Schools with strong graphic design programs

Ringling has a colorful history: It grew out of the yearly winter stays of the Ringling Brothers circus in Florida and has gradually become famed as a center for art studies. It is still the home of the world-famous clown college. Visit Ringling College of Art and Design's website.

The degree has two options: Communication Design and Interaction Design. Both have somewhat more of an industrial and commercial orientation than a focus on the traditional fine arts. Communication Design focuses on graphic design, advertising, products and packaging, and motion graphics. Interaction Design focuses on design for interactivity across the web, mobile apps, and emerging media.

Students will learn art and design history, as well as studio arts, but will concentrate more on concepts and techniques in contemporary design. UW—Stout also stresses the importance of a liberal arts education. There is an experiential requirement that may be fulfilled by travel abroad, a substantial research project or an internship.

Visit University of Wisconsin—Stout's website. Salary and debt data reported by the U. Department of Education. Rochester NY. Student Reviews. The school is located in Rochester, New York. San Luis Obispo CA. Provo UT. Median Debt Not Reported. The most direct route to becoming an architect is to pursue a professional degree in architecture that has been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board NAAB.

The curricula for these programs is usually heavily focused on practical coursework, theory, and architectural practice. There are 3 major types of professional architecture degrees:. All of these options will prepare you for state licensure. You also have the option to pursue a 4-year, non NAAB-accredited degree followed by an MArch, the professional degree needed for licensure. Your choices here include:.

Both of these options will prepare you to apply for a 2-year or 3-year MArch program. We talk more about other options e. A high school diploma or GED is required to apply. Courses often cover computer-aided design CAD systems, architectural drawing, building systems, construction, structural conceptions, and graphic techniques. Strong programs will incorporate a fair amount of hands-on experience in laboratories, architectural firms, and building sites.

Look for schools that also teach you to execute estimates, approximate budgets, prepare agreements, and present projects to clients. These kinds of jobs can help you save for the next step in your education.

Common titles include:. You will find them being offered by a variety of colleges, universities, and military academies. A high school diploma or a GED is typically required to apply.

As we noted in our section on degree choices , the BArch is the only professional undergraduate degree that will allow you to apply for state licensure as an architect. The BArch typically takes 5 years to complete and must include a minimum of semester credit hours in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.

Courses will often cover important areas such as architecture theory, project planning, computer-aided design CAD systems, urban design, construction methods, mechanical systems e. You may be asked to prepare estimates, evaluate budgets, and present work to clients.

In the final year, many universities ask students to work under the supervision of a licensed architect in a professional firm. This internship is a critical part of preparation for your professional life.

A non-professional bachelor degree can be a great way to explore the field of architecture without committing to the pressure of the BArch. Options for non-NAAB-accredited undergraduate degrees include:. Talk to your academic advisor about your options.

Choices include:. These programs are offered by a wide range of universities. As we discussed in our section on degree choices , you must have a BArch, MArch, or DArch in order to become a licensed architect.

Because of this, most universities insist that students complete at least You may be expected to study areas such as physics, building science, architectural history and theory, city planning, environmental design, calculus, and structural engineering. A final project or thesis caps off your education. The MArch II is intended for students who have completed a professional, 5-year BArch or its equivalent and wish to expand their field of expertise or specialize in a certain area e.

Because MArch II students are already qualified professionals, they often have a great deal of curriculum choice. For example, in their second year, they may choose to write a thesis, focus on teaching skills, or pursue a special project. Students with a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architectural studies e.

If you went to a highly regarded school and have strong undergraduate grades, there are universities that are willing to enroll you in a 2-year MArch program. This degree sometimes fall under the larger heading of the MArch I. A doctorate in architecture is a year graduate program intended for architects who wish to teach at the university level, pursue high-level research jobs, or improve their career opportunities.

This is the traditional pathway for architects interested in research and academic careers. PhD students are expected to contribute an original piece of research to the field of architecture and complete a research project or dissertation.

A certificate in architecture is a non-degree, academic program that takes approximately 6 months-1 year to complete. In the past few decades, online programs have become popular with working professionals. Undergraduate certificates are intended to give students an introduction to the field or teach them essential skills. Certificate topics can range from interior design, construction, and technology to professional leadership, project development, and enterprise architecture — the options are endless.

One thing to note — a certificate in architecture is different from professional certification. Certificates are academic qualifications; certifications are granted by the NCARB and other bodies as a recognition of your professional expertise. No matter which degree program you choose , we recommend you attend a regionally accredited college or university. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. You can learn more about the difference between national accreditation and regional accreditation in: Accreditation: Understanding the Difference Between Real Schools and Diploma Mills.

Remember that regional accreditation is given to the overall institution. To see if the architecture program is accredited for professional licensing, look for NAAB accreditation as well. If you wish to become a licensed architect , you will find that most state registration boards will require you to earn a degree from an NAAB-accredited program.

