What Graphic Design BFA Students Study
Coursework covers graphic design, typography, brand identity, illustration, web design, digital imaging, motion design and portfolio development. Students design for print, motion graphics, UX and UI and social media, and learn professional practices such as networking and portfolio building alongside the software.
The program is organized around four learning outcomes: Process, Thinking, Making and Connecting.
Degree Requirements
The BFA totals 128 credits:
- 76 credits in the major
- 36 to 44 credits in the university core
- 8 to 16 credits of electives
Students enter the major through a portfolio review after the foundation year, and every BFA student brings a laptop that meets the department’s hardware and software requirements by the fall of sophomore year.
Key Graphic Design Courses
- ART 1050: Fundamentals of Design. Covers the principles and elements of design through two- and three-dimensional projects and color theory.
- ART 1150: Digital Art and Design. Introduces Adobe Creative Suite through design projects built on the principles and elements of design.
- ART 2000: Art History Survey. Traces painting, sculpture and architecture from prehistory to the mid-20th century through religion, politics and culture.
- ART 3860: Contemporary Concepts of Art. Examines art since the 1960s, from new mediums and popular culture to non-Western influences and social concerns.
- GDS 3150: History of Graphic Design. Follows visual communication from prehistory to the digital age and the styles and historical forces that shaped graphic design.
- GDS 3240: Illustrated Spaces. Uses digital and analog illustration, including tactile environments, to build concept-driven work with cultural and social context.
- GDS 3540: Interactive Environments. Introduces web design, UI/UX, navigation and sequential graphics for interactive, screen-based spaces.
- GDS 4140 and 4120: Senior Projects and Design Lab. The two-semester senior sequence pairs a body of work for a gallery exhibition with design work for nonprofit clients.
Read full course descriptions in the HPU Undergraduate Bulletin.
A Senior Capstone Built for Hiring
The degree ends in a senior capstone course. Every BFA candidate produces a professional portfolio and a series of original works that establishes an individual voice. That portfolio is what agencies and in-house creative teams review when they hire.
Classroom critiques run through all four years. Graduate Aidan Dietrick credits them with building the confidence behind a role at the New York Islanders.
Design Labs and Studios
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.
New York and Italy
An annual New York trip takes students through graphic design studios and agencies.
The Grand Tour of Italy, a Maymester called Drawing the Masters, follows the Renaissance artists through Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Siena and Venice. Students complete studio projects in each city and see contemporary work at the Venice Biennale.
Research and Creative Work
Creative work counts as research at HPU. Students present original projects at High-PURCS, HPU’s annual undergraduate research and creative works symposium. At the 14th annual symposium in April 2026, more than 410 undergraduates worked with 88 faculty mentors to deliver 260 presentations across 40 disciplines.
Creative Arts Fellows
The Creative Arts Fellows Program adds a four-year, team-based experience with a dedicated director, plus visits from scholars and practitioners working in the arts.
The Princeton Review gives High Point University a 95 out of 99 rating for professor accessibility, based on its student surveys.
How Graphic Design Students Describe the Coursework
Graphic Design students and graduates describe the classes and mentors behind their work.
Angela Romano
Graphic Design major · Marketing Design Coordinator, Truly Good Foods
“I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with Professor Brown, and I learned so much about art and culture on that trip.”
Emily Longo
Graphic Design major · Intern, Tauck
“My professors played a pivotal role in shaping me as a designer by assigning real-world client simulations, thoughtful classwork and projects, providing consistent feedback and instilling the confidence I needed to pursue the fields I am most passionate about.”
Michael Crowley
Graphic Design major · Athletic Graphic Designer, College of the Holy Cross
“While I was at HPU, my professors taught me how to become a well-rounded designer and to be prepared to design on all platforms.”
Graphic Design in the News
Research and Innovation: October 2024
Working as the exhibit’s primary graphic designer was an enriching experience for Kayla Robinson, a senior graphic design major from Long Valley, New Jersey.
Explore the Graphic Design BFA at High Point University
See how HPU graphic design 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].