Graphic Design Degrees in West Virginia
If you’re interested in pursuing accredited graphic design degree programs in West Virginia, you have access to at least two very good options with the schools detailed below. Graphic designers are involved in a wide variety of types of jobs involving artwork and creativity, and a degree such as those listed below could get you well on your way to joining this fun and lucrative career path. While West Virginia may initially conjure images of picturesque mountains and mining communities, this state also offers quality higher education options.
West Liberty University
College of Arts and Communications
West Liberty University is a four-year public university originally named for the town in which it was established in 1837. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in West Virginia, established when the state was still just a territory. The College of Arts and Communications houses degree programs in the creative arts, media, journalism and theater, in addition to the graphic arts program detailed below. The college is also home to various arts and performance groups and to the West Liberty Television station.
Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design
This four-year degree emphasizes education as a foundation for good design principles and skills, including a general studies component with a mixture of traditional classroom learning and practical training. It combines traditional image making with digital technology and also emphasizes creativity and innovation to prepare graduates to compete in the ever changing and growing world of graphic design. The curriculum for this degree involves 48 credits of general studies, 61 credits of graphic design core courses spread out over the four years of the degree program, and 128 credits of electives within the College of Arts and Communications. In the final semester, students are involved in a practicum course in which they work with real world clients and are given the opportunity to take on a full internship if they so wish.
Accreditations
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Contact
West Liberty University
College of Arts and Communications
208 University Drive
West Liberty, WV 26074-0295
304-336-5000 or 866-WESTLIB
http://westliberty.edu/art/academic/graphic-design/
West Virginia Wesleyan College
School of Fine Arts and Humanities
West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private, residential college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It serves approximately 1,400 students annually in 44 major and 34 minor programs. Established in 1890, it has consistently been among the top ranked as a great college and a great value in such publications as U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly magazine. The School of Fine Arts and Humanities houses departments of English, Music, History and International Studies, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Theater and Dance, and Gender Studies, all in addition to the Art Department that houses the graphic arts degree described below.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
This four-year degree is newly expanded for the 2015-2016 academic year and is designed to prepare students to work in just about any field they can imagine, as so many industries value digital and traditional media skills that are a part of a good graphic designer’s repertoire. Students in this program will take courses in print design, video and motion graphics, and web development. Graduates of this program will end their four years with a comprehensive portfolio that is formed from professional development activities, artistic and client-based work, work from internships, and the ability to solve problems creatively and communicate those solutions effectively. General studies are intermixed with design principles from the first semester, and professional skill-building is emphasized from day one.
Accreditations
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Contact
West Virginia Wesleyan College
School of Fine Arts and Humanities
Art Department
59 College Avenue
Buckhannon, WV 26201
304-473-8000
https://www.wvwc.edu/academics/schools-departments/school-of-fine-arts-humanities/art-design-department/
Graphic design provides one of the most versatile fields in the business world of the 21st century, with just about every type of enterprise able to benefit from the visual communication skills involved with this field. When you’re ready to pursue a career that allows free reign to your sense of creativity, consider looking into one of the accredited graphic design degree programs in West Virginia.
