You are in the official current online General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Art and Design
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Art Major
Graphic Design Option
Major requirements (69 units)
--- Art and Design Core (18 units) ---
ARTH 10 and 11
(6 units), ART 13 (3 units), ART 20 or ID
43 (3 units), ART 24 or 30 or 40
(3 units), ART 14 or 50
or 60 or 70
or 80* (3 units)
--- Lower-division requirements (18 units) ---
GD 35, 37, 39, 41, 42,
50, 60
--- Upper-division requirements (15 units) ---
GD 135, 150, 163; ART 116; MCJ 142
--- Upper-division electives (15 units) ---
Select from ART 101, 107,
125, 126,
127, 130,
133, 180*,
185, 188;
ARTH 132, 136;
GD 132; MCJ 131, 144,
146, 148
General Education requirements (51 units)
Total units (120)
________
* See adviser for prerequisites.
Advising Notes
- All courses required for the major must receive a letter grade.
- Student work may be retained for a limited period for display and accreditation visits.
- The upper-division writing skills requirement can be met by passing the university examination or by completing a W course with a letter grade of C or higher, to be taken no sooner than the term in which 60 units are completed.
- No General Education course offered by the Department of Art and Design may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.
- A grade of C or higher in all graphic design coursework is necessary for successful completion of the major. Any course required as a prerequisite must be completed with a grade of C or better before registration in the subsequent course.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is a professional program providing directed studies and is designed for students seeking in-depth preparation for specialized educational and career goals.
The curriculum explores the many aspects of graphic design, including the physical, cognitive, social, and cultural human factors. It will also explore theories, principles, and practice in relation to typography, illustration, computer graphics, Web design, motion graphics, history of graphic design, and creative critical visual thinking skills that are applicable to professional practice and to meet entrance requirements to graduate school.
Graphic Design Fine Arts Major
Major requirements (66 units)*
--- Art and Design Core (18 units) ---
ARTH 10 and 11
(6 units)
ART 13 (3 units)
ART 20 or ID
43 (3 units)
ART 24 or 30
or 40 (3 units)
ART 50 or 60
or 70 or 80***
(3 units)
GD lower-division requirements (21 units)
GD 35, 37, 39, 41, 42,
50, 60
GD upper-division requirements (15 units)
GD 135, 179, 180; ART 116;
ARTH 132 or 136
Area of Emphasis (I, II or III) (18 units)
I. Graphic Design
GD 170, 171, 174, 175, 176,
178
II. Illustration**
GD 163, 165, 167, 169, 6 units of approved
electives
III. Interactive Multimedia Design
GD 150, 153, 155, 157; ART
107, 180
General Education requirements (51 units)
GD electives and remaining degree requirements (0-3 units)
Total (120 units)
___________
* This total indicates that a maximum of two courses (6 units) in G.E. Breadth C1 and G.E. Breadth E1 will be applied to the graphic design major. These courses include ARTH 10, 11; ART 20, 40, 50 (G.E. C1); and/or ART 13 (G.E. E1). Consult the department chair or faculty adviser for additional details.
**Please see adviser.
*** Interactive multimedia candidates - see adviser.
Advising Notes
- A portfolio is required to apply to the B.F.A. in Graphic Design.
- The portfolio needs to be submitted for review only after the student has completed the art and design core courses and all the lower-division graphic design required courses.
- The student must PASS the portfolio review to be admitted into the B.F.A. in Graphic Design.
- For continuation in the B.F.A. in Graphic Design, all courses required for the major must receive a letter grade of C or higher.
- Student work may be retained for a limited period for display and accreditation visits.
- The upper-division writing skills requirement can be met by passing the university examination or by completing a W course with a letter grade of C or higher, to be taken no sooner than the term in which 60 units are completed.
- The General Education requirement of 48 units may be exceeded depending upon the selection of courses; such excess units may be counted under the electives category toward the 120-unit degree.
Department Courses
Art (ARTDS, ARTH, ART) | Graphic Design (GD) | Interior Design (ID)
COURSES
GD 35. Visual CommunicationsFundamentals
(3 units)
Foundational visual and cognitive organizational processes for the practice
of visual communication, presented through lectures and applied through
studio exercises. Includes visual perception and organization, visual ideation,
and visual problem-solving processes, techniques, and principles. (2 lecture,
2 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) F
GD 37. Graphic Design:Computer Imaging (3 units)
Prerequisites: ART 13, GD 35. Emphasis on basic skills, theories, and principles
of graphic design, including photo manipulation and illustration software
applications as related to the graphic design field. (6 lab hours) (6 lab
hours) (Course fee, $30) (Formerly GD 40)
GD 39. Graphic Design: Computer Layout Design
(3 units)
Prerequisite: ART 13, GD 37. Exploration and application of layout design
and prepress software as related to the graphic design field through projects
encompassing the basic skills, theories, and principles of graphic design.
(Course fee, $30) (6 lab hours)
GD 41. Typography (3 units)
Prerequisites: ART 13, GD 37. Typographic principles, elements, and techniques.
