Office of the Registrar

Art: Graphic Design - Bachelor of Fine Arts 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

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DARS System  

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

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First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5
DES 1251DES 1114Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
DES 1204DES 1214DES 1404
General Elective4General Elective2General Elective2
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits14-15

First Year Milestone: Completion of DES 120 & 121 (by end of Spring term).

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
DES 2104DES 2244DES 2254
DES 2004DES 2544DES 2904
ARH 2XX4General Elective2General Elective2
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits13-14

Second Year Milestone: Pass Sophomore Portfolio in order to continue in 300 level classes (by end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditWinter CoursesWinter CreditSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
DES 3204DES 3216Graphic Design UD Elective4
DES 3544DES 3404Graphic Design UD Elective4
Graphic Design UD Elective4  General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
DES 4704Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6DES 4726
Graphic Design UD Elective4DES 4714Graphic Design UD Elective4
Graphic Design UD Elective4DES 4082Graphic Design UD Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • ARH 2XX: Can take any 200-level Art History course.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • Graphic Design UD Elective: Choose seven 4-credit upper division(UD) elective courses in consultation with Graphic Design faculty advisor. See the program page in the Bulletin for a list of options.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for BFA Graphic Design

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