRDE350 Internship (1 cr.)
  • GRDEXXX Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (16 credits)

  • GRDE400 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
  • GRDE421 Design Research (3 cr.)
  • GRDE430 Typography III (3 cr.)
  • GRDE440 Interactive Media (3 cr.)
  • GRDEXXX Professional Elective (3 cr.)   
  • LAS 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.)
  • GRDEXXX Professional Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)