Office of the Registrar

Art: Graphic Design - Bachelor of Fine Arts 2023-24 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps show one way how you can earn a degree in four years. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. If you transfer credit to PSU, the number of credits you need per year will vary accordingly. 

Talk with Advisor about this content

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2023-24 catalog. Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5
DES 1251DES 1114Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
DES 1204DES 1404DES 1214
General Elective4General Elective2General Elective2
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits14-15

First Year Milestone: Completion of DES 120 & 121 (by end of Spring term).

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
DES 2104DES 2244DES 2254
DES 2004DES 2544DES 2904
ARH 2XX4General Elective2General Elective2
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits13-14

Second Year Milestone: Pass Sophomore Portfolio in order to continue in 300 level classes (by end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditWinter CoursesWinter CreditSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
DES 3204DES 3216Graphic Design UD Elective4
DES 3544DES 3404Graphic Design UD Elective4
Graphic Design UD Elective4  General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
DES 4704Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6DES 4726
Graphic Design UD Elective4DES 4714Graphic Design UD Elective4
Graphic Design UD Elective4DES 4082Graphic Design UD Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BSt), Chicano/Latino Studies (ChLa), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • ARH 2XX: Can take any 200-level Art History course.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • Graphic Design UD Elective: Choose seven 4-credit upper division(UD) elective courses in consultation with Graphic Design faculty advisor. See department Graduation Planner document for a list of options.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Art: Graphic Design

Talk to Advisor
Visit Department
Apply to Program