The B.A. or B.F.A. in Media Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design focuses on specific design applications, such as advertising, typography, packaging, corporate identity, editorial design, and Web design. Students start with traditional foundations coursework including drawing, 2D design, and color theory. Further coursework focuses on the subject matter where industry standard software is used to deliver design solutions.

Graduates go on to careers in advertising, marketing, graphic design, and brand management. Jobs include art director, creative director, graphic designer, product designer, marketing manager, and multimedia artist.

Contact Information

Helena Vanhala 
Department Head
vanhala@rmu.edu
412-397-6202 phone
Wheatley Center 313

4-Year Course Plan (B.A.)

Freshman Year, Fall

• ARTM1010 Foundation Studio (3)
• ARTM1020 2D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0102 2D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM1830 History of Visual Comm (3)
• Core 1: MATH (3)
• Core 2: CSEN 1 (3)
• Freshman Seminar (1)

Freshman Year, Spring

• ARTM1011 Concept Studio (3)
• ARTM1021 3D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0121 3D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2020 Digital Imaging (3)
• Core 3: CSEN 2 (3)
• Core 4 (3) (e.g., HUMA1010)

Sophomore Year, Fall

• ARTM1022 4D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0122 4D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2110 Intro to Graphic Design (3)
• ARTM2115 Intro to Typography (3)
• Core 5: CSCM 1 (3)
• Core 6 (3) (e.g., PSYCH1010)

Sophomore Year, Spring

• ARTM2005 Intro to Photography
  • or ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio (3), and co-req ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2120 Vector Graphics (3)
• ARTM2210 Intro to Web Design (3)
• Core 7 (3): CSCM 2
• Core 8 (3) (e.g., INFS1020)

Junior Year, Fall

• ARTM3110 Design Studio I (3)
• Open Elective 1 (3) (if Web minor: ARTM2220 Designing for New Media; if Photo minor: ARTM3300 Digital Photo) ARTM3140 Corporate Identity Design (3)
• Open Elective 2 (3) (if there are 4 studio-based courses: take Core 10 in spring semester)
• Core 9 (3) (e.g., ELIT)
• Core 10 (3) (e.g., ECON1010)

Junior Year, Spring

• ARTM3120 Design Studio II (3)
• ARTM3130 Production for the Designer (3)
• ARTM3150 Advertising Design (3)
• MARK2000 Principles of Marketing (3)
• Open elective 3 (3) 

Senior Year, Fall

• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
  • or ARTM4903 Internship (3)
• Open Elective 4 (3) (if Web minor: ARTM3210 HTML Toolbox; if Photo minor: take a photo studio/history course)
• Open Elective 5 (3)
• Open elective 6 (3)
• Core 11 (3) (e.g. HIST/POLS)
• Core 12 (3) (e.g., SOCI1010)

Senior Year, Spring

• ARTM4090 Portfolio (3), and co-req ARTM0400 Professional Practices Lab (0)
• COMM4800 Media Management (3) or ARTM4903 Internship (3)
• Core 13 (3) (e.g., Natural Science)
• Open Elective 7 (3) (if Web minor: ARTM3220 Interaction Design; if Photo minor: take a photo studio course)
• Open Elective 8 (3)

4-Year Course Plan (B.F.A)

Freshman Year, Fall

• ARTM1010 Foundation Studio (3)
• ARTM1020 2D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0102 2D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM1830 History of Visual Comm (3)
• Core 1: MATH (3)
• Core 2: CSEN 1 (3)
• Freshman Seminar (1)

Freshman Year, Spring

• ARTM1011 Concept Studio (3)
• ARTM1021 3D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0121 3D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2020 Digital Imaging (3)
• ARTM1030 Survey of Art History I (3)
• Core 3: CSEN 2 (3) 

Sophomore Year, Fall

• ARTM1022 4D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0122 4D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2110 Intro to Graphic Design (3)
• ARTM2115 Intro to Typography (3)
• Core 4: CSCM 1 (3)
• Core 5 (3) (e.g., HUMA1010)

Sophomore Year, Spring

• ARTM2010 Idea Development, Writing & Storyboarding (3)
• ARTM2120 Vector Graphics (3)
• ARTM4110 Advanced Typography (3)
• ARTM2005 Intro to Photography (3)
  • or ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 1 (3)
• Core 6: CSCM 2 (3)
• Core 7 (3) (e.g., PSYC1010)

Junior Year, Fall

• ARTM2005 Intro to Photography (3)
  • or ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 1 (3)
• ARTM2210 Intro to Web Design (3)
• ARTM3110 Design Studio I (3)
• Core 8 (3) (e.g., INFS1020)
• Core 9 (3) (e.g. ELIT)

Junior Year, Spring

• ARTM3120 Design Studio II (3)
• ARTM3130 Production for the Designer (3)
• ARTM3140 Corporate Identity Design (3)
• Core 10 (3) (e.g., SOCI1010)
• MARK2000 Principles of Marketing (3)

Senior Year, Fall

• ARTM4010 Senior Studio (3)
• ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Cam Studio (3) and co-req ARTM0241 Intro to M-Cam Stud Lab (0)
• ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 2
• Core 11 (3) (e.g., Natural Science)
• Core 12 (3) (e.g., ECON1010)
• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
  • or ARTM4903 Internship (3)

Senior Year, Spring

• ARTM4090 Portfolio (3) and co-req ARTM0400 Professional Practices Lab (0)
• ARTM3150 Advertising Design (3)
• ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 3 (3)
• Core 13 (3) (e.g., HIST/POLS)
• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
  • or ARTM4903 Internship (3)