Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. The Graphic Design degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies. A portfolio review is required prior to acceptance as a Graphic Design major.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
| 25 |
| 34 |
| 60 |
| 13-14 |
DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) a | 1 |
Total Hours | 133 |
Foundations Program
General Education and Foundation Coursesa
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
a | 3 |
a | 3 |
a,b | 4 |
a | 3 |
a | 3 |
AH 110 | World History of Art and the Built Environment I c | 4 |
AH 111 | World History of Art and the Built Environment II c | 4 |
| 4 |
Total Hours | 34 |
Graphic Design Major Requirements
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
DES 208 | Typography I: Form | 4 |
DES 209 | Typography II: Systems | 4 |
DES 220 | Form and Image Studio | 4 |
DES 250 | Digital Media Design II | 4 |
DES 251 | Digital Media Design III: Motion Design | 4 |
DES 318 | Typography III: Dimension | 4 |
DES 319 | Typography IV: Expression | 4 |
DES 350 | Digital Media Design IV: Advanced Interactive Design | 4 |
DES 410 | Senior Design Colloquium I | 1 |
DES 411 | Senior Design Colloquium II | 1 |
DES 480 | Graphic Design Thesis I | 4 |
DES 481 | Graphic Design Thesis II | 4 |
| 8 |
| Professional Practice Project I | |
| Interdisciplinary Product Development I | |
| Design Thinking and Leadership I | |
| Informational Aesthetics I | |
DES 351 | Social Media Design | 4 |
or DES 432 | Interaction Design |
DES 235 | History of Design I: 1760-1925 | 3 |
DES 236 | History of Design II: 1925 to the Present | 3 |
Total Hours | 60 |
Electives Outside the School of Design
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
a | 13-14 |
Total Hours | 13-14 |
UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) | 1 |
Total Hours | 1 |
Sample Course Schedule—Graphic Design
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year |
Fall Semester |
DES 110 |
Design Colloquium |
1 |
DES 120 |
2D Form Studio () |
4 |
DES 130 |
3D Form Studio () |
4 |
DES 160 |
Design Photography () |
4 |
ENGL 160 |
Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
| Hours | 16 |
Spring Semester |
DES 140 |
Design Drawing () |
4 |
DES 150 |
Digital Media Design I () |
4 |
DES 170 |
Color Theory () |
4 |
ENGL 161 |
Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research |
3 |
DLG 120 |
UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar () |
1 |
| Hours | 15-16 |
Sophomore Year |
Fall Semester |
AH 110 |
World History of Art and the Built Environment I |
4 |
DES 208 |
Typography I: Form |
4 |
DES 250 |
Digital Media Design II |
4 |
DES 220 |
Form and Image Studio |
4 |
| Hours | 16 |
Spring Semester |
AH 111 |
World History of Art and the Built Environment II |
4 |
DES 209 |
Typography II: Systems |
4 |
DES 251 |
Digital Media Design III: Motion Design |
4 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 18 |
Junior Year |
Fall Semester |
DES 235 |
History of Design I: 1760-1925 |
3 |
DES 318 |
Typography III: Dimension |
4 |
DES 350 |
Digital Media Design IV: Advanced Interactive Design |
4 |
|
4 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 18 |
Spring Semester |
DES 236 |
History of Design II: 1925 to the Present |
3 |
DES 319 |
Typography IV: Expression |
4 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 18 |
Senior Year |
Fall Semester |
DES 480 |
Graphic Design Thesis I |
4 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Professional Practice Project I |
|
|
Interdisciplinary Product Development I |
|
|
Design Thinking and Leadership I |
|
|
Informational Aesthetics I |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 15 |
Spring Semester |
DES 410 |
Senior Design Colloquium I |
1 |
DES 411 |
Senior Design Colloquium II |
1 |
DES 481 |
Graphic Design Thesis II |
4 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Professional Practice Project II |
|
|
Interdisciplinary Product Development II |
|
|
Design Thinking and Leadership II |
|
|
Informational Aesthetics II |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
| Hours | 17 |
| Total Hours | 133 |