Type classification, selection, design, and layout. Computer projects. (6
lab hours) (Course fee, $30) FS
GD 42. Graphic Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 35 and 41 or concurrently. Advertising and graphic design
projects taken through steps from thumbnail sketches through rough layouts
to computer-generated comprehensive presentations. Emphasis on evaluation
of market and audience and development of aesthetic solutions to communication
problems. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) FS
GD 50. Internet Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Introduction to Internet design for graphic designers
focusing on Web site structure. Emphasis on professionally designed, visually
integrated Web sites utilizing contemporary software for Web design, image
creation, and manipulation. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) (Formerly GD
140)
GD 60. Illustration Techniques (3 units)
Prerequisites: ID 43 or ART 20. Introduction to various traditional drawing
and painting techniques. Emphasis on the application of rendering solutions
to graphic design problems. (6 lab hours) (Course fee $5) (Formerly GD 143)
GD 135. History of Graphic Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: ARTH 10 and 11. A survey of characteristic design approaches,
solutions, materials, and technologies, their relationship to popular culture
and trends, and their social and political history. Course includes lectures
and studio projects. (2 lecture and 2 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) FS
GD 150. Advanced Internet Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42, 50. Advanced application and exploration of Web
standards-based Web site design. Emphasis on the aesthetics and structure
of Web site development. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) FS
GD 153. Interactive Design (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 41, 42, 50. Interactive design for graphic designers. Use
of contemporary software to develop professionally designed, visually integrated,
interactive graphics and content for Web and multimedia applications. (6
lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 155. AdvancedInteractive Design (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 153. Integration of advanced and complex interactive content
for Web and multimedia applications. Emphasis on experimentation and concept
development incorporating elements from different thematic structures. (6
lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 157. Motion Graphics (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 153. Application of software to create visually integrated,
concept-driven motion graphics and interactive content and Web multimedia
applications. Emphasis on research and production on advanced projects.
(6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 163. Illustration (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 60 and ART 116. Understanding how illustration functions
with text. Experiences in the conceptualization and organized development
of illustrative images. Creative illustrative strategies applied to design
situations. (6 lab hours) (Formerly GD 146)
GD 165. Digital IllustrationTechniques (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 42, 60, and 163. Introduction to digital illustration;
appreciation of its strengths. Applying basic digital illustration techniques
to characteristic graphic design problems and formats. (6 lab hours) (Course
fee, $30) (Formerly GD 147)
GD 167. Advanced Illustration (3; max total 6 units)
Prerequisite: GD 163. Advanced techniques in non-digital illustration. Creating
illustrative visual solutions to a range of problems in graphic design,
including complex and abstract subjects. Developing distinctive individual
work. (6 lab hours)
GD 169. Advanced Digital Illustration (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 163, 165. Advanced digital illustration techniques. Analyzing
and applying components of a visual style. Combining traditional and digital
illustrative components. (6 lab hours)
GD 170. Typographic Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Advanced principles of typography, including design
of typefaces utilizing contemporary software. Exploration of sophisticated
typographical projects incorporating commercial and student designed fonts.
Emphasis on typographical experimentation. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
(Formerly GD 141)
GD 171. AdvancedTypographic Design (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 170. Creation of unique typefaces for use in typographic
solutions to projects such as brand identity, packaging design, environmental
graphics, and publication design. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 174. Graphic Systems (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 41, 42. Examination of the structures of primary/secondary
and co-equal communication systems as applied to identity, packaging, and
other graphic design projects. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) (Formerly
GD 142)
GD 175. Graphic Concept Development (3 units)
Prerequisite: GD 174. Examination of the importance of an underlying concept
development to successful graphic design solutions. Emphasis placed on the
production of strong concepts in projects such as identity applications
and environmental graphics. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 176. Packaging Design (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 171, 175. Advanced projects in packaging with emphasis
on the application and exploration of the socio-cultural, physical, and
legal requirements of packaging systems. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
GD 178. Professional Advertising Design
(3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 171, 174. Advanced advertising/graphic design projects
from concept development to finished product. Emphasis on complex methods
and approaches relating to advertising media, production procedures, and
professionalism. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30) (Formerly GD 148)
GD 179. Professional Practices (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 176 and 178, or 155 and 157, or 167 and 169. Advanced
exploration of the fields of graphic and advertising design, as well as
the standards and practices common in advertising agencies and design studios.
Covers workplace structures, time and record-keeping, estimating, self-promotion,
and working with vendors and employees. (6 lab hours) (Course fee, $30)
(Formerly GD 149)
GD 180. Graphic Portfolio Development (3 units)
Prerequisites: GD 176 and 178, or GD 155 and 157, or GD 167 and 169. Organization
and creation of a professional portfolio. Advanced approaches and production
of various media and professional applications, including practices encompassing
the portfolio, exhibitions, and competitions. (6 lab hours)
GD 190. Independent Study in Graphic Design
(3; max total 6 units)
See Academic Placement - Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading. FS
GD 198. Internship in Graphic Design (1-6;
max total 6 units)
Prerequisites: permission of instructor and supervising agency. Experience
in graphic design related professions with a design studio, advertising
agency or publication under the supervision of graphic design faculty. Maximum
credit toward a graphic design option is 6 units. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum
of 3 field hours per unit.)
Art and Design Degrees
Interior Design Courses and Degrees
Department
Page
Courses
and Programs Menu
Catalog Home
University Home