Graphic designers create the visual world around us, designing everything from the logos of global corporations, posters for the hottest films, high-end fashion magazines, and captivating interactions on the websites and apps we use every day.
The St. John’s University Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Graphic Design is a 132-credit program that provides aspiring graphic designers like you with the techniques, tools, and intellectual skills you need to develop your talents. You gain a full understanding of the theory and applications of graphic design principles, along with how to use color, photography, text, and composition to communicate powerfully and effectively in print and electronic media. You also develop your understanding of layout, design, and production principles.
Our program connects you to high-profile internships at organizations ranging from advertising agencies and design firms to non-profits. You also have the advantage of study abroad opportunities in cities rich with artistic tradition and vibrant contemporary design. Many of our graduates stay in New York City, where there is an extensive alumni network at companies such as NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, the NBA and WNBA, Fox News, Pentagram, BBDO Advertising, Grey Advertising, Nike, and Google.
To learn more about the Graphic Design program, visit the Department of Art and Design website.
The Department of Art and Design has attained the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, held by selective art schools nationwide.
- Degree Type
- BFA
- Area of Interest
- The Arts
- Associated Colleges or Schools
- Program Location
- Queens Campus
- Required Credit Hours
- 132
Program Mission Statement
The Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Graphic Design prepares students for a career in the fields of creative media by:
- Teaching the core competencies of research, writing, critical and thinking through the continual observation and analysis of the visual and social world.
- Instructing students in the tools, techniques, vocabulary, traditions and history of their chosen profession so as to make informed career decisions.
- Providing the technical and intellectual preparation students need to develop their creative work, while they learn the problem-solving processes that are standard in their industry.
Admission
You can apply directly to the B.F.A. in Graphic Design by completing the St. John's Undergraduate Application.
Please contact the Department Chair directly at [email protected] with any questions regarding this process.
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John's University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
Scholarships
The Department of Art and Design awards two full-time, four-year scholarships to first-year students who demonstrate extraordinary proficiency and creative potential in their portfolio submission and have met the academic requirements of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Three additional first-year students who demonstrate excellence in the visual arts are offered a $1,000 incentive scholarship. Students are selected through the portfolio review process and must submit their portfolio in our SlideRoom portal by March 1, 2025 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or [email protected].
Courses
To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, you will complete 132 credits in core courses, major requirements, and elective courses as outlined below. For more information about courses, please see the St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of our Undergraduate Bulletin.
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| FYS | 1000 | First Year Seminar |
| FYW | 1000 | First Year Writing |
| ENG | 1100 | Literature in Global Context |
| HIS | 1000 | The Emergence of a Global Society |
| PHI | 1000 | Philosophy of Human Person |
| PHI | 3000 | Metaphysics |
| SPE | 1000 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking |
| THE | 1000 | Perspectives on Christianity |
Also the following courses:
- Ethics (Philosophy or Theology)
- Foreign Language (6 credits)
- Mathematics and/or Logical, Quantitive, and Computational Reasoning
- Science and/or Data Analysis
- Social Justice (select from approved list of courses)
- Social Science Elective
- THE – Sacred Texts and Traditions (select from approved list of courses)
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1110 | Foundation Design |
| ART | 1130 | Foundation Design II |
| ART | 3350 | Mixed Media Concerns |
| ART | 1105 | Introduction to Graphic Design |
| ART | 1115 | Graphic Design II |
| ART | 2115 | Graphic Production |
| ART | 2125 | Typography |
| ART | 2130 | Motion Graphics |
| ART | 3110 | Professional Portfolio |
| ART | 3125 | Advanced Typography |
| ART | 3120 | Interaction I |
| ART | 3130 | Interaction II |
| ART | 3135 | Junior Design |
| ART | 4120 | Senior Design |
Choose one of the following courses:
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART | 4125 | Creative Thesis | 9 |
| ART | 4909 | Internship | 9 |
Choose three from among the following courses:
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1120 | Social Media for Artists and Designers |
| ART | 1200 | Drawing I |
| ART | 1280 | Digital Illustration |
| ART | 1510 | Printmaking I: Relief & Intaglio |
| ART | 1630 | Digital Photography |
| ART | 1640 | Intro to Video Art |
| ART | 2120 | Three-Dimensional Design |
| ART | 3015 | Special Topics in Design |
| ART | 3115 | Book Arts |
*Please note that studio art courses meet for six hours per week.
| Course | Course # | TItle |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1710 | History of Art I |
| ART | 1720 | History of Art II |
| ART | 2750 | Historical Modernism 1848-1945 |
| ART | 2145 | History of Visual Communications |
In addition, you must select four art electives (12 credits total).
- FYS 1000
- FYW 1000
- ENG 1100
- HIS 1000
- Foreign Language Electives (2)
- One Mathematics and/or Logical, Quantitative, and Computational Reasoning class from approved list of courses
- PHI 1000
- PHI 3000
- SCI 1000
- One Social Justice elective from approved list of courses
- One Social Science elective
- SPE 1000
- THE 1000
- THE - Sacred Texts or Traditions
- Ethics - Select from Philosophy or Theology
Career Outcomes
Design studios, advertising agencies, multimedia communications firms, and other businesses rely on designers’ creative problem-solving and technical skills to reach target audiences. Our program prepares you for the vast array of careers emerging in this growing industry. As part of the B.F.A. program in Graphic Design, you either enroll in a semester-long internship or spend a semester producing a creative thesis for exhibition at Dorksy Gallery Curatorial Programs in Long Island City, New York.
Our program will help you gain crucial real-world experience through an internship at organizations ranging from advertising agencies and design firms to non-profits. Many of our graduates stay in New York City, where there is an extensive alumni network at companies such as NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, the NBA and WNBA, Pentagram, BBDO Advertising, Grey Advertising, Nike, and Google.
As a program alumnus, we invite you to participate in our networking events to build your own contacts throughout New York City’s vibrant design scene.
Student Stories
Internship Allows Student to Pursue Passions for Art and Social Justice
Winnie Lam St. John's College of Liberal Arts and SciencesHighlight
Graphic Design student Winnie Lam was recently able to blend her strong interest in art and social justice through her participation in the Start Small Think Big (SSTB) Internship Program.
