Advising
The Graphic Design program provides a comprehensive education in design principles, applications, theories, history, and practice. Students work with faculty primarily through studio courses that introduce an increasing complexity of design problems combined with opportunities for independent development and interaction with the professional community.
Program Overview
The first year of the concentration introduces principles of basic design and art and their specific applications in graphic design. The second year provides a comprehensive studio experience in graphic design and computer graphics. These first two years of study culminate with a portfolio review. To enroll in 300-level graphic design courses, all students must submit a portfolio of work and approval as part of this Graphic Design Sophomore Review; this happens program-wide at the end of the academic year in late Spring term. In the third and fourth years, students choose courses in areas of increasing specialization, engage in professional internships, and develop a professional portfolio as the culmination of their studies.
Where do I go for help?
Pathway Advisors
BEST FOR: NEW STUDENTS, TRANSFER STUDENTS, FIRST YEAR STUDENTS
PSU’s Design, Creativity, and Performance Pathway advisors can help those new to PSU navigate both the major and PSU’s larger array of institutional requirements. They are brilliant at helping students with their University Studies work and help those new to the school transfer in credits or get settled in at PSU.
Pathway advisors advise students on a full-time basis, and have a wide range of availability during both the academic year and summer.
Faculty Advisors
BEST FOR: RETURNING/CURRENT STUDENTS, STUDENTS WITH DESIGN FIELD-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
Faculty advisors are PSU’s full-time faculty who are also available to help students navigate tricky advising questions within the Graphic Design and Art+Design degree programs.
Faculty advisors at PSU each offer three hours of half-hour appointments and drop-in meetings each week for students.
PSUGD’s Faculty Advisors
PSUGD’s full-time faculty advise students both on their disciplinary areas of expertise within design and on their academic careers. They can help students navigate the Graphic Design BFA or minor, as well as PSU’s Art + Design BA/BS degree pathway. They can also offer critique, course planning support, guidance for the Sophomore Portfolio Review and more.
Faculty advisors offer two hours of advising by appointment each week of the academic term, with an additional hour per week of drop-in advising with no appointment necessary.
