Art, Graphic Design Concentration - Bachelor of Fine Arts

graphic arts student doing an assignment

Graphic Design is an evolving multi-disciplinary industry where designers use technology, design, and social awareness to solve problems that inform, educate, and elicit responses from end-users. Career paths within the field of Graphic Design include junior through senior-level Graphic Designer, Art Director, Interactive Designer, UI/UX Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Packaging Designer, Advertising Designer, as well as many other positions.

Our BFA Graphic Design program at JSU creates designers who can tackle both the critical thinking and technical/formal production sides of visual communication. The courses in the graphic design concentration draw upon varied disciplines in the professional field and aid the student in developing an awareness of the diverse landscapes in which design functions. Through a sequence of courses, students become skilled at using traditional and contemporary technologies.

Preparing our students for a professional career by focusing on professional practice, portfolio building, and real-world experiences. Both on and off-campus internships are available and provide our students with critical real-world experience. Our program also offers service-learning projects where design students connect with regional clients and provide design services for professional use. Our students graduate with professional-level portfolios and skills that have proven successful in landing design positions after graduation.

Potential Careers

  • Graphic Designer
  • Art Director
  • Interactive Designer
  • UI/UX Designer
  • Motion Graphic Designer
  • Packaging Designer
  • Advertising Designer
  • Typographer
  • Information Designer
  • Special Effects Artist
  • Illustrator

Median Annual Salary

Graphic Designer, Entry Level (General)

$48,820

Graphic Designer, Senior Level (General)

$63,510

Motion Graphics Designer/Animator

$78,790

UI/UX Designer $94,780

*Median annual salaries are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics