Bachelor of Design Graphic Design

Courses

The Graphic Design program is typically completed in four years. The first couple years of courses help you develop fundamental design skills. Upper-level courses have a deeper focus on research, and cultural and contextual issues, to prepare you to tackle real-world problems.

As a student, you have the option to build your own schedule, however, here are the Graphic Design courses that work for most students to complete the program in four years.

Year 1

Credits

ARTG 110 - (Professional Practices)

3

ARTG 111 - (Design History)

3

ARTG 120 - (Design Principles)

3

ARTG 124 - (Applied Design Technologies I)

3

ARTG 130 - (Applied Design Technologies II)

3

ARTG 140 - (Illustration I)

3

ARTG 150 - (Typography I)

3

ARTG 160 - (Design Photography I)

3

ENGL 115 - (University Writing and Research)

3

One general elective

3

Total Credits

30

Year 2

Credits

ARTG 237 - (Applied Design Technologies III)

3

ARTG 241 - (Illustration II)

3

ARTG 251 - (Typography II)

3

ARTG 261 - (Design Photography II)

3

ARTG 271 - (Design Seminar)

3

ARTG 272 - (Presentation Studio)

3

DIGI 110 - (Introduction to Digital Media)

3

DIGI 220 - (Web Production I)

3

ENGL 204 - (Business and Technical Writing)

3

One general electives

3

Total Credits

30

Year 3

Credits

ARTG 345 - (Information Design)

3

ARTG 351 - (Typographic Illustration)

3

ARTG 371 - (Packaging Studio)

3

ARTG 372 - (Publishing Studio)

3

ARTG 373 - (Interface Communication Design)

3

ARTG 374 - (Environmental Design Studio)

3

DIGI 320 - (Web Production II)

3

Three general electives

9

Total Credits

30

Year 4

Credits

ARTG 475 - (Design for Business)

3

ARTG 476 - (Portfolio Studio)

3

ARTG 477 - (Design Studio Practice)

3

ARTG 480 - (Design Research Project)

3

ARTG 481 - (Design Thinking)

3

ARTG 482 - (Design Research)

3

DIGI 260 - (Interactive Motion Media)

3

DIGI 496 - (Senior Digital Media Project)

3

Two general electives

6

Total Credits

30

--> Management Stream

The management stream is a specialized path to getting your credentials. You'll take the same core courses as the general Graphic Design stream. For your electives, take the following courses:

  • MGMT 192 - (Principles of Management) and,
  • MGMT 292 - (Organizational Behaviour) and,
  • MGMT 381 - (Entre/Intrapreneurship) and,
  • ONE of the following courses:
  • AND three other electives.

If you want to take the management stream, notify the department when you enrol. Make sure you have the requirements for management courses, including math prerequisites.

-->

Electives

VIU offers a variety of elective courses that complement graphic design, such as marketing and visual arts. Contact the department chair for help choosing your electives.

In the case of a discrepancy between this page and the program outline, the program outline takes priority. Check the outline for official information.