At Penn College, you’ll be immersed in a career-focused curriculum with unparalleled foundational classes, award-winning graphic design and web design courses, and cutting-edge facilities. Build a standout portfolio. Soak in valuable insight from passionate and experienced instructors. And learn what it takes define your future in graphic design.
Join the Penn College Graphic Design Community 
Your coursework will cover classes specific to your area of specialization along with foundational concepts and lessons that invite fresh perspectives.
8
Semesters
41
Courses
122
Credits
Fall 2026
6 courses 16 credits
50% program-specific courses
Spring 2026
6 courses 18 credits
50% program-specific courses
Fall 2027
5 courses 15 credits
80% program-specific courses
Spring 2027
5 courses 15 credits
80% program-specific courses
Fall 2028
5 courses 15 credits
60% program-specific courses
Spring 2028
5 courses 15 credits
60% program-specific courses
Fall 2029
5 courses 16 credits
40% program-specific courses
Spring 2029
4 courses 12 credits
50% program-specific courses
Please Note: The outlined curriculum assumes a fall semester start for students completing a full credit load schedule without additional developmental math requirements. Students beginning in the spring or summer, taking less than a full load, and/or requiring developmental coursework follow an altered curriculum sequence. Speak to your academic advisor or school office with questions.
96%
Overall Placement Rate
Career-Focused Classes Grounded in Formal Design Principles
24/7
Access to Mac Labs with Adobe Suite
Join us for a virtual discussion that’ll give you a glimpse of the graphic design program at Penn College. Instructor Nick Stephenson and several up-and-coming designers are excited to tell you what makes this standout program so popular.
This engaging video created and edited by Graphic Design alumni Luke Bierly shares his view of the Graphic Design program at Penn College. To him, it’s more than drawing and art. It’s about solving problems and developing thoughtful, real-world solutions.
Graphic Design 2022 is an annual exhibition displaying the best design, illustration, and web design work of graphic design majors in their final semester of study at Penn College. Design faculty select the top works developed by each student within their time at Penn College.
From a cutting-edge commercial photography studio to Mac labs with the latest software, a ceramics studio, 3D studio, and professional print center, we have everything to support your creative journey.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
As a Graphic Design & Art student at Penn College, you may be elgible for 118 scholarships.
Penn College graphic design students collaborate with city
January 20, 2026
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s graphic design program has collaborated with the city on a project that explored ways to encourage more people to visit,…
Visiting artist offers drawing workshops
December 09, 2025
Contemporary artist Adrian Gor recently offered two workshops for students in drawing classes. Gor’s work, “Masses of the Undone,” was on exhibit in The Gallery…
Students create African masks
November 18, 2025
Students in Mark W. Wilson’s Wood Sculpture class recently completed work on African masks that will be on display on the second floor of the Madigan Library…
Two retired Penn College faculty granted emeritus status
October 14, 2025
The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors approved two retired faculty for emeritus status during its Oct. 9 board meeting. Kirk M. Cantor,…
Yoder shares salt print process through exhibits, publications
September 25, 2025
What started with a bit of curiosity now has Joanna Yoder, Pennsylvania College of Technology photography instructor, showing her artwork in exhibits and…
Penn College students fabricate steel globe for Little League
July 29, 2025
Pennsylvania College of Technology welding students are the spark behind an eye-catching addition to the Little League Baseball World Series complex in South…
Graphic design students capture 32 awards
June 06, 2025
Graphic design students from Pennsylvania College of Technology are concluding a highly successful 2024-25 season of national design awards. Capturing 32 awards…
Celebration of design
May 06, 2025
A showcase of student artwork and creative development was celebrated this past Friday with a reception honoring 12 talented graphic design students in their…
Graphic design students’ creative development on display
April 25, 2025
“Graphic Design 2025” runs May 1-9 in The Gallery at Penn College. The exhibition showcases the work of graduating seniors in Pennsylvania College of…
Photography instructor’s work on display in Colorado, Vermont
April 24, 2025
Photographs created by Joanna Knox Yoder, photography instructor at Pennsylvania College of Technology, are included in juried exhibitions in Colorado and…
Alumni
Graphic Design & Art
This graphic designer scored a sweet gig with Mars Wrigley.
Faculty
Graphic Design & Art
The graphic design program at Penn College is challenging. But that's the way Nick likes it.
Alumni
Graphic Design & Art
After learning more about the graphic design program, Ali knew that was where she belonged.
Student
Graphic Design & Art
His dream job is to work as a visual designer for Google.
Internships are key for career preparation. Our students have scored internships at popular companies including: Amtrak, Auntie Anne's, andCulture, Elisco’s Creative Café, Little League International, Mother New York, Mullen Lowe U.S., Playworld Systems Inc., Yuengling, and Woolrich.
The AIGA encourages students to get involved in the local design community, create a community of their own, and build leadership skills that will be valuable as they move into the professional world.
This club encourages members to explore the photographic medium for artistic growth and develop a personal artistic vision. Students also acquire and strengthen the skills used in analogue photographic methods and techniques.
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
All that hard work pays off when student projects take their place in the spotlight. Our graphic designers often receive awards when judged alongside national competition.
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, 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.
Students must acquire their own tools and laptop computer as noted below.
See the Tool List for this major.
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.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Penn College has state-of-the-art facilities with an abundance of current computer technology for training in design and production. Along with computer skills we feel it is important to continue to educate students to use their hands in disciplines such as design, drawing, painting, and photography. This process provides a tactual and perceptive approach to visual problem solving. Using traditional media provides direct and physical engagement; the process requires a necessary interval for the development of concept, image, techniques, and evaluation.
Students become involved in a process that nurtures creativity and stimulates conceptual performance. The freshman, foundation year focuses on developing students’ visual thinking and hand skills. In subsequent years, students concentrate on applied art courses directed toward design and production in many media.
The art faculty encourage students in the objective pursuit of excellence. Individualized critiques provide structure for the creative process and are essential to the ultimate quality of the artwork.
Students are encouraged to attend exhibitions and artists’ talks as part of their education. The Department and College promote exhibitions at the resident gallery.
Advertising Art/Graphic Design Advisory Committee Members
Zachary Bird
Senior Designer
Design B&B
Reed Burgoyne
Manager, Environmental Design & Spatial Experiences
Kenvue
Walter Calahan
Photographer
Mr. Ric Jones
Creative Director
MoJo Active
Roman Ley
Head of Packaging Creative & Product Graphics
Google Devices & Services
Jared Narber
Senior Designer
Sesame Workshop
Ali Petrizzi, Ms.
Senior UX Designer
Microsoft
Kevin Rorick
Global Design Director
Haleon
Mr. Dan Rowland
President/Owner/Director
Rowland Creative
Mr. John Saal
Principal
Untuck Design Studio
Steve Semanchik
Senior Art Director
Mission Agency
Ms. Marjaneh Talebi
Director, Graphic Design Program
Harrisburg Area Community College
Mr. Todd True
Principal / Creative Director
True Geist
Kathryn Anderson
Instructor, Graphic Design, Co-Department Head
Assistant Professor, Graphic Design
Gerald Kaplan
Instructor, Ceramics
Assistant Professor, Graphic Design
Instructor, Graphic Design, Co-Department Head
Mark Wilson
Instructor, Graphic Design
Joanna Yoder
Instructor, Photography
Advertising Art
Associate of Applied Arts (A.A.A.)
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Online
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Brewing & Fermentation Science
Certificate
General Studies
Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Individual Studies
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Chemical Dependency, Online
Competency Credential