Colorado State University
Graphic Design Degrees Offered at Colorado State University
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Colorado State University offers graphic design programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They emphasize having a balance between the technical side of graphic design and hands-on experience. They offer classes that teach students the fundamental theories underlying graphic design and the history of the field to give students context on how graphic design has developed and appreciation for the groundwork that has been laid out for them by previous artists. Students also must learn the professional practice standards of the industry. Of course, design is also a skill that must be fostered for growth. Students need to understand the technical skills of various computer software programs, as well as the physical arts such as drawing.
The undergraduate graphic design program offered by the university is a concentration within the B.F.A. of Arts degree. The university has what they call the Foundations system. Students start off their college careers with a general arts education. This involves classes like Art History 1, 2, and 3, Two Dimensional Visual Fundamentals, Three Dimensional Visual Fundamentals, and introductory courses to drawing and figure drawing among others. Graphic design is an art form that draws heavily from the arts in general, so this foundational knowledge is crucial.
After this, students can move into their specific focus of graphic design. This is where they will begin moving towards gaining their expertise in the field. The basics are covered in classes like Introduction to Graphic Design. More advanced knowledge will come from classes like Advanced Typography and Design Systems and Advanced Illustration.
For students looking to continue their education, there is an M.F.A in Graphic Design. This program is designed to turn graduates into genuine experts in the field of graphic design. They offer a semi-private studio setting for their graduate students for the optimal learning experience.
About Colorado State University
The Colorado Rams are all about fostering a satisfying social environment for their diverse student body. They were ranked #58 by Newsweek in their “Americas Best Colleges” rankings. They offer a wide variety of degree programs which means there is a mixture of students with different viewpoints to learn from and grow with.
It is situated within the town of Fort Collins which was voted as the #3 College Town to Live in Forever by College Ranker. The recreational opportunities range from art galleries to music festivals, and the surrounding beauty of the Rocky Mountains adds to the experience.
The school was partially a creation of the Morrill Act. This was a program whereby the federal government awarded land grants for the purpose of creating colleges. Colorado State was awarded a grant, and it was established in 1870. The purpose of the grant system was to provide education to the public that would broaden their horizons and have practical benefits for their lives. Colorado State University still works to advance those goals set at the time of its creation.
Colorado State University Accreditation
Any reputable educational organization must have accreditation. This is a system whereby a third party organization analyzes their course work and curriculums to ensure that their degree programs are genuinely educating their students to the proper standards. CSU has regional accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission which is the highest accreditation possible.
Receiving this accreditation is more important for students than one may realize. For starters, the government only offers financial assistance to students attending a school with regional accreditation. This means any subsidized loans or scholarships like the Pell Grant are available for students attending Colorado State. It also means that other universities will allow students to transfer credits if they end up changing schools at some point. Any students who are interested in attending graduate school or receiving a professional license in their field must also have obtained their degrees from an accredited school.
Application Requirements for Colorado State University
There is a $50 application fee. In addition to the application, freshman students must submit their SAT or ACT scores and their high school transcripts. They must also write a personal statement. The personal statement will be written based on a writing prompt given in the application process. Students must also submit one reference such as a teacher or a counselor.
The requirements for transfer students are slightly different. They must still submit an application, pay the application fee, and submit their high school transcripts. They must also submit their transcripts from any universities that they have previously attended, and they must pass a Mathematics placement exam to ensure that they are where they need to be to succeed within their coursework.
Graduate students must fill out an application and pay a $60 application fee. Any degrees earned from other universities must be submitted along with their official transcripts. Three letters of recommendation from previous teachers or employers are required.
Additional details about the application process and requirements can be found on their website.
Tuition and Financial Aid
As with all public universities, the cost of attendance varies by whether the student lives instate or out of state. Then, the degree program in place will affect the cost of attendance. While the exact cost of attendance for readers will vary from person to person, there are estimated costs of attendance.
- Instate Tuition/Undergraduate: 28,000
- Out-of-state Tuition/ Undergraduate: 47,000
- Instate Tuition/Graduate: 31,000
- Out-of-State Tuition/Graduate: 47,000
- Online Classes: $476 per credit
The cost of attending college can be overwhelming. Colorado State University offers financial aid opportunities to their students to help mitigate the financial burden. The first step in applying for financial aid to create a FAFSA account. This is a federal program that determines and awards financial aid. Once you are enrolled in a degree program and have a FAFSA account, students may be awarded any of many scholarships. There are scholarships available from the federal government like the Pell Grant, and Colorado State University offers scholarship such as the CSU Tuition Assistance Grant.
