Create your path to success with our bachelor’s degree in graphic design

UMSL’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design provides hands-on education and real-world experiences to help you build the portfolio you need for the job you want.

Through our comprehensive, four-year graphic design program, you’ll develop confidence and competence in traditional and modern techniques - and learn from dedicated professors who are also accomplished artists and designers.

Our studio art and graphic design courses cover a broad range of methods and mediums with an emphasis on design, typography and illustration. We also offer instruction in animation, user experience and brand systems design. Whether you’re designing a new logo, product package, brochure or website, you’ll get all the tools you need to flex your creative muscle.

And if you’re looking to advance your education, our BFA degree program will prepare you for successful entry into graduate school.

What do graphic designers do?

Graphic designers create visual concepts to communicate ideas and information that inspire and motivate audiences across a multitude of settings and platforms. With our BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design, you’ll learn to do this by combining images, typography and other elements of design using both hands-on techniques and the latest industry standard software.

 

Program type:

Major, BFA

Format:

On-Campus

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students and professor in a graphic design class

Why major in graphic design at UMSL?

Our rigorous BFA degree with an emphasis in graphic design prepares students for immediate employment as professionals in the creative industry.

  • Real-world education in a real-world environment. With UMSL’s graphic design courses, you get real and relevant hands-on experience in a studio-like atmosphere. Create and collaborate alongside professors and classmates just like you would in a real agency setting.
  • Expand your creative horizons. Take your bachelor’s degree in graphic design to the next level with our immersive Amsterdam course. Other opportunities include trips to New York City agencies, internships and partnerships fostering professional development and civic engagement.
  • More BFA for your buck. Our BFA degree program offers a rare combination of quality and affordability, meaning you’ll get an art school education without art school prices. Save on tuition and costs with art and design scholarships.

What can you do with a graphic design degree?

With a BFA degree from UMSL, you can do more and be more. Our graphic design majors are highly sought after by reputable design and advertising agencies in the St. Louis area and beyond. In fact, nearly 100% of our BFA alumni are working in the field six months after graduation.

From entry-level design to art direction, a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from UMSL opens the door to a world of opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady job growth for graphic designers , special effects artists and animators , and art directors over the next decade, with tens of thousands of job openings annually in each area.

 

58,910

Median annual salary

3

Employment growth by 2032

 

Career Opportunities

  • Graphic Designer
  • Digital Artist
  • Animator
  • Package Designer
  • Illustrator
  • Creative Director
  • Web Designer 
  • Marketing Professional
  • UX Designer
  • Art Educator

 

Plan of study

All majors must meet the general education requirements of the university in addition to completing degree-specific curriculum requirements.

Review Full Degree Requirements Review Sample Four-Year Plan

Non-Missouri Residents: Prospective students are responsible for reviewing the UMSL state authorizations page to see if this program is offered in their state throughout their program and to review the licensure or certification requirements for the state in which they reside.

Student organizations

Make new friends and learn new skills by joining one of our Recognized Student Organizations. Here are several opportunities you may be interested in as a graphic design major:

Honors College

The UMSL Honors College is a certificate program that can be paired with any major without adding extra classes or extending time to graduate. Classes in the Honors College are seminar-style, meaning that they are based in reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking. This unique class format fosters an intellectual climate centered around democracy, civility and academic excellence.

Undergraduate research

We encourage and support students as they engage in exciting activities in and outside of the classroom that enrich their academic and professional understanding of their chosen area of study. All majors are encouraged to participate in Undergraduate Research and Scholarship to produce discipline-specific intellectual or creative innovations to their field.

College of Arts and Sciences

UMSL Arts and Sciences transforms lives.

Why choose UMSL Arts and Sciences?

The College of Arts and Sciences offers exciting degree programs that cover the academic spectrum from fine arts, humanities and the social sciences, to the natural and applied sciences.

An undergraduate degree from the College of Arts and Sciences provides the intellectual base for a host of career paths, advanced study and research in many academic disciplines. Our graduates are known for their professionalism on the job and their strong sense of civic responsibility.

College of Arts and Sciences

Active researchers, scholars and practitioners

Our accomplished faculty provide students with a well-rounded, hands-on and practical education to best prepare them for success in the modern workforce.

Our faculty are actively engaged in research and scholarship that advances knowledge, theory and applied methods in their fields and provides an unparalleled academic experience. Truly inspired by students’ resilience, creativity, passion for learning and desire to make a difference in their communities, our faculty are driven to educate, prepare and cultivate the innovative spirit UMSL students are so well known for.

UMSL Faculty

An inspired and accomplished Triton network

The College of Arts and Sciences has prepared tens of thousands of graduates to become influential leaders and find career success in the region, nationally and internationally.

The collective expertise of our alumni encompasses an impressive and comprehensive list of disciplines. They are notable journalists, writers, public relations professionals and leaders in private and public sectors. They are scientists, musicians, entrepreneurs, CEOs and much more. Committed to their organizations and communities, our graduates share a constant motivation to inspire others, build inclusive excellence, drive positive change and transform the lives of others through their everyday work.

College of Arts and Science Alumni

Find your passion, chart your path

Our wide range of academic programs are structured to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to set yourself apart and be career ready on day one.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers 31 baccalaureate, 16 master and seven doctoral degrees as well as dozens of minor and certificate programs designed to get you where you want to go. With dedicated academic advisors ready to create a personalized plan to help you succeed in your academic journey, you'll have a clear path from start to finish. Find the program that’s right for you and apply today.

College of Arts and Sciences at UMSL

MORE Flexibility. MORE Possibilities.

When it comes to your education, we know one size doesn’t fit all. Offering exceptional academics at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, our degree programs are built to fit any schedule. Whether you want to earn your degree on campus, fully online, during the evening or weekends with our 4-, 8-, 12- and 16-week course offerings – UMSL will meet you when and where you want.

UMSL Rankings

#1

in Missouri for affordability
(Business Insider)

#1

Online College in Missouri
(Forbes 2024)

60+

non-degree certificate programs

#1

transfer destination in St.Louis

#5

nationally for adult education
(Great Value Colleges)

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Start your journey at UMSL. Join our diverse student body and have access to world-class researchers and scholars, top-ranked degree programs and sought-after internship opportunities.