St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Queens Campus
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- Graphic Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Overview
Prepare for an exciting career in graphic design in the creative capital of the United States—New York City!
Graphic designers create the visual world around us, designing everything from the logos of global corporations, posters for the hottest films, high-end fashion magazines, and captivating interactions on the websites and apps we use every day. This competitive field continues to grow rapidly.
The St. John’s University Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Graphic Design is a 132-credit program that provides aspiring graphic designers like you with the techniques, tools, and intellectual skills you need to develop your talents. You gain a full understanding of the theory and applications of graphic design principles, along with how to use color, photography, text, and composition to communicate powerfully and effectively in print and electronic media. You also develop your understanding of layout, design, and production principles.
Our program connects you to high-profile internships at organizations ranging from advertising agencies and design firms to non-profits. You also have the advantage of study abroad opportunities in cities rich with artistic tradition and vibrant contemporary design. Many of our graduates stay in New York City, where there is an extensive alumni network at companies such as NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, the NBA and WNBA, Fox News, Pentagram, BBDO Advertising, Grey Advertising, Nike, and Google.
The Department of Art and Design has attained the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, held by selective art schools nationwide.
Program Mission Statement
The Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Graphic Design prepares students for a career in the fields of creative media by:
1. Teaching the core competencies of research, writing, critical and thinking through the continual observation and analysis of the visual and social world.
2. Instructing students in the tools, techniques, vocabulary, traditions and history of their chosen profession so as to make informed career decisions.
3. Providing the technical and intellectual preparation students need to develop their creative work, while they learn the problem-solving processes that are standard in their industry.
Contact
Elizabeth DeLuna
Professor and Chair
718-990-5603
delunae@stjohns.edu
Admission
In order to alleviate stress for applicants in light of the COVID-19 restrictions and remote learning, we are happy to announce that St. John's University Department of Art and Design will be waiving the portfolio requirement as an admissions component for the B.F.A. in Graphic Design for 2021 applications.
You can apply directly to the B.F.A. in Graphic Design by completing the St. John's Undergraduate Application.
Please contact the Department Chair directly at delunae@stjohns.edu with any questions regarding this process.
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John's University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
Scholarships
The Department of Art and Design awards two full-time, four-year scholarships to first-year students who demonstrate extraordinary proficiency and creative potential in their portfolio submission and have met the academic requirements of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Three additional first-year students who demonstrate excellence in the visual arts are offered a $1,000 incentive scholarship. Students are selected through the portfolio review process and must submit their portfolio in our SlideRoom portal by January 15 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or paladpan@stjohns.edu.
Courses
To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, you will complete 132 credits in core courses, major requirements, and elective courses as outlined below. For more information about courses, please see the St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of our Undergraduate Bulletin.
| ART 1110 | Foundation Design |
| ART 1130 | Color Theory |
| ART 3350 | Mixed Media Concerns |
| ART 1105 | Introduction to Graphic Design |
| ART 1115 | Graphic Design II |
| ART 2115 | Graphic Production |
| ART 2125 | Typography |
| ART 2130 | Motion Graphics |
| ART 3110 | Professional Portfolio |
| ART 3125 | Advanced Typography |
| ART 3120 | Web Design |
| ART 3130 | Advanced Web Design |
| ART 3135 | Junior Design |
| ART 4120 | Senior Design |
| Choose three from among the following courses: | |
| ART 1120 | Social Media for Artists and Designers |
| ART 1200 | Drawing I |
| ART 1280 | Digital Illustration |
| ART 1510 | Printmaking I: Relief & Intaglio |
| ART 1630 | Digital Photography |
| ART 1640 | Intro to Video Art |
| ART 2120 | Three-Dimensional Design |
| ART 3015 | Special Topics in Design |
| ART 3115 | Book Arts |
| ART 1710 | History of Art I |
| ART 1720 | History of Art II |
| ART 2750 | Historical Modernism 1848-1945 |
| ART 2145 | History of Visual Communications |
| ART 4125 | Creative Thesis (9 credits) |
| ART 4909 | Internship (9 credits) |
In addition, you must select four art electives (12 credits total).
