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Graphic Design Major in Pennsylvania
Are you captivated by design? Do you appreciate or strive to create visual statements? Whether you are aiming to work in print or digital media, Messiah University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in graphic design may be the right fit for you!
Study Graphic Design at a Christian University
Everywhere you look, you encounter graphic design— websites, apps, advertising, books, magazines, exhibits, product packaging and branding and visual identity for businesses and organizations. Graphic designers help to shape and communicate ideas in the visual environment. Through the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, you’ll gain critical skills in creative problem-solving, develop your expertise in industry-standard digital tools and technology, and build a portfolio of work to prepare you for advanced professional practice of graphic design or graduate study.
As a graphic design major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Study in excellent art and design facilities including our art wing in Frey Hall.
- Begin taking studio courses in your first semester.
- Experience the education of a program that is nationally accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art & Design) and one of only four Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) institutions to offer an accredited BFA in graphic design.
- Dive into an in-depth curriculum that provides focused instruction specifically in design.
- Build a strong design portfolio while obtaining a professional degree.
- Enjoy opportunities to study abroad in art-centered programs in cities such as Rome and Orvieto, Italy.
- Be located near major art and design centers like New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
- Showcase your work in an independent senior exhibition located in a solo studio space.
As a graduate of the graphic design program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Graphic designer
- Creative director
- Art director
- Web designer
- Interactive designer
- Design strategist
- Motion designer
- Digital marketer
- Advertiser
- Publisher
- Exhibit designer
- Packaging designer
For more information on career planning for the graphic design program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized internship program places students in a variety of graphic design internships. A few examples include:
- Krone Group Advertising and Design
- AdAbility, Inc.
- The Hartford Courant
- Central PA Magazine
- Messiah Press and Marketing and Communications Office
- andCulture
- CURE International
- Turkey Hill
Why study graphic design?
As a graphic design major at Messiah University, you’ll enjoy all the benefits and value of earning your degree from a university that is nationally accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art & Design). This program offers diverse and rigorous coursework that builds a foundation of formal, creative and intellectual skills and knowledge. You will further customize your graphic design degree by selecting courses ranging from digital imaging, interactive and print-based media. In your senior year, you will develop your unique vision and voice through the conceptualization, development and creation of an original senior design project that showcases an extensive body of work.
Programs related to Graphic Design
In the Graphic Design program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Graphic Design:
Graphic Design (B.F.A.)
Graphic Design careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Graphic Design program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Practical Experience
During your time at Messiah, you will be encouraged to gain practical experience in off-campus settings. Through the Career and Professional Development Center, you may obtain internships and cooperative education experiences in the surrounding communities. These practical experiences, some of which are paid, provide you with opportunities to clarify career goals and enhance classroom learning.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.