This section specifies the Graphic and Digital Design major requirements only. Please refer to the Bachelor of Fine Arts section for information on additional requirements. Students who have completed the Graphic and Digital Design diploma should consult with an Academic Advisor regarding laddering into this major in the BFA degree.
The Graphic and Digital Design major culminates in upper-level courses that require a series of sequential skills obtained over several semesters. Some GD courses are only offered annually. Students should make strategic course selections over at least a two-year period to ensure timely program completion.
Students will complete requirements in three curriculum areas:
Creative Practice (54 credits)
Professional Practice (24 credits)
Theory, Criticality, and Context (18-20 credits)
Lower-level requirements: 48 credits
Creative Practice: 36 credits
Course
Title
Credits
GD 101
Fundamentals of Design
3
GD 154
Typography I
3
GD 157
Digital Design Media I
3
GD 159
Digital Design Media II
3
GD 202
Interactive Design I: Foundations in Web Design
3
GD 203
Dynamic Media I: Motion Graphics
3
GD 204
Interactive Design II: Web Development for Designers
3
or CIS 145
Web Publishing
GD 216
Illustration
3
GD 254
Typography II
3
GD 260
Graphic & Digital Design I
3
GD 281
Applied Photography and Video
3
VA 101
Figure Drawing
3
or VA 113
Introduction to Drawing
Theory, Criticality, and Context: 12 credits
Course
Title
Credits
AH 203
History of Posters — The Art of Persuasion
3
or GD 102
History of Graphic Design
BUS 120
Essentials of Marketing
3
or MEDA 222
Design Ethos and the Creative Practitioner
Two of:
6
AH, ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HSER, POSC, PSYC, SOC, or SOWK
Upper-level requirements: 48-50 credits
Creative Practice: 18 credits
Course
Title
Credits
GD 303
Dynamic Media II: Storytelling
3
GD 316
Print and Digital Production
3
GD 317
Graphic and Digital Design II
3
GD 374
Brand Identity
3
GD 375
Packaging
3
GD 403
Dynamic Media III: Titling and Video
3
or GD 302
Interactive Design III — Applied Web
Professional Practice: 24 credits
Course
Title
Credits
GD 357
Digital Project Management for Creative Practitioners
3
GD 358
Interactive Design for Portfolio
3
GD 369
Professional Practices I
3
GD 450
Design Systems I: Experiential Graphic Design
3
GD 460
Design Systems II: Transmedia Solutions
3
GD 461
Advanced Portfolio for Graphic and Digital Design
3
6 credits from:
6
ARTS 380
Practicum/Internship II
COOP 110
Co-op Work Term Performance and Report I (see Note)
GD 498
Directed Study in Graphic Digital Design I
GD 499
Directed Study in Graphic Digital Design II
Note: COOP credits not used toward program requirements can be used toward elective requirements in the BFA degree.
Theory, Criticality, and Context: 6-8 credits
Course
Title
Credits
GD 304
User Experience Design
3
One of:
3-5
GEOG 464
Community Planning and Development: Local Applied Studio
GEOG 466
Community Planning and Development: International Studio
MEDA 469
Design Thinking for Creative Leadership
Residency
At least 50% of the upper-level credits for the major must be completed at UFV.
Declaration requirements
Students declaring the GDD major must have completed 30 credits with a CGPA of 2.0 or better. At least nine of the 30 credits completed must be in GD courses.
Students are required to purchase a MacBook Pro laptop computer and Adobe subscription according to specifications provided by the department. Please contact the GDD Lab Coordinator upon declaration to arrange equipment configuration.
For further information on the declaration process, please see the BFA section of the calendar.