| DNY 1000C |
| ENG 1000C |
| ENG 1100C |
| HIS 1000C |
| MFL Electives (2) |
| MTH 1000C |
| PHI 1000C |
| PHI 2200C |
| PHI 3000C |
| SCI 1000C |
| One social science elective from: ANT, ECO, GEO, GOV, LIN, PSY, or SOC |
| SPE 1000C |
| THE 1000C |
| THE 2000-level |
| THE 3000-level |
Career Outcomes
Design studios, advertising agencies, multimedia communications firms, and other businesses rely on designers’ creative problem-solving and technical skills to reach target audiences. Our program prepares you for the vast array of careers emerging in this growing industry. As part of the B.F.A. program in Graphic Design, you either enroll in a semester-long internship or spend a semester producing a creative thesis. The Department of Art and Design Internship Program will help you gain crucial real-world experience at organizations ranging from advertising agencies and design firms to non-profits and fortune 500 companies.
Many of our graduates stay in New York City, where there is an extensive alumni network at companies such as NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, the NBA and WNBA, Pentagram, BBDO Advertising, Grey Advertising, Nike, and Google.
As a program alumnus, we invite you to participate in our networking events to build your own contacts throughout New York City’s vibrant design scene.
| Art Director | Advertising Designer |
| Brand Manager | Communication Designer |
| Creative Director | Graphic Designer |
| Interactive Designer | Marketing Communications Designer |
| Motion Designer | User Experience Designer |
| Web Designer |
| Bartle Bogle Hegarty NY | BBDO Worldwide | Equinox |
| HunterGatherer | Imaginary Forces | Johnson and Johnson Global Strategic Design |
| Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia | Mr. Wonderful | Museum of the Moving Image |
| MTV Networks | Nickelodeon | Nike |
| Pulse Creative | Spring Street Design | Vice Media |
| Aruliden | Arup | Bartle Bogle Hegarty NY |
| BBDO Worldwide | Condé Nast | Flight 001 |
| Imaginary Forces | Inter Spectacular LLC | Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia |
| Mélangerie | Mother New York | Mr. Wonderful |
| Museum of the Moving Image | MTV Networks | Nickelodeon |
| NY Arts Magazine | Off Track Planet | PUBLIC |
| Pulse Creative | The Thomas Collective | Vice Media |
Global Approach to Education
The Department of Art and Design has been at the forefront of Global Education since 1989. All B.F.A. student may take electives abroad. We offer courses and programs abroad in Rome, Paris, Spain, and around the world. We encourage you to use visual media to gain a broader understanding of humanity from both a global and personal perspective.
Some of the courses we offer abroad include:
- ART 1250 The Italian Sketchbook
- ART 1255 The French Sketchbook
- ART 1670 Photography in Paris
- ART 1760 Art in Vietnam
- ART 1775 Art and Architecture in France
- ART 1780 The Art of the Renaissance in Italy
- ART 1790 Survey of Art and Architecture in Italy
- ART 2250 Drawing and Design in Rome
- ART 2929 Culture of Southern Italy, a Visual Journey
- ART 2340 Painting in Italy.
For more information about study abroad, please visit Global Education.
Additional Information
As a Graphic Design major, you gain a solid foundation in the visual arts and emerging media and their applications across various media and disciplines. You learn from experienced and internationally known faculty whose work appears in prestigious media companies, product and publication design, galleries, museums, and publications in New York City, across the country, and around the globe.
Our studios provide an ideal environment for students to learn and create under the guidance of master educators. Facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms with cutting-edge equipment and software.
Each B.F.A. program capstone experience is a thesis or internship during your senior year. Thesis students work closely with their chosen faculty advisor creating a body of work to present to galleries or include in an M.F.A. application portfolio. Internships are individually arranged according to the student's interests, strengths, and career objectives. With easy access to Manhattan, students have access to our strong network of affiliates and alumni who now hold prominent positions in the arts.