Graphic Design

Key courses:

  • Digital Imaging
  • Principles of Interactive Design
  • Production Techniques
  • Typography

Degrees:

Locations:

  • Big Rapids

Contact a program advisor

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Graphic designers in all kinds of organizations apply creative and conceptual skills to inform, educate, and persuade audiences. Graduates from this program have entered the workforce as print or web designers and become art directors, interaction designers, user experience or interface designers, creative directors, and production managers. The program has a consistently excellent placement rate for graduates in leading design firms, corporations, and agencies across the country. Demand for graphic designers continues to rise with the proliferation of traditional and new media outlets.

The Graphic Design program is very hands-on in a collaborative environment including both student colleagues and clients. Real-world projects and clients teach how creative, coordinated design can accomplish organizational objectives, as well as building experience in professional communications, presentation, and relationship management.

Students use current software to learn technology skills to design for print and screen. Studio tours and conferences provide a solid connection to the world of professional graphic design. And the program is business-based with a market-driven curriculum, because designers need to perform well in business as well as in design.

 

New & Noteworthy

Admissions

New first year applicants must meet College of Business admission criteria. Students must successfully pass a portfolio review after completion of sophomore level program courses and have a minimum 2.7 GPA in their major to continue in the Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree.

Transfer applicants must meet College of Business transfer admission criteria and will be referred to the program coordinator for portfolio review to determine acceptance and placement with

1. New First Year or “First Time in Any College Freshmen (FTIAC)” Applicant COB Admission Criteria

Applicants are expected to meet the criteria listed below to be placed directly into a College of Business bachelor/associate degree program except Graphic Design (DSGN), Information Security & Intelligence (ISIN), PGA Golf Management (PGA), and Professional Tennis Management (PTM) which have specific admission requirements listed in Section 3. Any mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis by the College of Business Dean’s Office/Student Academic Affairs (SAA).

Applicants completing the SAT after Fall, 2016, must have a 2.5 high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and meet two of the three criteria below:

  • SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing (ERW) score of 450 or higher.
  • SAT Math score of 500 or higher. Placement in Math 109/110 will be considered (SAT MATH score 480).
  • SAT Composite score of 900.

Applicants completing the ACT; or applicants completing the SAT before Fall, 2016, must have a 2.5 high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and meet two of the three criteria below:

  • English ACT score of 16 or higher, or SAT Writing score of 370 or higher
  • Math ACT score of 19 or higher, or SAT Math score of 460 or higher
  • Reading ACT score of 19 or higher, or SAT Reading score of 430 or higher

ACT/SAT score requirements shall not apply to international students and non-traditional students age 23 or older. However, a placement test (specified by Ferris State University and/or COB) may be necessary for English and Math. Most students complete the Accuplacer at the FSU Testing Center or approved satellite location.

Applicants not meeting the above criteria (or criteria for direct admission into a specific COB program listed in Section 3), MAY be considered for an approved Associates Degree if:

  • High School GPA of 2.35 or higher
  • Math ACT score of 16/SAT Math 430 and additional high school algebra
  • ACT Reading score of 16 and ACT English score of 14 or a comparable SAT ERW score to be determined.
  • SAT Composite score of 860 or ACT composite score of 15.

2. Transfer Applicant COB Admission Criteria (this includes internal applicants from other FSU colleges and external applicants from other institutions)

Applicants are expected to meet the criteria listed below to be placed directly into a College of Business bachelor/associate degree program except for Accountancy/Computer Information Systems (ACIS), Computer Information Systems (CIS), Computer Information Technology (CIT), Graphic Design (DSGN), Information Security & Intelligence (ISIN), Music Industry Management (MIM), PGA Golf Management (PGA), and Professional Tennis Management (PTM) which have specific admission requirements listed in Section 3. Any mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis by the College of Business Dean’s Office/SAA.

Transfer applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Combined college or university GPA of 2.35 (on a 4.0 scale) from all institutions attended. GPA is based on completion of 12 credit hours or more. Developmental courses will not be considered in computing the GPA requirement.  
  • Transfer equivalency for FSU English 150 or placement during the first semester at FSU which would require an ACT English score of 16 or higher; or SAT ERW score of 450; or Accuplacer English score 6 or higher.
  • Transfer equivalency for FSU Math 114/115 or placement during the first semester at FSU which would require an ACT Math score of 19 or higher; or SAT Math score of 500; or Accuplacer MATH scores: Elementary Algebra score 75 or higher and College Level Math 0 – 49.

ACT/SAT score requirements shall not apply to international students and non-traditional students age 23 or older. However, a placement test (specified by Ferris State University and/or COB) may be necessary for English and Math. Most students complete the Accuplacer at the FSU Testing Center or an approved satellite location.

COB students may transfer into another COB program with a 2.0 FSU GPA unless they do not meet requirements that are program specific. A “Program Change Form” will be processed in the Dean’s Office/SAA (BUS 200).

FSU students may transfer into a COB program with a 2.35 FSU GPA unless they do not meet requirements that are program specific. A “Program Change Form” will be processed in the Dean’s Office/SAA (BUS 200).

3. COB Specific Programs’ Admission Criteria

New applicants (FTIAC)* and transfer applicants interested in Accountancy/Computer Information Systems (ACIS), Systems Computer Information Systems (CIS), Computer Information Technology (CIT), Graphic Design (DSGN), Information Security and Intelligence (ISIN), Music Industry Management (MIM), PGA Golf Management (PGA), and Professional Tennis Management (PTM) have specific admission criteria as follows:

Accountancy/Computer Information Systems (ACIS-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants must meet the COB FTIAC admission criteria.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria (see Section 2) and have a combined college or university 2.5 GPA.

