University of Arizona (U of A or Arizona) is home to the College of Fine Arts, which houses the School of Art. Within the school are several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Design Arts and Practices (DAP) BA program, and the Studio Art program with BFA and MFA options.
The DAP BA program has four emphasis areas including Print Design; Spatial Design; Object Design; and Screen Design. Across areas, DAP students will develop skills in visual communication, design thinking, data analysis, project management, computational thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. DAP course examples include Information Graphics; Typography; Design Thinking; Gaze Digital Photography; Design for Web and Devices; Amalgam Mixed-Media; Design Studio; Experience, Sound, Video, and Performance; Dealing with Data; and Propaganda Design.
All DAP students have access to DAP labs and studios such as the Book Art and Letterpress Lab; the Digital Print Studio; 2D and 3D and extended media labs; design and illustration classrooms, the Animation Lab; digital print studios; darkrooms; lighting studios; video/imaging editing suites; and the Digital Negative and Digital Print Instruction Space.
DAP students also benefit from participation in the Visiting Artists and Scholars Endowment (VASE) series, which features lectures, workshops, exhibitions, seminars, and individual studio critiques led by national and international artists. All students will have opportunities to study abroad and/or complete an internship at places such as the Sonoran Institute, Tucson Museum of Art, and the Center for Creative Photography. Study abroad locations include London, Tokyo, France, Athens, Madrid, Bangkok, Rome, Barcelona, Seoul, Costa Rica, Florence, Jakarta, and Sydney.
The DAP BA program at University of Arizona culminates with a capstone project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles in fields graphic design, art/illustration, user interface/user experience (UI/UX), product design, exhibit design, multimedia design and animation, environmental design, art direction, and web design.
Program alumni are Graphic Designers, Creative Directors, Visual Designers, Illustrators, UI/UX Designers, Brand Managers, Packaging Designers, Advertising Artists, Motion Designers, Exhibit Designers, and Multimedia Designers. Some program alumni go on to pursue graduate studies, while others have launcher their own design studios and freelance businesses.
The Studio Art program at University of Arizona has fiver emphasis areas: 2D Studies; 3D and Extended Media; Illustration, Design and Animation; Photography, Design and Animation; and Interdisciplinary Practice (MFA only). Studio Art students have opportunities to specialize further in areas such as printmaking, drawing, or interactive technologies.
All studio art majors will begin their studies with the First Year Experience, which focuses workshop-structured courses that introduce students to artist practice, the studio work environment, and creative methodology. All students will also have opportunities to engage in team projects with local clients; take field trips to design studios; participate in the Annual Spring Portfolio Review; complete an internship; and study abroad.
The U of A Studio Art BFA requires 125 units, including 42 in upper division coursework, and 24 in the emphasis area. Course examples for the program include 2D Studio Art; Survey of Printmaking Techniques; Illustration and Design; Typography; Design Studio; Contemporary Art; Mapping; Process and Play; Contemporary Art and History; Animation; and Photography.
The Studio Art BFA at University of Arizona culminates with the Senior Capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across fields such as advertising, publishing, exhibit design, web design, animation and film, marketing, social media, public relations, packaging, and brand design.
The Arizona Studio Art MFA consists of 60 units, with 30 units in studio art courses. Course examples for the program include Mixed Media Book; Letterpress and the Multiple; Graduate Relief Printmaking; Comics and Sequential Art; Topics in Illustration; Libretto Concetti: Visual Narratives; Clients and the Community Design; Picture Book Art and Design; Combining Media; Foundation Digital 3D Modeling, Rendering and Rapid Prototyping; Advanced Imaging; Digital Fabrication; and Topics in Studio Art.
In addition, the Graduate Thesis Studio course for the Studio Art MFA culminates with a Thesis Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across the art, design, publishing, and entertainment industries; in corporate branding and package design; and in consulting, research, and education.
Established in 1885, University of Arizona opened in 1891 with 32 students and six faculty members. Today, UA serves approximately 51,135 students, making it one of top five largest post-secondary institutions in Arizona. Students at UA have access to more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in more than 150 areas of study. Programs are offered across 20 colleges and nearly two dozen specialized schools. University of Arizona is accredited by the by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).