The B.A. in Design Studies
The B.A. in Design Studies with a concentration in Graphic Design builds a foundation in design technique, aesthetics and history, then applies it wherever visual communication does the work: social media, marketing, brand strategy and editorial design.
Students enter the major through a faculty portfolio review after completing Fundamentals of Design (ART 1050) and Drawing (ART 1060). The program has no quota.
The degree totals 128 credits, with 48 in the major and 36 to 44 in electives, which makes a double major or second minor practical. Students who plan to practice as professional graphic designers can choose the BFA in Studio with a concentration in Graphic Design, which is built around a professional portfolio.
What Design Studies Students Study
Design Studies coursework includes:
- Fundamentals of Design (ART 1050). Covers the principles and elements of design through two- and three-dimensional projects and color theory.
- Digital Art and Design (ART 1150). Introduces Adobe Creative Suite through design projects built on the principles and elements of design.
- Art History Survey (ART 2000). Traces painting, sculpture and architecture from prehistory to the mid-20th century through religion, politics and culture.
- Contemporary Concepts of Art (ART 3860). Examines art since the 1960s, from new mediums and popular culture to non-Western influences and social concerns.
- History of Graphic Design (GDS 3150). Follows visual communication from prehistory to the digital age and the styles and historical forces that shaped graphic design.
- Illustrated Spaces (GDS 3240). Uses digital and analog illustration, including tactile environments, to build concept-driven work with cultural and social context.
- Intermedia (ART 4040). Students work across image making, objects, performance, installation, print and video to test the boundaries of their practice.
Students build proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite in an Apple Macintosh environment with large-format printers, the Anderson Creative Innovation Lab, the Tech Lab and a lighting studio. The student-to-faculty ratio averages 17 to 1.
Read full course descriptions in the HPU Undergraduate Bulletin.
New York, Italy and Internships
An annual trip to New York tours design studios and agencies, and a Maymester in Italy has students complete studio projects in Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Siena and Venice.
Design Studies students have interned at Disney, UPS and Marvel Comics. Ashton Kajcienski interned in fan engagement at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Kenzie Ulrich interned in marketing and graphic design at Lowes Foods.
Research and Creative Work
The Council on Undergraduate Research recognized HPU with its 2025 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments. At the 14th annual High-PURCS symposium in April 2026, more than 410 undergraduates worked with 88 faculty mentors to deliver 260 presentations across 40 disciplines.
The Creative Arts Fellows Program adds a four-year, team-based track with a dedicated director who arranges mentoring, networking and travel, and HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development supports students from their first year.
The Princeton Review gives High Point University a 95 out of 99 rating for professor accessibility, based on its student surveys.
How Design Studies Students Describe the Coursework
Design Studies students and graduates describe the classes and mentors behind their work.
Kenzie Ulrich
Design Studies major · Marketing and Graphic Design Intern, Lowes Foods
“Throughout my time at HPU Professor Dougherty challenged me to create work that I was proud of and provided ways for me to learn and grow as a student.”
Ashton Kajcienski
Design Studies major · Fan Engagement Intern, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
“High Point University’s graphic design program has given me the tools to excel in this internship, and I would not be where I am today without the knowledge and support I have gained from this program.”
Elisabeth Crane
Design Studies major · Graphic Design and Sales, Greenhouse Fabrics & Anna Elisabeth
“To name only a few, Professor Carrie Dyer, Dr. Janis Dougherty, Dr. Terrell Hayes, Dr. Phillip Norwood and Dr. Mark Toole were great mentors to me.”
Explore Design Studies at High Point University
See how HPU design studies ranks and where its graduates go next.
Accreditation & Awards Careers & Student Organizations
Questions about the program? Email Mark Brown, chair of the Department of Art and Graphic Design, at [email protected].