Computer Information Systems (CIS-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants must meet COB FTIAC admission criteria.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria (see Section 2) and have a combined college or university 2.5 GPA.

Computer Information Technology (CIT-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants must meet COB FTIAC admission criteria.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria (see Section 2) and have a college or university 2.5 GPA.

Graphic Design Bachelor’s Degree (DSGN-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants must meet COB FTIAC admission criteria. Students must successfully pass a portfolio review after completion of sophomore level program courses.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria (see Section 2) and will be referred to the Program Coordinator for portfolio review to determine acceptance and placement within the program.

Information Security & Intelligence (ISIN-BS-BU and ISIN-AAS-BU)

  • All applicants applying for admission to the ISIN programs will submit a 750 – 1,000 word essay that addresses the following: Who they are and why they desire admission in the ISIN program, description of a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution, or experience, and description of someone that influenced them and why.
  • Minimum computer spec for ISIN students: Laptop; Windows or OSX/MacOS; 8 GB RAM, 16GB recommended; 500 GB HDD or SSD; CPU minimum i5 or equivalent.
  • FTIAC applicants require a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from high school and a Math ACT minimum score of 22 or Math SAT minimum score of 550.
  • Transfer applicants must have a combined 3.00 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from all institutions attended. GPA is based on completion of 24 hours or more. Students must have completed the transfer equivalent of FSU’s Math 114/115 or higher (this does not include FSU’s equivalent of Math 117) with a minimum 2.00 GPA or have a Math ACT minimum score of 22 or Math SAT minimum score of 550.  (See information above regarding the required essay.)

Music Industry Management (MIM-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants must meet COB FTIAC admission criteria.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria and (see Section 2) have a combined college or university 2.5 GPA. Typically no more than 45 applicable credit hours should be transferred from other institutions. Exceptions will be based on approval by the MIM Program Director.

PGA Golf Management (PGA-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants require a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from high school, ACT composite score of 19 or SAT composite score of 980 and a USGA handicap of 8 or lower. The program has a Fall Semester entry only. Because of the uniqueness of the program, applicants are encouraged to visit campus and talk with an admissions counselor and/or the PGA program coordinator.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admission criteria (see Section 2) and have a 2.50 GPA and USGA handicap of 8 or lower.   GPA is based on completion of 12 credit hours including ENGL 150, MATH 114/115, and a self and society or culture general education competency. Students must have completed NO MORE than 45 applicable credit hours at other institutions.
  • Students must complete the program within eight years of the initial enrollment as required by the PGA.

Professional Tennis Management (PTM-BS-BU)

  • FTIAC applicants require a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from high school, NTRP of 4.0 with USTA District ranking and one of the following two criteria: (1) ACT Math score of 19 or higher or SAT Math score of 500 OR (2) ACT Reading score of 19 or higher or SAT ERW to be determined.
  • Transfer applicants must meet COB transfer admissions criteria (see Section 2) and NTRP of 4.0 or USTA District ranking.

4. Undergraduate COB Certificate Programs’ Admission Criteria

Any person admitted to a Ferris State University degree program may enroll in courses for undergraduate COB certificates. No more than 50% of the credits in a certificate may be transferred from another institution. If a student is in a FSU degree-seeking program, the certificate will not be granted if more than 50% of the certificate credits are required in the program/major. The certificate will be granted upon completion with an average GPA of 2.0 or higher in the courses designated for the certificate.

Individuals wanting to advance their career, but not admitted to an FSU degree program, may also earn undergraduate COB certificates.

Admission process for individuals seeking only a certificate: 

  • Applicant should show proof of high school graduation with a 2.35 GPA.  If it is determined by the COB Dean’s Office/SAA that regular program admission criteria should be met in order to complete the certificate successfully and be a contributing member of the course, all college transcripts should be submitted to the Admissions Office. Once admitted, an advisor will be assigned by the College of Business in the certificate program.
  • Dual enrolled/concurrent students must complete their high school degree (provide transcript) before the certificate will be granted from FSU.  
  • Students wishing to pursue a bachelor or associate’s degree must meet the admission criteria for the program. This criteria review is initiated when the “Program Change Form” request is processed through the COB Dean’s Office/SAA.

Any mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis by the College of Business Dean’s Office/SAA

*This document is subject to change. Questions should be submitted to the COB Dean’s Office/Student Academic Affairs (BUS 200) in care of the Director of Student Academic Affairs (231-591-2420).

SLG: April 9, 2013; Spring, 2014 (PHMT and eliminate PMIM); December, 2014(editorial); August 20, 2015 (criteria change: Section 1 preprogram requirements; PGA Golf Management name change); April and May, 2016 (Certificate process updates); Reviewed by AC: March 16, 2017 and updated on April 4, 2017 (Updates with certificate, ISIN admissions criteria, SAT updates, program changes, eliminate pre-programs, editorial changes);  June 13, 2107 (MIM transfer credit clarification); June 19, 2017 (CIS transfer criteria update: combined college GPA 2.5 GPA); July 27, 2017 (ISIN computer recommendations; Accountancy/Computer Information Systems transfer criteria update: combined college GPA 2.50); August 16, 2017 (Edit); Oct 6, 2017 (ISIN AAS); November 7, 2017 (PTM edit “or USTA”);