Build Your Design Portfolio
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View Graphic Communication Courses & Requirements
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 33 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 46 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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Develop Career-Ready Expertise in Graphic Design
Develop highly valued, workplace-ready knowledge in this degree program. This program is designed to help you openly collaborate on creative concepts to generate professional visual communication and graphic design projects and meet clients’ goals. You will also hone your ability to recognize, guide, discuss and create innovative design solutions in a professional work environment.
Our program directors update the curriculum regularly, and in conjunction with our respected faculty’s knowledge and expertise, focus on helping students achieve the following:
22K+
Annual Job Growth
About 22,800 job openings for graphic designers are projected each year from 2022 to 2032.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Occupational Outlook Handbook | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2024
No. 1
Top Creative Job
Art director is ranked as the top "creative and media” job of 2024 by U.S. News & World Report.
Source: U.S. News & World Report | Best Creative and Media Jobs of 2024 | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2024
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Graphic Communication Courses
Throughout your curriculum, your instructors will assign hands-on coursework that will help you prioritize in-demand knowledge and experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Create various company visuals including logo options, stationery, and a webpage layout; and develop a complete visual identity package for an established company.
- Illustrate a collection of imagery and use data visualization to create an informative infographic that will educate, entertain, and inform a target audience.
- Create visuals for social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and more, as a component of visual branding and communication design.
- Pair text with motion to communicate a client’s message to their desired target audience as an effective video marketing strategy.
- Explore current trends in employment opportunities to design an online portfolio that demonstrates a full scope of creative and innovative graphic design pieces.
The reputation for UMGC in the military is absolutely amazing. They absolutely prepare you for your life after your military service.
Renetta H., Birmingham, AL BA in Graphic Communication
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, cost, and more.
Students can take this program online to help prepare for a career in the graphic communication industry. This graphic communication program covers topics like graphic design, visual communication, illustration, animation, digital technology, brand identity, and more. This online program helps students prepare to work in a wide range of industries, corporations, and nonprofits that use visual communication and visual content or otherwise benefit from the graphic communication field. Potential job titles include creative director, art director, web and digital interface designer, product designer, graphic designer, and visual designer.
This 120-credit graphic communication degree program offers courses year-round. The time it will take you to complete this program will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning, community college credit, and credit for military education and training.
UMGC’s tuition rates are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military servicemembers and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your education more affordable.
You do not need any background in art, graphic design, visual communication, or technology to enroll in this graphic communication degree program. You can enroll in this program as long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements.