Graphic Design Degrees in Rhode Island
For those researching accredited graphic design degree programs in Rhode Island, the Ocean State offers a variety of schools that are dedicated to liberal arts education. Graphic design plays an integral role in today’s economy as more businesses seek to develop brand recognition and appeal to consumers on a more visual basis. As such, students who pursue art-based degrees in Rhode Island gain advantages in terms of academic preparation and post-graduation opportunities. While small, the densely populated state enjoys close proximity to major urban areas like New York City, and major industries in government and healthcare afford students ample job prospects with a bachelor’s in graphic design.
New England Institute of Technology
Graphics Multimedia and Web Design
Founded in 1940, the New England Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit school serving nearly 3,000 enrolled students seeking degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels. The school offers 40 programs in various disciplines and prides itself as being one of the top technical institutions in Southeastern New England, and students can study on campus or online for some of the degrees. If you are interested in online degrees, visit Top 10 Online Graphic Design Degree Programs. Within NEIT’s list of offerings at the bachelor’s level, students seeking accredited graphic design degree programs in Rhode Island will find a carefully tailored program designed to prepare graduates for fast-paced careers in an ever-evolving industry.
Bachelor of Science in Graphics, Multimedia and Web Design
Students who study at New England Tech develop their natural creativity and gain the technical competencies needed to explore a variety of career options after graduation. The program focuses on providing students with skills related to marketing, specifically e-commerce and web applications. In fact, there’s a distinct marketing-centric curriculum for this program, and students who earn a Bachelor of Science in Graphics, Multimedia and Web Design could use their skills to pursue jobs with social media outlets and other similar employers. The program includes 18 courses on topics such as digital editing, project management and brand strategy. Transfer students must fulfill necessary prerequisites before entering the program. Upon completion of the bachelor’s program, students will achieve the following specific outcomes: the ability to use appropriate hardware and software products to create “market-specific content,” an understanding of “effective vs. ineffective elements of UI/UX design,” and a working knowledge of applicable copyright laws and concerns.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich Campus
One New England Tech Boulevard
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Phone: (401) 467-7744
Website: http://www.neit.edu/Programs/Bachelors-Degree-Programs/Graphics-Multimedia-and-Web-Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Department of Illustration
The Rhode Island School of Design enjoys a rich history of educating designers and creative individuals in a number of artistic fields. Founded as a school for textile and jewelry manufacturers during the Industrial Revolution in 1877, the school has evolved to become a selective art school catering to graphic designers and illustrators, offering 16 undergraduate programs and 16 graduate programs to nearly 2,500 students as of fall 2014. The Department of Illustration is one of the school’s most popular departments, and students looking into graphic design programs will appreciate the exclusivity of Rhode Island School of Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.
B.F.A. Graphic Design
Bachelor’s programs are not created equally even among similar higher institutions. A “B.F.A.” program emphasizes “fine arts,” which typically include a greater focus on humanities courses that shape students’ understanding of their major. At the Rhode Island School of Design, undergraduate students pursuing the accredited graphic design program undertake a rigorous curriculum centered on a “thorough understanding of the principles of design, theories of communication and strategies for problem solving” according to the website. Bachelor’s students will take courses on both theoretical and practical concepts in design including typography, spatial dynamics and drawing. During the early years of the four-year program, students take basic courses that form the basis of later in-depth projects. Juniors and seniors can opt for internships as part of their curriculum, and all students have access to a range of graduate-level mentors at RISD. As part of the application process, prospective students must submit academic information as well as a personal design portfolio.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Contact
Rhode Island School of Design
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2784
Phone: (401) 454-6171
Email: smazzucc@risd.edu (Susan Mazzucco)
Website: http://www.risd.edu/academics/graphic-design/undergraduate/
Rhode Island College
Art Department
Tying for number 122 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the best regional schools in the North, Rhode Island College traces its history back to 1854 as a state normal school created for the preparation of teachers. Rhode Island’s Art Department offers two degrees in graphic design at the bachelor’s level: the B.A. in Studio Art and the B.F.A. in Studio Art. Both bachelor programs allow students to concentrate in graphic design, and both curriculums focus on providing students with a comprehensive array of art courses created to enhance natural ability while exposing students to marketable concepts in graphic design.
B.A. Studio Art
The Art Department at Rhode Island College believes in giving students a strong education in foundational courses. Students who are searching for accredited graphic design degree programs in Rhode Island will find that Rhode Island College’s commitment to core classes in drawing and design, research-based projects, and two- and three-dimensional concepts will prepare them to pursue a variety of careers once they graduate. Unlike the B.F.A. students, Bachelor of Arts students do not need to submit a portfolio for application into the program unless they’re attempting to get credit transferred from another school or they want to bypass initial courses. Bachelor’s students will complete between 58 and 60 credit hours on topics related to their field such as art history, American art and architecture, and concentration-specific studio courses. Of the 60-hour requirement, students will choose five courses related to the graphic design concentration. The degree also requires that students choose “cognates” or related courses in the arts.
B.F.A. Studio Art
As outlined above, the fine arts designation within a bachelor’s program typically indicates that students will enjoy a more humanities-focused degree program than the standard bachelor’s degree entails. At Rhode Island College, students who pursue a B.F.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design must complete 80 credit hours in addition to any general education requirements set forth by the school. For the B.F.A. program, students must submit portfolios and earn positive reviews in order to retain their status and gain admission into the more in-depth courses required of juniors and seniors. The 80-hour credit requirement must come from an array of classes both directly connected with the graphic design concentration and related in some significant way. For example, students have to pick six elective courses worth 18 hours under the guidance of their advisers. The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a more concentrated undergraduate program designed for particularly motivated students.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Contact
Rhode Island College Art Department
Alex and Ani Hall (AAH), Central Campus
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 456-8054
Email: admissions@ric.edu
Website
Roger Williams University
Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences
Originally established as a branch campus of Northeastern University in 1919, Roger Williams University has evolved into its own independent liberal arts college and enjoys outstanding recognition from entities such as Forbes magazine, The Princeton Review and Student Horizons, Inc. The school offers 43 majors to nearly 3,900 daytime undergraduates and 741 graduate-level students, and those who study here gain the advantage of a 14:1 faculty-to-student ratio. With plenty of in-class and extracurricular opportunities, students seeking accredited graphic design programs in Rhode Island should thrive here. Under the overarching Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication offers a bachelor’s program in Graphic Design Communication.
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design Communication
Roger Williams University encourages students to develop a well-rounded education in the liberal arts. As such, all undergraduate students must complete at least 120 credit hours covering core general education classes, major-specific courses and electives. The graphic design program requires completion of 12 courses, eight of which are hands-on studio classes. The remaining four courses in the graphic design concentration include a lecture on the history of the field, an internship course and two classes taught in sequence on one of the following subjects of the student’s choosing: marketing, communication, computer information systems or anthropology. Students must maintain a B-level grade point average in graphic design courses to proceed through the program. As seniors, students will submit a final portfolio for exhibition in order to complete the degree. To apply for the Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design Communication program, students have to submit a portfolio and attend an in-person review of their submission.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Roger Williams University
Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences
One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: (401) 254-6200
Email: roconnell@rwu.edu (Roxanne M. O’Connell)
Website
Salve Regina University
Department of Art
Salve Regina University is a private, coed school with Roman Catholic heritage that ties at number 50 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the best regional schools in the North. Founded in 1934, the school offers a combined 78 programs at the undergraduate, graduate and continuing education levels to about 2,100 enrolled undergraduates, 68 percent of whom are female. For students exploring academic programs in graphic design, Salve Regina University’s Department of Art affords enrollees the “unique opportunity to study the visual arts and their relevance in contemporary culture within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education” according to its website.
Major in Studio Art (B.A.)
At Salve Regina University, students interested in graphic design will pursue a Major in Studio Art (B.A.) with an emphasis in graphic design. The four-year program requires completion of all university standard courses as well as 18 studio art courses worth a total of 50 credit hours. Salve Regina University requires two portfolio submissions from studio art majors. The first is due with the general application to the school, and the other is due at the end of a student’s first year before being officially admitted into the bachelor’s program. Students who study at Salve Regina will take courses in creativity and technology, drawing, art history surveys, and cultural values of art and aesthetics. The graphic design concentration requires four courses: two sections of basic graphic design work, a concentrated studies course and a three-dimensional elective. During their senior year, students will develop and display a portfolio in the spring exhibition as part of their degree requirements.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Contact
Salve Regina University
Department of Art
100 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 341-3116
Email: Contact form online (Dr. James Yarnall)
Website: http://www.salve.edu/undergraduate/art/major-studio-art-ba
Fields like marketing, advertising, business and government depend on highly qualified graphic designers to advance their industries and reach new audiences through a wide range of media. For those seeking accredited graphic design degree programs in Rhode Island, the schools listed above offer carefully constructed undergraduate programs with significant advantages in terms of education, extracurricular opportunities and networking possibilities.
