These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic and Interactive Design may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Graphic and Interactive Design majors must complete the BFA curriculum and General Education requirements.

  • Minimum grades of C- or better in DES 2001, DES 2002 , and DES 2003 along with an approved portfolio review are required to enter the Graphic and Interactive Design major. The purpose of the mandatory feedback session is to assist students in their planning and set them up for success in selecting and completing their chosen discipline.
  • The required Graphic and Interactive Design courses must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements. 

Major Requirements for BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design

Sophomore Requirements

DES 2001Introduction to Design and Illustration3
DES 2002Introduction to Digital Tools3
DES 2003Introduction to Typography3
Total Credit Hours9

Note:

Graphic and Interactive Design majors who plan to study abroad should do so in the second semester of their sophomore year if they plan to graduate in four years. These students should see the Area Head for advising prior to leaving.

Protocol for Portfolio Reviews

There will be two portfolio feedback cycles in the Design and Illustration (DES) department each academic year: the end of the Fall semester (December) and the end of the Spring semester (May). The portfolio reviews will take place in the week after final studio course reviews. Specific dates for the reviews will be announced at the beginning of each semester in the DES 2001 classes. They will also be posted on the Design and Illustration Canvas group. All full-time DES faculty will serve on the Portfolio Feedback Committee.

Applicants must have completed all Tyler Foundations courses (or had approved transfer courses as noted by the Tyler Admissions Office) and the three (3) prerequisites for the major: DES 2001, DES 2002, and in DES 2003 with a C-minus or better

Application and Feedback

Application forms for students who wish to major in Graphic and Interactive Design will be available for eligible students in the department's Design and Illustration Canvas group.

Students who have completed or who are currently enrolled in the three prerequisites for the Graphic and Interactive Design major (DES 2001, DES 2002, and DES 2003) and intend to submit an application for the mandatory portfolio feedback session will be able to obtain an application form, template, and detailed application instructions on Canvas by mid-semester.

Incomplete or late portfolio feedback applications will not be reviewed, but students may re-apply for the next review cycle.

Following the Portfolio Feedback session, students will receive their feedback and acceptance to their chosen major. All students must confirm their intent to major by the deadline or they will forfeit their admission and will need to re-apply in the next portfolio feedback cycle.

Junior Requirements

DES 3001Design and Illustration3
DES 3002Digital Tools3
DES 3101Typography 13
DES 3102Typography 23
Select one DES Studio Elective from the list below3
One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below3
Design or Illustration History Requirement
Select one of the following:4
ARTH 2601
History of Modern Graphic Design
ARTH 2676
History of Illustration
ARTH 2696
Graphic Design Theory
DES 3401
History of Modern Graphic Design
DES 3403
History of Illustration
DES 3497
Graphic Design Theory
Total Credit Hours22

Note:

In the junior year, Typography 1 and 2 must be taken in sequence (DES 3101 in Fall / DES 3102 in Spring).

Senior Requirements

DES 3103Typography 33
Select two DES Studio Electives from the list below6
One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below3
Capstone Requirements
DES 4096Capstone: Thesis3
DES 4101Capstone: GAID Portfolio3
Total Credit Hours18

Note:

  • Additional 3000-level DES courses may be taken as studio electives.
  • The Capstone: Thesis (DES 4096) and Capstone: GAID Portfolio (DES 4101) are offered in spring semesters only. These two courses must be taken in addition to the required DES courses listed above.
  • DES 4096 is one of the two required writing intensive courses. The other writing intensive course must be DES 3596 or an Art History course.

DES Studio Electives

DES 3531Brand Identity for Hospitality3
DES 3532Brand Identity for Sports3
DES 3533Brand Identity for Museums3
DES 3541Form Making3
DES 3542Design for Digital Marketing3
DES 3543Design for Advertising3
DES 3544Design Activism3
DES 3545Typeface Design3
DES 3546Packaging Design3
DES 3547Wayfinding3
DES 3548Design Sprints3
DES 3549Editorial Design3
DES 3551Lettering Design3
DES 3552Illustrated Book Design3
DES 3553Poster Design3
DES 3554Illustration for Design3
DES 3555Murals3
DES 3556Illustrated Journalism3
DES 3557Stylized Figure for Illustration3
DES 3558Illustrated Scenes and Settings3
DES 3559Icons and Illustration Systems3
DES 3561Motion Design3
DES 3562Creative Coding3
DES 3563Advanced Digital Tools3
DES 3564Accessible Design3
DES 3565Design Systems3
DES 3566Service Design3
DES 36673
DES 3568Design Research Methods3
DES 35693D Product Design and Animation3
or ART 3041 3D Product Design and Animation
DES 3571Event Design3
DES 3572Entrepreneurial Design3
DES 3573Design Studio3
DES 3585Internship3
DES 3596Studio Management3
DES 36513
DES 3841Design and Illustration Workshop in Japan 16
DES 3842Design and Illustration Workshop in Rome3
DES 3201User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design 13
DES 3202User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design 23
DES 3301Illustration 13
DES 3302Illustration 23
1

DES 3841 is a six-credit course; it may fulfill the six-credit elective requirement.

Additional Recommended Studio Electives

ART 1702Artist Books, Zines and Independent Publishing3
ART 2205Book Structures3
ART 3511Digital Drawing3
ART 2011Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities3
ART 2601Digital Photography I3
ART 2602Digital Imaging3
ART 2061Moving Image and Sound3
ART 3614The Photo Book: Making and Understanding3