The Master of Graphic Design program is a two-year, full-time course of advanced study in the field. The program places primary importance on the ability of students to be critical agents; to seek problems and to pose questions. Faculty evaluate graduate students on their ability to define individual investigations and to support their decision-making with an independent program of reading and research, an ability to critically evaluate and articulate discoveries, and an ability to synthesize ideas through the creation of design projects. The main thrust of our graduate program is to provide a research dimension to the field by contributing to the understanding of graphic design through investigations into its history, theory, criticism and methodology as well as its practice. Graduate students come from a variety of academic and professional practice experiences. The department accepts students who have an undergraduate degree in graphic design or comparable professional practice experience as well as those with degrees in other disciplines who see a connection between their previous study and graphic design.

The Department of Graphic Design offers a 48 credit-hour program of study leading to the degree, Master of Graphic Design. Because of the intensive nature of our program, part-time enrollment is not possible. Our innovative program is structured around three topical frameworks. These critical content frameworks examine different contexts for understanding and making graphic design:

1. The cognitive interaction between audiences and graphic design artifacts.
2. The cultural relationships among graphic designers and audiences, and
3. The social role of digital media in new electronic information environments.