West Virginia University
Studying Graphic Design at West Virginia University
West Virginia University appears in our ranking of 21 Affordable Master’s Degrees in Marketing and Advertising.
Graphic design programs at West Virginia University include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Applicants who choose the bachelor’s degree will begin their studies with classes on typography, large-format art, symbolic drawings, and design thinking. Students will learn about graphic design for magazines, books, mobile sites, exhibits, and many other visual environments.
One of the valuable facets of the graphic design programs at West Virginia University is Studio 2453, which works with several real-world clients each year. Students act as project directors for clients and are able to develop a portfolio while they earn their degree. Seniors in the bachelor’s degree program get to present their work at the official AIGA Portfolio Day in Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
The degrees in graphic design are offered by the School of Art & Design, which encourages students in its programs to participate in international study abroad sessions, as well as enroll in a Global Positioning Studies course that features a field experience. Featured courses where graphic design students can learn more in other states include Art & Environment: Coastal Maine and Art & Environment: Hawaii.
Some of the courses students will take at West Virginia University when they study graphic design at the undergraduate level include Introduction to Graphic Design, Drawing, Graphic Design, and Survey of Art History. For graduate students of graphic design, classes include Medieval Architecture, Italian Renaissance, Intro Curatorial Practice, and Modern Art Theory.
To receive their Master of Fine arts in Graphic Design, students must complete a total of 72 credit hours. The degree program offers students the chance to work as student teachers, create a thesis, engage in independent study, and attend seminars. When applying to the graphic design program, students must send three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume along with the official application.
All students interested in studying graphic design at West Virginia University must also submit a portfolio during the application process. Students who earn their undergraduate or graduate degree in graphic design from WVU may find work at local agencies, television stations, or newspapers, and may even become entrepreneurs and small business owners.
About West Virginia University
West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and has operated since 1867 when it was known as the Agricultural College of West Virginia. Almost 30,000 students attend the university, with the majority of those students attending the campus in Morgantown and the rest of the students attending classes in additional campuses in Keyser and Beckley. The official colors of the university are blue and old gold.
The university’s main campus covers 913 acres in downtown Morgantown. Sports teams at the university are affiliated with NCAA Division I games and the Big 12 Conference, as well as the American Collegiate Hockey Association for its hockey teams that play in the College Hockey Mid-America conference. Students play as the Mountaineers, and the official mascot is named The Mountaineer.
West Virginia University Accreditation Details
West Virginia University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission, which handles accreditation work throughout the State of West Virginia. The university must undergo accreditation every ten years. Some programs are additionally accredited by organizations recognized by the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Some of those additional accreditations include those from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Other approvals have been granted by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and the Council on Social Work Education.
West Virginia University Application Requirements
General admission requirements for West Virginia University include having a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or meeting certain benchmarks for SAT and ACT scores. Students with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.9 may qualify if they have an ACT of at least 18 or an SAT of at least 960. Students should also make sure their high school curriculum includes the university-recommended courses that include English, math, social studies, science, and a foreign language.
For graduate students, West Virginia University requires the official application and a $60 application fee. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Some graduate programs have higher admissions requirements, and prospective students should check with their intended program to determine if there are any additional application materials required.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at West Virginia University are based on whether a student is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, as well as whether the student is a West Virginia resident or a resident of another state. The university also charges a base tuition amount, as well as a college tuition amount for the program in which the student is enrolled. For example, an undergraduate student in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources would pay a total of $435 per credit if they’re a resident or $1,111 if they’re not a resident.
Likewise, graduate tuition is based on the program a student chooses. General graduate tuition is $563 per credit hour for residents and $1,453 for non-residents. Students enrolled in the College of Education and Human Services Programs will pay $603 per credit if they’re from West Virginia or $1,510 per credit if they’re from outside the state.
After applying for financial aid at West Virginia University, students may qualify for grants, loans, and scholarships, as well as offers of student employment. Students must apply for financial aid each year they continue their studies at the university, which means filling out a FAFSA form each year when it becomes available in October. Applying on time for financial aid is important because it helps students qualify for the maximum amount of available grants and scholarships.
The university shares that 86 percent of its students receive scholarships and grants and that many students also qualify for the Virginia PROMISE Scholarship, which offers financial aid to students who meet certain academic requirements. Additional scholarships available to freshmen at West Virginia University include the Scholarship of Distinction and the WVU System Connection Grant.
