Graphic Design Degree Requirements
Carthage offers a major and minor in graphic design. To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Carthage, students must complete the Carthage Core, Distribution Requirements, and the graphic design major requirements listed below.
Fundamentals (12 credits)
- CDM 1150 Human Communication (4 credits)
- CDM 1200 Public Speaking (4 credits)
- CDM 1300 Visual Communication (4 credits)
Core Courses (32 credits)
- ART 1070 FOUNDATIONS, SURFACE: Images + Design (4 credits)
- CDM 2000 Graphic Design I (4 credits)
- CDM 2850 Typography (4 credits)
- CDM 3150 History of Graphic Design (4 credits)
- CDM 3250 Graphic Design Practicum (4 credits)
- CDM 3530 Web Design I (4 credits)
- CDM 3555 Graphic Design Skills Assessment (0 credits)*
- CDM 3750 Graphic Design II (4 credits)
- CDM 4020 Graphic Design Senior Seminar (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
- CDM 1925 Basic Adobe Creative Cloud (4 credits)
- CDM 1950 Advanced Adobe Creative Cloud (4 credits)
- CDM 2500 Basic Digital Photography (4 credits)
- CDM 2600 New Media Theory and Aesthetics (4 credits)
- CDM 2650 Photographing Nature (4 credits)
- ART 3010 Illustration (4 credits)
- CDM 3200 Words and Images in Motion (4 credits)
- CDM 3400 Social Media (4 credits)
- CDM 3540 Web Design II (4 credits)
- CDM 3560 Graphic Design Internship (4-8 credits)
- CDM 200T/400T Topics in Communication —relevant topic (4 credits)
* The assessment specific to your major will be pass/fail, and the student will have to repeat the assessment with a pass to be cleared to register for an internship and/or senior seminar. If you are double-majoring, you must pass both major assessments.
Required Courses (24 credits)
- ART 1070 FOUNDATIONS, SURFACE: Images + Design (4 credits)
- CDM 1300 Visual Communication (4 credits)
- CDM 2000 Graphic Design I (4 credits)
- CDM 2850 Typography (4 credits)
- CDM 3530 Web Design I (4 credits)
- CDM 3750 Graphic Design II (4 credits)
In order to double major in the Communication and Digital Media Department, you must satisfy the following requirements:
- Both Senior Seminar courses must be fulfilled; similar thesis topics may be used.
- Department fundamentals cannot count in both majors, only one. Twelve additional credits from the major must be taken to fulfill credit number requirements for the second CDM major, chosen in consultation with CDM Department advisor.
- Overlap of courses between double majors in CDM must be at or below 50 percent.
In order to major and minor in the Communication and Digital Media Department (communication, graphic design, and public relations), an overlap course between any major and minor in CDM must be at or below 50 percent.
Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the Communication and Digital Media Department chair to ensure all requirements are met.