Archive 2007-08 Catalog (Archived September 2007)

One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

Graphic Design (BGD)
Academic School: Integrated Studies

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

This major emphasizes the development of students' skills for a career in graphic design. Theory and application through hands-on learning provide students with the background to develop a viable portfolio and the knowledge to secure and maintain a creative position in the applied arts. Students develop the necessary sensibilities for creative design through a series of required courses and electives in the visual arts, including courses ranging from drawing to illustration and bookmaking to computer graphics and Internet-based design. A proper balance of technically oriented courses, visual arts courses, and liberal arts courses prepares students for diverse and creative positions in the graphic design field. The broad range of learning experiences in this major enriches and expands individual inventiveness and problem-solving skills.

Career Opportunities:  Layout artist; graphic designer; creative director for advertising agencies, publications or electronic media. Additional possibilities include employment in corporate and health-service settings directing the preparation of promotional materials and in-house publications.

Recommended High School Subjects:  Two units of high school math (one of which should be algebra), four units of English, two units in the natural sciences, and experience with the visual arts.

Remediation Strategies:  Students must remediate English and reading deficiencies (RDG 111 level) within the first semester of the major and must remediate math deficiencies by the end of the first year.

Transfer Procedures:  Graduates of Penn College's two-year Advertising Art major can transfer all courses into the Graphic Design major; however, major courses (defined as those with ART, PNP, PHO designators) must have been completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Internal and external transfers with fewer than 61 credits can carry parallel courses into the baccalaureate when grades are 'C' or better. Transcripts should be submitted with the application for admission and will be evaluated by Admissions staff and by Integrated Studies staff. Those accepted for transfer will begin the baccalaureate at the course/skill level consistent with their academic work. Transfers from other art programs who have earned 60 credits will be eligible for junior status upon transcript evaluation of courses at 'C' or better and a 2.0 in major courses.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

Performance Standards:  Students must earn a grade of 'C' or better in all courses with an ART and PHO course designator to receive credit for their completion. Students earning a 'D' or below must retake courses in which they are deficient before those courses can be considered as meeting the prerequisite requirements for more advanced courses. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course, after the maximum attempts allowed by College policy, results in withdrawal from the major in which the course is required.

First SemesterCredits
ART102Two-Dimensional Design 3
ART180Drawing 3
PHO101Black-and-White Photography 3
ENL111English Composition I 3
CSC110Introduction to Information Technology 3
FITFitness and Lifetime Sports Elective 1
16
Second SemesterCredits
ART109Design and Color 3
ART122Painting 3
ART125Art History: Ancient through 15th Century 3
ART202Introduction to Three-Dimensional Design 3
ENL121English Composition II 3
15
Third SemesterCredits
ART145History of Graphic Design 3
ART225Type Design I 3
ART260Introduction to Computer Graphics 3
PNP127Applied Typography and Design 3
PNP123Digital Imaging I 3
MTH151Structures of Mathematics 3
or
MTH153Topics in Mathematics 3
18
Fourth SemesterCredits
ART210Introduction to Graphic Design 3
ART235Type Design II 3
PHO250Introduction to Digital Photography 3
PNP210Digital Imaging II 3
SCTScience - Science,Technology and Society Elective 3
15
Fifth SemesterCredits
ART340Illustration 3
ART360Graphic Design for the Web 3
MCM127Principles of Advertising 3
MTH172Introduction to Geometry 3
SPC101Fundamentals of Speech 3
FITFitness and Lifetime Sports Elective 1
16
Sixth SemesterCredits
ART310Graphic Design: Point of Purchase (POP) 3
ART330Modern Art and the Contemporary Image 3 Writing Enriched Requirement
HIS115World Civilization I 3 Cultural Diversity Requirement
or
HIS125World Civilization II 3 Cultural Diversity Requirement
SSESocial Science Elective 3
OEAOpen Elective 3
15
Seventh SemesterCredits
ART410Graphic Design, Corporate Identity (CID) 3
ART460Advanced Computer Graphics 3
BGDSpecified Graphic Design Elective 3
PHL110Introduction to Philosophy 3
SCLScience Elective with lab 4
16
Eighth SemesterCredits
ART420Portfolio Design 3
ART496Senior Project 3
BGDSpecified Graphic Design Elective 3
HTSHumanities - Science, Technology and Society Elective 3
OEAOpen Elective 3
15

Note: Co-op or internship may replace one specified BGD elective.

A student must take a Science, Tchnology, and Society Elective to satisfy either the Science Elective or the Humanities Elective.