| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University | Clemson |
| 2 | University of South Carolina | Columbia |
Our 2020 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in South Carolina. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
Founded in 1889, Clemson University serves nearly 26,000 students enrolled in more than 280 undergraduate majors, minors, and graduate programs in seven colleges. The College of Business, Department of Graphic Communications offers a BS in Graphic Communications that the school says is “dedicated to hands-on learning experiences.” Students in the program are “placed in positions in a variety of printing, packaging, publishing, imaging and related industries in management, marketing, sales, customer service, creative, technical and scientific positions.” The school says that placement rates are “consistently high” with “competitive salaries.”
In addition to engaging in hands-on learning experiences, Graphic Communications students will take courses such as Digital Imaging and eMedia, Packaging Science, Ink and Substrates, Package and Specialty Printing, Commercial Printing, Technical Writing, Current Developments and Trends in Graphic Communications, and Marketing. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter the schools MS in Graphic Communications or seek positions in printing management, production planning and supervision, commercial and technical sales, and many others.
The MS in Graphic Communications includes 33 credit hours of graduate courses for the non-thesis option or 30 hours with a thesis. Within the total requirements, at least 17 hours will be in GC technical/managerial courses; seven will be research related; six credits will be from outside the Graphic Communications Department; and at least one-half will be at or above the 8000 level.
Graduates of the program are placed in positions in a variety of printing, packaging, publishing, imaging and related industries in management, marketing, sales, customer service, creative, technical, scientific, and academic positions.
Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, the University of South Carolina (UofSC) Columbia campus is one of eight college campuses in the University of South Carolina system. The school serves 34,795 students enrolled in hundreds of areas of study through 16 colleges and schools. The College of Arts and Sciences houses the School of Visual Art and Design, a comprehensive school for the study of the studio arts, including graphic design and media arts (film, video, animation, game design, and new media). Here, students can earn a BA or BFA in Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design. MA and MFA degrees in Studio Art are also available, as is an MA in Media Arts.
Studio Arts at UofSC is housed in the largest school of art in the state. Per the school, the BA is a “well-rounded liberal arts major that offers a solid foundation in multiple types of art and is ideal for students interested in double majoring.” BA students will graduate from the program with a professional portfolio. The BFA is a “pre-professional degree that allows students to focus” in one of seven concentrations. In addition to Graphic Design, students may concentrate in areas such as Drawing, Printmaking, and Photography. BFA students will “have a solo exhibition of their creative research to be examined by the student’s major faculty.”
All students (BA, BFA, MA and MFA) will have access to 4,000 square feet of studio and shop space, internship opportunities, and study abroad experiences.
