Graphic Design and Media
The graphic design and media program will prepare students for careers in design and creative visual media fields. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on design practice integrating the building of formal and technical skill with critical analysis, theory, and research. Students will learn the professional skills and competencies necessary to compete in the global marketplace for graphic arts, media, and visual design.
Undergraduate Graphic Design and Media Degrees
The graphic design and media program at UNLV will prepare students for careers in the dynamic design and creative visual media fields. The program engages studio practice with design research projects concentrating on analysis and applications of visual communication. Students will learn through a professional studio practice, with emphasis on technical skill as well as conceptual expression. Through the program, students will develop both traditional and contemporary skills that culminate in their own design practice.
New First-Time Students
NOTE: The Graphic Design & Media curriculum is designed for students to graduate in the spring semester. Please see your academic advisor for more information regarding your progression and intended graduation date.
Students who qualify for admission to UNLV may declare their major in Graphic Design & Media. Entering students begin their studies in the Graphic Design & Media foundation curriculum until the end of their second year when they are eligible to apply for entry into the upper-division courses for the major.
Student progression from the second to the third year is competitive. The process requires a formal Program Portfolio Review by the Faculty Review Committee and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all required Art and Graphic Design & Media courses before gaining entry into the upper-division courses. The required lower-division courses include:
- ART 101 Drawing I
- ART 107 Design Fundamentals I
- ART 108 Design Fundamentals II-3D
- ART 156 Design Fundamentals III
- GRC 210 Typography I
- GRC 250 Design & Media Studio I
Students also should be enrolled in, or have already completed, GRC 320 Design Methods & Research at the time of application. Students may apply to the program up to two times.
Program Portfolio Review
Formal application to the program through the Program Portfolio Review is required. Before enrolling in upper-division Graphic Design & Media courses, a student must gain approval from the Faculty Review Committee. Admittance to the upper-division courses is based upon a faculty review of:
- Completing all required courses in lower-division studies and achieving a minimum grade point average of 3.0. (See “Major Degree Requirements” in the current Undergraduate Catalog for the Graphic Design & Media major.)
- Completed Graphic Design & Media application
- A portfolio of creative work
The application deadline for the B.S. in Graphic Design & Media is the Friday before Spring Break each year. Applications are reviewed within two weeks of the application deadline, and formal notification of acceptance or denial is typically made three weeks after the application deadline.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Students are encouraged to meet with a College of Fine Arts advisor—with their transcript or degree worksheet—at the beginning of their UNLV career or at least two semesters before application to discuss course progression. Students may retake prerequisite courses to meet the course requirements and the GPA standards before applying to the Graphic Design & Media Program.
Transfer Students
NOTE: The Graphic Design & Media curriculum is designed for students to graduate in the spring semester. Please see your academic advisor for more information regarding your progression and intended graduation date.
Transfer students must meet with a College of Fine Arts advisor—with their transcript—before application to the Graphic Design & Media upper-division courses to determine course equivalencies. While the university accepts credits 100- and 200-level courses transferred from other accredited institutions, transfer credits for required Graphic Design & Media courses are not applied to the major until reviewed and accepted by this unit. Transfer credit for graphic design and related courses in which the student received a grade of “B” or lower will not be applied as equivalent coursework. Students who do not meet the course equivalencies will be advised to take prescribed courses to meet the program requirements.
Program Portfolio Review
Formal application to the program through the Program Portfolio Review is required. Before enrolling in upper-division Graphic Design & Media courses, a transfer student must gain approval from the Faculty Review Committee. For transfer students, admittance to the upper-division courses is based upon a faculty review of:
- Completing all required courses in lower-division studies or their equivalents from an accredited institution and achieving a minimum grade point average of 3.0. (See “Major Degree Requirements” in the current Undergraduate Catalog for the Graphic Design & Media major.)
- Completed Graphic Design & Media application
- A portfolio of creative work
The application deadline for the B.S. in Graphic Design & Media is the Friday before Spring Break each year. Applications are reviewed within two weeks of the application deadline, and formal notification of acceptance or denial is typically made three weeks after the application deadline.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Students also should be enrolled in, or have already completed, GRC 320 Design Methods & Research at the time of application. Students may apply to the program up to two times.
The Student Association of Graphic Artists (SAGA) provides art & design majors the opportunity to experiment, polish, and master the skills learned in classes by applying it to personal projects that speak to their heart! We provide learning opportunities to connect with professionals, bond with future professionals in a similar field, better your skills and receive recognition by showcasing your personal project in a gallery show.