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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 2001 | Introduction to Design and Illustration | 3 |
| DES 2002 | Introduction to Digital Tools | 3 |
| DES 2003 | Introduction to Typography | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3001 | Design and Illustration | 3 |
| DES 3002 | Digital Tools | 3 |
| DES 3101 | Typography 1 | 3 |
| DES 3102 | Typography 2 | 3 |
| Select one DES Studio Elective from the list below | 3 | |
| One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below | 3 | |
| 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 Hours | 22 | |
Note:
In the junior year, Typography 1 and 2 must be taken in sequence (DES 3101 in Fall / DES 3102 in Spring).
Senior Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3103 | Typography 3 | 3 |
| Select two DES Studio Electives from the list below | 6 | |
| One additional Studio Elective is required and is strongly recommended to be taken from the DES or additional Studio Electives listed below | 3 | |
| Capstone Requirements | ||
| DES 4096 | Capstone: Thesis | 3 |
| DES 4101 | Capstone: GAID Portfolio | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DES 3531 | Brand Identity for Hospitality | 3 |
| DES 3532 | Brand Identity for Sports | 3 |
| DES 3533 | Brand Identity for Museums | 3 |
| DES 3541 | Form Making | 3 |
| DES 3542 | Design for Digital Marketing | 3 |
| DES 3543 | Design for Advertising | 3 |
| DES 3544 | Design Activism | 3 |
| DES 3545 | Typeface Design | 3 |
| DES 3546 | Packaging Design | 3 |
| DES 3547 | Wayfinding | 3 |
| DES 3548 | Design Sprints | 3 |
| DES 3549 | Editorial Design | 3 |
| DES 3551 | Lettering Design | 3 |
| DES 3552 | Illustrated Book Design | 3 |
| DES 3553 | Poster Design | 3 |
| DES 3554 | Illustration for Design | 3 |
| DES 3555 | Murals | 3 |
| DES 3556 | Illustrated Journalism | 3 |
| DES 3557 | Stylized Figure for Illustration | 3 |
| DES 3558 | Illustrated Scenes and Settings | 3 |
| DES 3559 | Icons and Illustration Systems | 3 |
| DES 3561 | Motion Design | 3 |
| DES 3562 | Creative Coding | 3 |
| DES 3563 | Advanced Digital Tools | 3 |
| DES 3564 | Accessible Design | 3 |
| DES 3565 | Design Systems | 3 |
| DES 3566 | Service Design | 3 |
| DES 3667 | 3 | |
| DES 3568 | Design Research Methods | 3 |
| DES 3569 | 3D Product Design and Animation | 3 |
| or ART 3041 | 3D Product Design and Animation | |
| DES 3571 | Event Design | 3 |
| DES 3572 | Entrepreneurial Design | 3 |
| DES 3573 | Design Studio | 3 |
| DES 3585 | Internship | 3 |
| DES 3596 | Studio Management | 3 |
| DES 3651 | 3 | |
| DES 3841 | Design and Illustration Workshop in Japan 1 | 6 |
| DES 3842 | Design and Illustration Workshop in Rome | 3 |
| DES 3201 | User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design 1 | 3 |
| DES 3202 | User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design 2 | 3 |
| DES 3301 | Illustration 1 | 3 |
| DES 3302 | Illustration 2 | 3 |
- 1
DES 3841 is a six-credit course; it may fulfill the six-credit elective requirement.
Additional Recommended Studio Electives
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 1702 | Artist Books, Zines and Independent Publishing | 3 |
| ART 2205 | Book Structures | 3 |
| ART 3511 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| ART 2601 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| ART 2602 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| ART 2061 | Moving Image and Sound | 3 |
| ART 3614 | The Photo Book: Making and Understanding | 3 |