The programs of the School of Art and Design provide students with the aesthetic and critical perspectives vital for professional careers in art and design. Central to the UIC approach are studio courses which engage students in the development of significant creative works as well as independent research utilizing the interdisciplinary resources of one of the world's great cities and a major research university as a base for learning.
The first year program introduces students to a wide range of possibilities for creative expression and problem-solving. After completion of the first year program, students will participate in an all-School portfolio review to gain acceptance into one of seven areas of concentration. The majors in the School of Art and Design are: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Moving Image, Photography, Studio Arts, and Art Education. By the senior year, students in the programs based in Art and Design Hall: Moving Image, Photography and Studio Arts are working together in an advanced interdisciplinary program. Likewise, students in the programs based in the Art and Architecture building: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design are encouraged to collaborate in interdisciplinary projects and to share an advanced Design Colloquium. Areas of collaborative study include the UIC Interdisciplinary Product Development program, which teams design students with students in the College of Business and the College of Engineering. Senior level professional practice courses offer additional opportunities to engage in projects with industry and government.
Graphic Design can be described as the process of visually communicating ideas and information through the use of signs, symbols, and images. The graphic design curriculum prepares students for professional careers in a variety of disciplines that constitute contemporary practice. Through structured practical and theoretical exercises, the program seeks to develop in its students a broad visual vocabulary and wide range of analytical, organizational, and technical skills that encompass the entire scope of visual communications. The program utilizes contemporary technology in print and digital media to expose students to a wide range of design possibilities.
The UIC MFA in Graphic Design is a globally-oriented graduate professional degree addressing the evolving applications of graphic design and visual communication and their relationship to international practice and academic research. The MFA program in Graphic Design is offered in two locations: Chicago and Basel, Switzerland.
Learn more about the International Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design UIC / HGK Basel
| Graphic Design: 4-Year Plan |
| (Burton, Becker, Bracamontes-Roeger, Gaynor, Lausen, Oiga) |
| Year 1 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4 | AD 102 Drawing I (F/S) | 4 | AD 110 Graphic Design I (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 120 Industrial design I (F/S) | 4 | AD 140 Sculpture I (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 160 Photo I (F/S) | 4 | AD 170 Time-based (F/S) |
| 3 | ENG 160 | 3 | ENG 161 |
| 3 | General Elective | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| All majors to pass April portfolio review | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4 | AH 110 Art History I (F/Sum) | 4 | AH 111 Art History II (S/Sum) |
| 4 | AD 210 Grpahic Design II (F) | 4 | AD 211 Graphic Design III (S) |
| 4-5 | AD 219 Type I (F/S) or Analyzing the Natural World | 4-5 | AD 219 Type I (F/S) or Analyzing the Natural World |
| 3 | General Elective | 3 | General Elective |
| 4 | AD 205 Intro. to Computer Graphics (F/S) or AD 209 Color Theory | 4 | AD2 05 Intro. to Computer Graphics (F/S) or AD 209 Color Theory |
| 16 | 16-17 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 3 | AH 235 History of Design I (F) | 3 | AH 236 History of Design II (S) |
| 4 | AD314 Graphic Design IV (F) | 4 | AD315 Graphic Design V (S) |
| 4 | Directed Elective* (F/S) or AD 317 Digital Media (F/S) | 4 | AD 317 Digital Media (F/S) or Directed Elective* (F/S) |
| 3 | Understanding the Past | 3 | Understanding the Individual in Society |
| 3 | General Elective | 3 | General Elective |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4 | AD 411 Graphic Design Prof. Practice (F/S) or AD 412 Graphic Design Thesis (F/S) | 4 | AD 411 Graphic Design Prof. Practice (F/S) or AD 412 Graphic Design Thesis (F/S) |
| 4 | AD elective | 4 | AD 415 Design Colloquium (S) |
| 4 | AD elective | 4 | AD elective |
| 3 | Exploring World Cultures | 3 | Understanding US Society |
| 3 | General Elective | 3 | General Elective |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| *Choose 1 of the following: | 24 | first year hours | |
| AD 267, AD 268, or AD 274 | 44 | general education hours | |
| 66 | major concentration hours | ||
| 134 | Total Hours |