Find an NAAB-accredited professional program. Every state requires architects to obtain a professional license. In most cases, this means you will have to:.

Exact licensure requirements vary from state to state, so please check with your state architectural registration board for precise details.

For example, some states may allow candidates to substitute work experience for an accredited degree. This means a non-NAAB-accredited program could meet educational requirements. Certification signals that you have met the highest professional standards in architecture, including the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

This is purely voluntary step — architects do not need to have NCARB certification in order to practice. About About this site How our rankings work. Affordable Architecture Degrees. Featured Programs:. Request Info. Find online degree programs Tell us what you're looking for and we'll get you started!

School Rankings 1. CAG Score CCS also has an institution-wide focus on community engagement. Graphic design alumni have worked for Dreamworks, Google, Nike, Disney, Fox, Microsoft, and universities and libraries. Many have founded their own design firms, too. The department facilitates student freelance work and internships to ensure that students graduate with real professional experience. The department also hosts an annual lecture series of visiting designers doing innovative work in the field.

And, of course, the campus is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, a city home to many cultural and art institutions. At these schools, name recognition is on the lower side, but you'll get a solid educational foundation from which to launch your graphic design career. Ringling doesn't have quite the name recognition of many schools further up on this list, but it does have a solid, well-rounded program.

In addition, alumni have won prestigious industry awards and work for Instagram, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Birchbox, Trader Joe's, and leading design firms. Students have the chance to work on real-world, practical projects based in the wider Philadelphia area as part of their coursework. The department also hosts an annual Spring Workshop with renowned guest faculty on design topics. This is another program whose focus is more on the practical and commercial than the artistic and theoretical.

Overall, this school is more about giving you actionable workforce skills and connections than developing your refined artistic sensibilities as a designer. Students have unique opportunities to collaborate with other departments and disciplines on projects, particularly in technical and engineering departments. Students are also encouraged to consider "the social, ethical, and environmental impact of design. Admire this very important and cutting-edge piece of graphic design.

With so many choices, it can be overwhelming to try to narrow down the field to a few programs you're really interested in. I highly recommend visiting schools, taking advantage of information sessions near you, and talking to current students and recent alumni.

If you don't know any alumni personally, try the Reddit graphic design forum! Additionally, here are some key questions to consider as you assemble your list of graphic design programs to apply to. To get admitted to more competitive programs, you'll often need a strong art and design portfolio. Have you been taking art classes since you could hold a pencil, or is graphic design a relatively new interest for you? To get feedback on your portfolio, I advise taking it to any portfolio review sessions you can find.

Sometimes art schools send representatives around the country to review student portfolios at portfolio review fairs, where you can get feedback from many schools in one day on how your portfolio stacks up and what you can do to strengthen it. Otherwise, try contacting your local art and design school to try to get portfolio feedback and a clearer sense of how competitive your portfolio might be. Some programs, like the one at Yale, are much more concerned with the lofty and artistic side of graphic design and its theoretical applications, whereas other programs, like the School for the Visual Arts, are more focused on transforming you into a commercially prepared practitioner.

One isn't necessarily better or more useful than the other—but one might align better with your goals. Do you dream about doing experimental installations in an art museum, or of designing ads for Target? Do you want to learn how to draw contour line art or would you rather learn the seven principles of design? If the former, a more artistically oriented program might be for you. If the latter, a more commercially focused option is a safer bet.

Graphic design programs tend to fall into two categories: those housed within specialized art schools, like RISD, and those housed within larger universities, like Carnegie Mellon. If you have your heart set on a more "traditional" college experience, you might be better off going to a larger university that offers a graphic design program. If, however, you're interested in a smaller institution with other arts-and-design-minded folks, you might want to attend a dedicated art school instead.

Additionally, if you don't necessarily need a typical university experience but don't want to attend a super-small institution either, consider a larger art school like SCAD. This seems like a very real and official art-school lecture. Some programs offer a lot of flexibility to explore other interests. You should also consider if you want a program that's explicitly focused on training students in new media and the most cutting-edge graphic design technologies, like the College for Creative Studies.

Check out the faculty bios of the professors and lecturers at all of the programs you're interested in. Who's doing the work that interests you most? Be sure to mention any faculty you're impressed by and want to work with in your application, too!

If you have your heart set on studying abroad, your options are somewhat limited. Both SCAD and Ringling have established study abroad options, but you'll likely need to do some investigation to find out whether going abroad is possible at other schools as well. Learn More. Northeastern University Boston, MA. Stonehill College Easton, MA. Lesley University Cambridge, MA. Assumption College Worcester, MA.

Becker College Worcester, MA. Emmanuel College Boston, MA. Worcester Colleges. Endicott College Beverly, MA.