Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Graphic Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts

VCU

Community college:
Uniform Certificate of General Studies (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Uniform Certificate of General Studies

Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts (please consult with the VCU Transfer Center for additional course recommendations)

Program description

Graphic design is a creative and analytical process that integrates art and technology to communicate ideas and information. The goal of the Department of Graphic Design at VCU is to educate students to become innovators and leaders in three related areas of professional practice: print design, sequential design and interaction design.

Career opportunities

Graphic Designer, Web Designer/Developer, Art Director, Exhibit Designer, User Interface Designer

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Brand Strategist
  • Communication Strategist
  • Digital Content Creator
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Marketing Communicator
  • Motion Graphics Designer
  • Packaging Design
  • Print Designer
  • User Interface Design
  • Visual Designer
  • Web Designer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Art Director
  • Communications Director
  • Marketing Manager
  • Producer
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
  • No guaranteed admission. 
  • Apply for admission during first year at community college. 
  • Review deadlines and portfolio requirements for transfer applicants here.
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5+ cumulative GPA to declare

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Graphic Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Complete your math and english requirements.
  • Prepare a portfolio as part of your application to VCU.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Register to vote.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Review application deadlines and portfolio requirements for visual arts applicants.
  • Explore the School of the Arts website.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Experience Year 2

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Complete your math and english requirements.
  • Prepare a portfolio as part of your application to VCU.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Register to vote.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Review application deadlines and portfolio requirements for visual arts applicants.
  • Explore the School of the Arts website.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Graphic Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn the Uniform Certificate of General Studies before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning (or any other approved MTH course) MATH 131 3 General education
ART 101 History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) ARTH 103 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 102 History of Art: Renaissance to Modern (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) ARTH 104 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 121 Foundations of Drawing (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 131). ARTS 1XX or ARTF 131 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 131 Two-Dimensional Design (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 132). ARTS 1XX or ARTF 132 3 Major (Art Foundation)
Science Physical or Life Science elective with lab VCU equivalent 4 General education
Social/behavioral Social/Behavioral Science elective VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select any approved HIS course HIST 3 General education
Community college credits transferred to VCU 32
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
Art Foundation Program. Students must complete the Art Foundation program at VCU or equivalent courses at another institution to be eligible for admission to the Graphic Design degree.
ARTF 133 Space Research (ART 132 at community college will fulfill this requirement if admitted to VCU Arts) 3 Major (Ancillary)
ARTF 134 Time Studio (ART 130, ART 203, or ART 208 will fulfill this requirement if you are admitted to VCU Arts) 3 Major (Ancillary)
ARTF 139 or ARTF 138 Project Studio or Project Seminar 2 Major (Ancillary)
Graphic Design major requirements
GDES 220 Design Practices 4 Major
GDES 221 Core Studio I 4 Major
GDES 222 Core Studio II 4 Major
GDES 231 Theory Inquiry 3 Major
GDES 321 Core Studio III 4 Major
GDES 322 Core Studio IV 4 Major
GDES 331 Precedents Inquiry 3 Major
GDES 380 Multi Studio I (taken twice) 8 Major
GDES 398 Dialogues (taken six semesters) 6 Major
GDES 431 Critical Inquiry 4 Major
GDES 440 Synthesis 6 Major
GDES 480 Multi Studio II 2 Major
GDES electives (300 to 500 level) 8 Major (Ancillary)
Open electives 22 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 90
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 122