Bachelor of Arts Degree
You’ll learn to do more than create images in our graphic design program. You’ll also acquire the visual language to inspire and motivate audiences. Our graphic design degree unites classical art training with professional know-how, equipping you with highly marketable graphic design skills. With small classes and attentive faculty, Oakland University’s graphic design program has a supportive culture that encourages creativity. We constantly update our graphic design courses to reflect current industry trends, so you’ll learn graphic design techniques that transfer directly to the workplace. And our graphic design program provides ongoing opportunities to exhibit your work, collaborate with peers, and complete graphic design internships that can jump-start your career as a graphic designer.
You’ll learn to do more than create images in our graphic design program. You’ll also acquire the visual language to inspire and motivate audiences. Our graphic design degree unites classical art training with professional know-how, equipping you with highly marketable graphic design skills. With small classes and attentive faculty, Oakland University’s graphic design program has a supportive culture that encourages creativity. We constantly update our graphic design courses to reflect current industry trends, so you’ll learn graphic design techniques that transfer directly to the workplace. And our graphic design program provides ongoing opportunities to exhibit your work, collaborate with peers, and complete graphic design internships that can jump-start your career as a graphic designer.
Graphic design sits at the intersection of art and commerce, which makes Southeast Michigan an ideal setting for graphic design majors. The region’s dynamic economy generates enormous demand for graphic designers, and Oakland University’s graphic design program is recognized as a prime source of talent. With potential employers and professional mentors surrounding our campus, our graphic design degree offers unique academic and career opportunities.
The rise of digital media has created many new graphic design career pathways. Many graphic designers work as independent contractors and play shifting roles, depending on the project and the client. You can still find plenty of traditional, full-time graphic design jobs with consulting firms, design studios, advertising/PR agencies, and in-house departments at corporations, government agencies, and other large organizations.
Our graphic design degree equips you to work in an extraordinarily diverse range of industries. Examples include:
The graphic design program includes required course sequences in art foundations and art history. The core major consists of nine graphic design courses (including two electives), capped off by a senior thesis and accompanying exhibition. You can choose a graphic design internship as one of your two electives. Core graphic design courses address specialized subject matter such as: