Program Description
Graphic Design is a creative and analytical process that integrates Design and technology to communicate ideas and information from a client to an audience. The primary goal of the Graphic Design curriculum is to educate students to become innovators and leaders in print and screen related areas of professional practice.
Furthermore, the Graphic Design program encourages exploration through problem solving methodologies, innovative investigations, and creative research in all forms of communication. The program is dedicated to excellence in teaching, academic and creative research and professional practice.
The BA program aims to educate graphic designers through focusing on creative and intellectual thinking, awareness of individual, social and cultural issues in a global context, the integration of new technology and the concern for ethical implications and the natural environment.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design is a 3 year full-time program of 102 credits. The students will choose from three concentration areas: Typographic Design, Multimedia Design, or Information Design.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University admission requirements, prospective candidates must complete any remedial English course(s) the first year of enrollement. Students who fail to meet the above requirements will not be allowed to proceed to the degree courses in Graphic Design and other majors in the Design Department of the Faculty of Architecture, Art & Design.
Graduation Requirements
To receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, a student must complete a total of 102 credits with an overall grade-point average of at least 2.0/4.0 and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3/4.0 in all Major Courses. All major courses with a grade of less than C- must be repeated. The 102 credits necessary for graduation are divided as follows:
General Education Requirements (30 cr.).
The GER are distributed as follows:
Communication Skills in English: ENL 213 & ENL 223 or ENL 230 (6 cr.)
Communication Skills in Arabic, One course from: ARB 211, ARB 212, ARB 224, ARB 231, ARB 317 (3 cr.)
Religion, One course from: REG 212, REG 213, REG 313, REG 314 (3 cr.)
Philosophy, One course from: ENS 205, PHL 211, PHL 311, POS 345 (3 cr.)
Cultural Studies, Two courses from: ARP 215, BAD 201, COA 315, COA 359, ECN 200, ECN 211, ECN 212, FAP 215, HUT 305, HUT 306, MUS 210, PSL 201, SOL 201, SOL 301, NTR 215 (6 cr.)
Citizenship, one course from: HIT 211, IAF 301, POS 201, POS 210, POS 240, POS 319, POS 337 (3 cr.)
Science and Technology, two courses from: AST 201, BIO 202, BIO 203, CHM 211, CSC 201, ENS 201, ENS 202, ENS 206, HEA 201, MAT 201, MAT 202, MAT 204, MAT 211, NTR 201, PHS 211, STA 202, STA 210, PHS 207 (6 cr.)
Core Requirements (9 cr.)
FAP
211, FAP 221, GDP 212.
Major Requirements (57 cr.)
Common Courses (42 cr.):GDP 217, GDP 222, GDP 223, GDP 227, GDP 315, GDP 321, GDP 322, GDP 323, GDP 317, GDP 324, GDP 412, GDP 413, GDP 415, GDP 423.
Concentration Area Courses (15 cr.):
In addition the student will select one of the following concentration areas:
Typographic Design - GDP 371, GDP 372, GDP 473, GDP 474, and GDP 476.
Multimedia Design - GDP 381, GDP 382, GDP 483, GDP 484, and GDP 486.
Information Design - GDP 391, GDP 392, GDP 493, GDP 494, and GDP 496.
Free Electives (6 cr.)
In principle, the students will fulfill their concentration requirements during the last three semesters.
- In the course GDP 474 (or GDP 484 or GDP 494), the students will research and submit in writing their Senior Project Proposals which will be assessed by selected faculty members.
- In the final course GDP 476 (or GDP 486 or GDP 496), the students will develop and accomplish their Senior Projects and prepare a presentation in front of a jury composed of faculty members and invited professionals.
Typographic Design Concentration
Typographic Design is one of the major areas of the interdisciplinary profession of visual communication. Students will develop a critical eye and ability to distinguish different type forms and styles. They will demonstrate proficiency in applying type to express clear and legible communication for different media. They can also respond to the need of creating identities based on type solutions. Students will be qualified to manage a complex design project, and prepare and supervise a final production..
Career Opportunities
A graduate can work in the field of Graphic Design in advertising agencies, design studios, and production houses as: creative director, typographer, type designer, design publisher, and environmental visual communicator.
Suggested Program
| Year I |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
211 |
Drawing I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
212 |
Design Principles I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
217 |
Conceptual Communication in Digital Media |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
221 |
Drawing II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
222 |
Design Principles II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
223 |
Fundamentals of Typogrpahy |
3 cr. |
GDP |
227 |
Digital Media I |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
|
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year II |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
315 |
Color & Illustration for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
GDP |
317 |
Digital Media II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
322 |
Applied Typographic Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
324 |
Photography for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
321 |
Visual Communication I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
323 |
History of Graphic Design & Cont. Issues |
3 cr. |
GDP |
371 |
Type Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
372 |
Experimental Typography |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year III |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
412 |
Packaging |
3 cr. |
GDP |
413 |
Print Management & Production |
3 cr. |
GDP |
415 |
Branding for Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
473 |
Arabic Type Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
474 |
Mapping Information |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
423 |
Professional Practice & Portfolio Preparation |
3 cr. |
GDP |
476 |
Senior Studio in Typographic Deisgn |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
Multimedia Design Concentration
Within the diverse disciplines in Graphic Design, Multimedia Design turns out to be nowadays highly dynamic due to the rapid growth of digitisation in communication. It is paving the way for enormous opportunities for graduate multimedia designers.
Students who choose this concentration will acquire solid analytical, intellectual and technical skills necessary to the development of multimedia design solutions.
This concentration is planned for students who like to research, create and deliver effective communication to a specific audience for TV, movies and Internet, designing websites, interactive communication and motion graphics using type, image, animation, and sound.
Career Opportunities
A Graphic Design student graduating with multimedia concentration has the opportunity to work as creative director, 2-D animator, 3-D animator, storyboard and concept designer, multimedia and web designer for television, production houses, companies for web interfaces and animations, advertising agencies and design studios.
Suggested Program
| Year I |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
211 |
Drawing I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
212 |
Design Principles I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
217 |
Conceptual Communication in Digital Media |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
221 |
Drawing II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
222 |
Design Principles II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
223 |
Fundamentals of Typography |
3 cr. |
GDP |
227 |
Digital Media I |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
|
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year II |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
315 |
Color & Illustration for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
GDP |
317 |
Digital Media II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
322 |
Applied Typogrpahic Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
324 |
Photography for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
321 |
Visual Communication I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
323 |
History of Graphic Design & Cont. Issues |
3 cr. |
GDP |
381 |
Interactive Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
382 |
Motion Graphics |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year III |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
412 |
Packaging |
3 cr. |
GDP |
415 |
Branding for Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
413 |
Print Management and Production |
3 cr. |
GDP |
483 |
Type in Motion |
3 cr. |
GER |
484 |
3D in Motion |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
423 |
Professional Practice & Portfolio Preparation |
3 cr. |
GDP |
486 |
Senior Studio in Multimedia Design |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
Information Concentration
“Excellence consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and efficiency and that is just as true of the new media as the old” (Edward R. Tufte) information design is an interdisciplinary field that focuses mainly on efficient and objective visual communication. It teaches students to transform data from any source (raw, action or process) into a visual model and present them to the audience in a practical, clear and simplified model.
This concentration area is intended for students who like to process, design, present, and implement message-making through words, text, maps, charts, symbols, pages, signs and screen interface.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating with information design concentration will work as information consultants in various structures and domains such as: Editorial design, screen and web presentation, way finding/travel and transportation (airport, road sign systems). Also students can work closely with industrial designers and companies that require filtering of information to be presented to the public: medical fields, electronic suppliers, big corporations, etc.
Suggested Program
| Year I |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
211 |
Drawing I |
3cr. |
GDP |
212 |
Design Principles I |
3cr. |
GDP |
217 |
Conceptual Communication in Digital Media |
3cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
FAP |
221 |
Drawing II |
3cr. |
GDP |
222 |
Design Principles II |
3cr. |
GDP |
223 |
Fundamentlas of Typography |
3cr. |
GDP |
227 |
Digital Media I |
3cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
|
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year II |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
315 |
Color & Illustration for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
GDP |
317 |
Digital Media II |
3 cr. |
GDP |
322 |
Applied Typograhic Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
324 |
Photography for Graphic Designers |
3 cr. |
|
|
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
321 |
Visual Communication I |
3 cr. |
GDP |
323 |
History of Graphic Design & Cont. Issues |
3 cr. |
GDP |
391 |
Survey of Information Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
392 |
Informing the traveler |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Summer Session (6 Credits) |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| ___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Year III |
| Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
412 |
Packaging |
3 cr. |
GDP |
413 |
Print Management & Production |
3 cr. |
GDP |
415 |
Branding for Design |
3 cr. |
GDP |
493 |
Information Structure |
3 cr. |
GDP |
494 |
Illustrating Information |
3 cr. |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
GDP |
423 |
Professional Practice & Portfolio Preparation |
3 cr. |
GDP |
496 |
Senior Studio in Information Design |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
GER |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
___ |
___ |
Free Elective |
3 cr. |
