What job opportunities are available in Graphic Design?
We recommend the following book to give you an overview of career possibilities in graphic design: Becoming a Graphic Designer by Steven Heller and Teresa Fernandes, published by John Wiley & Sons, ISBN #0-471-17677-X.
What kinds of classes are offered at SDSU?
To see a list of courses offered in specific programs, please refer to the individual 'Areas of Study' in this Web site.
Is the program accredited?
Yes, all programs in the School of Art, Design and Art History, including the Graphic Design program, are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
What degree will I receive?
Currently, the School of Art, Design and Art History offers a Bachelor of Art (BA) degree in Art with Emphasis in Graphic Design. This is a liberal arts degree. A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Graphic Design is in the proposal stage. The BFA is a professional-oriented degree.
How does this compare to other degrees?
Other undergraduate degrees in graphic design that you might find offered at other universities or art and design schools include the BA in Graphic Design, the BFA in Graphic Design, and the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Graphic Design. These degrees require more concentration in graphic design. The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), a national professional association, provides additional information on degrees in graphic design at their Web site.
Do I need a computer?
Yes; however, not right away. In the foundation courses, students work with traditional tools and materials. If you need access to a computer, there is a computer lab in the School. Students who are enrolled in the School may use this facility during open lab times. There are also computer labs in the library for student use.
What kind of computer should I purchase?
We recommend an Apple Macintosh. Most professional graphic design firms use Macintosh computers. Computer instruction in graphic design courses is on the Macintosh and the computers in the School’s lab are mostly Macintosh computers. The lab also maintains some PCs, which are used primarily by Interior Design students working with CAD-CAM.
What Macintosh should I choose?
Computer hardware and software are updated regularly so it is difficult to offer advice on a particular model. Choose the model that will provide you adequate memory and hard drive capacity to run graphics software. If you decide on a Macintosh Powerbook laptop, you may be able to bring your computer to class provided the individual instructor agrees.
What software will I be using?
The three main software programs that you will need are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and QuarkXPress. In addition, the multimedia/Web software that you will need are Macromedia Director, Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks. You will also need typefaces. (www.adobe.com, www.quark.com, www.macromedia.com)
Where can I get more advising information?
This page was last modified on Thursday, 30 August, 2007 [09:47:04 pm]