Eight Semester Plan
This eight-semester plan (see important details) is intended to guide students through a four-year undergraduate career, with completion of an academic major and all college-wide degree requirements. The plan is designed as an advising tool – a starting point for careful discussions between students and their academic advisors. In consultation, a student and advisor will adjust the plan to accommodate the student’s prerequisite needs, transferred credits, and other such variables.
The plan below reflects General Education (GE4) requirements in effect as of Fall 2019. Students who matriculated prior to that date will find the previous plan associated with their majors here. For a summary of GE4 requirements, see New Paltz General Education Requirements.
Students are responsible for reviewing their Progress Reports each semester to track their own progress toward degree requirements.
Graphic Design
Year 1
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|
| Course | Credits |
|---|
| See NOTE 1 re: minimum grade requirements, NOTE 2 re: Gen Ed | 0 | | ARS100 Drawing: Visual Thinking I | 3 | | ARS103 Design: Form (The Arts) | 3 | | ARS113 Designed World | 3 | | ENG160 Composition I (prereq, if needed - see NOTE 2) | 3 | | Gen Ed: Mathematics (see NOTE 2) | 3-4 | | Total | 15-16 |
| | Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS101 Drawing: Visual Thinking II | 3 | | ARH201 Art of the Western World I (The Arts) | 3 | | ARS205 Graphic Design | 3 | | ENG170 Writing & Rhetoric (Basic Communication - see NOTE 2) | 4 | | Gen Ed: Humanities | 3 | | Total | 16 |
|
Year 2
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|
| Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARH202 Art of the Western World II (The Arts) | 3 | | ARS230 Basic Digital Photography | 3 | | ARS306 Visible Systems | 3 | | ARS307 Typography | 3 | | Gen Ed: Social Science | 3 | | Total | 15 |
| | Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS308 Type & Image | 3 | | ARS310 Visual Language I | 3 | | Upper-division Art History course: ARH358/ARH359/ARH3xx/ARH4xx | 3 | | Gen Ed: Natural Science Lecture | 3-4 | | Gen Ed: Foreign Language 1 | 3 | | Total | 15-16 |
|
Year 3
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|
| Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS335 Design for the Web | 3 | | ARS405 Design Theory and Criticism | 3 | | Art/Design (ARS/DDF) elective #1 (see NOTE 3) | 3 | | Gen Ed: Natural Science Lecture | 3 | | Gen Ed: Foreign Language 2 | 3 | | Total | 15 |
| | Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS309 Printed Books | 3 | | ARS329 Design Research | 3 | | ARS406 Interaction Design | 3 | | Upper-division Art History course: ARH358/ARH359/ARH3xx/ARH4xx | 3 | | Gen Ed: United States Studies | 3 | | Total | 15 |
|
Year 4
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|
| Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS407 Graphic Design Thesis I | 3 | | Art/Design (ARS/DDF) elective #2 (see NOTE 3) | 3 | | Art/Design (ARS/DDF) elective #3 (see NOTE 3) | 3 | | Diversity course | 3 | | Gen Ed: Western Civilization | 3 | | Total | 15 |
| | Course | Credits |
|---|
| ARS404 Graphic Design Application | 3 | | ARS408 Graphic Design Thesis II | 3 | | Art/Design (ARS/DDF) electives #4 and #5 (see NOTE 3) | 6 | | Gen Ed: World Civilizations | 3 | | Total | 15 |
|
Notes
1 - A minimum grade of B- is required for all major courses. A minimum grade of C- is required for all Art History (ARH) courses. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is expected of BFA students.
2 - In most cases, the order of General Education requirements is suggestive and course availability (as well as individual preference) may dictate that a course be taken in a semester other than the one indicated. The exceptions to this are courses that fulfill both GE and major requirements, which should be taken in the term specified, and ENG170 Writing & Rhetoric, which must be taken in Year 1. ENG170 fulfills the GE4 Basic Communication requirement. Students' English Placement Level will determine whether they need to complete ENG160 Composition I before completing ENG170.
3 - Studio electives (9 credits) plus two of the following Design courses, by advisement (6 credits):ARS371 Data Visualization, ARS401 Motion Design, ARS402 Design for Web II, ARS493 Art Studio Selected Topic, ARS494 Fieldwork In Art, ARS495 Independent Study Art
Total Credits: 121-123
